Around 80 S1 pupils from Stromness Academy will have the chance to try their hand at some traditional building skills next week with help from Orkney College, local contractors, Historic Scotland and the Stromness Townscape Heritage Initiative.

The practical workshops will cover skills such as building with lime and stone carving and will link in with their technical and history curriculum at the school.

The Stromness Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) is a £3.4 million pound, five year project based in the conservation area in Stromness which focuses on regeneration through the built heritage.

The THI has several areas of spending, including bringing vacant space back into use, grants for homeowners and public realm works as well as facilitating training initiatives.

Miriam Frier, Stromness THI Strategic Project Officer said: "An important part of the THI is to raise awareness of the town’s unique built environment and inspire local contractors and our future worker, such as these Stromness Academy pupils, to get skilled up in specialist conservation and restoration methods to help regenerate and protect the heritage aspects of our much loved streets."


Last year, pupils at Stromness Academy worked on a carved stone of the school emblem that was then gilded and painted as part of their sessions. This now takes pride of place in a permanent display at the school’s reception area.

Stromness Academy Head Teacher Hilda Learmonth said: "The workshops last year were very popular with pupils – it gives them an insight into the skills and specialists involved in community developments of the Townscape Heritage Initiative. We are pleased that this strong partnership with the school is continuing so successfully."

This year, pupils will have taster sessions in:

1. Stone Carving - students will be given a small block of limestone onto which they can carve a shape.

2. Building with lime –students will experience the difference between building using stone and lime versus building with modern materials.

3. Building with Clay Brick – students will experience the work involved in building with these small masonry units.

4. Slating – students will be shown slating using a purpose made rig

5. Sash and Case windows – students will be shown how to take apart and re-assemble sash and case windows.

6. Plaster repair - students will be shown how to patch holes using lime plaster in mock-up lath and plaster walls.

Gavin Douglas, Regional Works Manager from Historic Scotland who arranged the programme with the Stromness Academy pupils last year said: "We’re hoping that these sessions will help instill in the young people of Stromness a desire to play an active role in protecting and restoring conservation assets in the town in particular and the Orkney Islands as a whole.

"The effort and commitment that pupils have displayed during past workshops - and their enthusiasm for the traditional skills involved – certainly stands for all to see in the gilded stone on display at the school."

Michael Riddle, Curriculum Leader in Construction at Orkney College said: "We are delighted to again be part of this training initiative. Encouraging and promoting the opportunities in the local conservation building scene is something we’re proud to be associated with. We’re grateful through the THI to be able to play our part in helping sustain a skilled and enthusiastic local workforce for the future, by helping provide the supervision and workshops for this and other initiatives."

(GK)