Please Note: ticket sales have ended for this event Join us for a 5-day intensive course delivered by Historic Environment Scotland’s Subject Matter Experts at the Engine Shed in Stirling. Through a series of lectures, activities and site visits, this week-long course will explore the Traditional Building Skills and Materials used in conservation and repair projects throughout the Scottish Built Environment. Join us to explore the strategies and philosophies governing architectural conservation in Scotland, and the best approaches for tackling repair projects. We will examine the nature and function of traditional Scottish building materials, outlining how international standards of good conservation practice can be applied to offset or adapt to the impact of climate change on our historic built environment. After lunch, we will enjoy a walking tour around the Old Town of Stirling, where our team will identify and discuss a range of conservation, repair and maintenance issues as well as potential solutions. You will: Since the medieval period, Scotland’s historic environment was typically built using a limited palette of materials to provide shelter – stone and lime for the walls, and slate and lead for the roof. We will introduce you to the use of sandstone and lime in creating Scotland’s traditional buildings and discuss current best practice in repair and conservation. You will then hear an overview of how natural slate and lead sheet were exploited to keep the weather out of our traditional buildings, and how characteristic Scottish roofs should be maintained and repaired. Scotland is renowned for its many picturesque yet formidable castles, but few people realise what it takes to maintain these ancient structures, to inspect the fabric and assess risks, and keep the sites safe for public access. Today’s sessions will concentrate on what it takes to “conserve the castle”, beginning with talks from Historic Environment Scotland staff responsible for the on-going High-Level Masonry (HLM) survey project. The broad scope and detailed planning behind the HLM project will be explored, along with a review of the findings of the surveys undertaken to date. The third talk of the morning will shift the focus to a matter of growing concern for heritage agencies across the globe: the impact of burgeoning visitor numbers at historic sites and other fragile tourist destinations. From enhanced wear and tear of historic fabric, to the need for improved infrastructure to facilitate access, the issue of sustainable and responsible tourism is increasingly a major concern as visitor numbers increase. After a networking lunch at the Engine Shed, we will continue the discussions on castle conservation and responsible tourism as we explore nearby Doune Castle and hear how Historic Environment Scotland is investing in new infrastructure improvements to better manage tourist numbers in the wake of the “Outlander Effect.” Scotland’s traditional buildings must be carefully assessed and appropriately retrofitted to mitigate the potential damage from a changing climate. We will discuss climate change, carbon mitigation, adaptation and the basic principles of making traditional Scottish buildings more energy efficient. We will delve into aspects of climate change policy, explore theoretical and practical solutions that are making a difference, and discuss how we can protect Scotland's assets for the future by adapting our buildings as well as our behaviour. Following talks on the impacts of a changing climate on our built heritage, and how adaptation would help mitigate the worst effects, we will hear about a case study outlining the challenges of introducing a range of retrofit measures to a Glasgow tenement. A networking lunch will provide you with the opportunity to continue discussions and inspect the retrofit rig in the main hall. In the afternoon, we will concentrate on the practical aspects of installing a range of retrofit techniques into traditional buildings and so maximising energy efficiency whilst minimising the impact on their appearance or cultural significance. On our final day of Conservation Week, we will travel to Glasgow to enjoy a range of guided tours of some of its key heritage sites – some recently restored, others currently in the process of being repaired and others soon to see major conservation projects get underway. Our first stop will be the 13th-century Glasgow Cathedral, where we will hear about the current stone repairs to the steeple as well as the many projects undertaken by Historic Environment Scotland stonemasons over the past twenty-five years. We will then cross the street to meet the architect for the recent restoration of Provands Lordship (1471), Glasgow’s oldest house and an icon in the city’s conservation history. After lunch we will take a tour of the enigmatic Necropolis – the “City of the Dead” – to inspect the many grand and grandiose tombs and mausoleums constructed by Victorian Glasgow’s mercantile elite. We will hear how a near-derelict site has become one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. From there, we will travel to Glasgow Green, the city’s oldest (1450) and most famous public open space and the home of a wide range of important listed structures, including the People’s Palace museum and winter garden, the ostentatious Templeton’s Carpet Factory, the terracotta Doulton Fountain and the thrice-relocated McLennan Arch.

Join us to explore the strategies and philosophies governing architectural conservation in Scotland. We will examine the nature of traditional Scottish building materials and outline how international standards of good conservation practice can be applied to offset or adapt to the impact of climate change on our historic built environment. A networking lunch will provide you with the opportunity to continue discussions and explore the Engine Shed. Our full-day experience includes an afternoon site visit to Bannockburn House, where our team will lead you on a technical tour of this remarkable late 17th-century mansion and identify conservation techniques in practice. For those who cannot join us in person, a virtual ticket is available for the morning session. You will: Coach travel will be provided for the afternoon visit to Bannockburn House. Some walking will be required, so please wear suitable clothing and shoes. Floors in the house are uneven.

To select the most appropriate intervention in a conservation or repair project, you must understand the nature of the materials used in the construction of a building or site. Conservation scientists at Historic Environment Scotland (HES) use a variety of analytical techniques to understand how these materials decay over time and how certain interventions might affect their integrity and longevity. The day will begin with an overview of how science is increasingly used – both in the lab and on site – to analyse the nature and condition of traditional materials in Scotland and beyond. Then we will look at different types of analytical processes used by the Engine Shed’s Heritage Science team to determine the source, composition, structure and current condition of stonework and timber, as well as to monitor moisture ingress in our traditional buildings and determine thermal efficiency. A networking lunch will provide those opting to purchase the full-day learning experience the opportunity to continue discussions and explore the Engine Shed. In the afternoon, there will be a set of practical demonstrations of the HES Heritage Science team’s analytical equipment in the Engine Shed. For those who cannot join us in person, a virtual ticket is available for the morning only.

The recording of buildings is an essential component of heritage management. The primary purpose of this is to establish an accurate record, typically in 3D, of a building as the starting point for key decisions around repair and maintenance. This allows evaluation or monitoring of a structure’s condition to establish the need for interventions to repair, conserve or maintain the fabric. The three morning talks will introduce a range of 3D recording techniques, including survey methods and the latest innovations in digital documentation such as laser scanning and photogrammetry. We will explore the benefits of different techniques and the types of outputs these forms of 3D data capture produce, which can be used for conservation and maintenance projects. A networking lunch will provide those opting to purchase the full-day learning experience the opportunity to continue discussions and explore the Engine Shed. You will then be invited to a hands-on demonstration of photogrammetry techniques for recording buildings. This will take place either inside or outside the Engine Shed, depending on weather. You will: Please wear suitable footwear and dress appropriately for seasonal weather – the photogrammetry demonstration may take place outside.

It’s fitting that the home of Scotland’s first dedicated building conservation centre itself uses traditional materials in a contemporary way. The Engine Shed building, used as a goods transfer shed, was built sometime between 1896 and 1913. The exact details of its construction were subject to an information blackout, and are still unknown, as it was part of an important military complex. The strategic base on the banks of the River Forth was a key resource for the army in the run up to and during both World Wars. We are now a dynamic hub of digital innovation, heritage science, and an accredited training centre. Join us to discover what's inside and learn about the history of the Engine Shed, how it was made using traditional materials in a contemporary way and how we recycled many other materials during the restoration. Learn about the traditional skills vital to protecting Scotland’s buildings and monuments. Explore scientific techniques and labs which help us maintain and protect our living heritage. See the digital resources we use, including a giant 3D printer, a Digital Imaging Lab and ‘The Howff’ our cutting-edge immersive hub.