Focus 2014

2014 www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Informing the conservation of the built environment

FOCUS CONSERVATION

Latest projects from across Scotland

CLIMATE CHANGE

How weather affects the built environment

FOCUS ON SKILLS

Training, bursaries and traditional techniques

Contents In brief

4

Technical research

9

Battlefields

10

Collections

12

Climate change

14

Scottish Ten

18

Science

21

Conservation

22

Metal 2013

26

FOCUS ON SKILLS Introduction

28

Arbroath Abbey

30

Supporting stonemasonry apprentices

31

Developing existing skills at HS

32

Edinburgh blacksmith Thomas Hadden

32

Heritage Lottery Fund bursaries

34

National Conservation Centre update

36

Energy efficiency training

37

Skills exchange

38

Outreach map

39

Cover image: Elgin Bishop Contents page: Glasgow Cathedral Back cover: Thomas Hadden detail All by David Mitchell

Welcome

Welcome to Focus 2014, Historic Scotland’s annual magazine highlighting our technical conservation work. It has been another busy year for the Conservation Directorate – this year’s FOCUS ON outlines some of the exciting skills projects and related research that the team has been working on over 2013, including new energy efficiency training and some of the achievements of our apprentices.

As well as the In Brief news section, the magazine includes updates on some of our larger projects; the Bannockburn Project is nearing completion, the Digital Preservation team has been busy in Australia over the past year, and plans for the new National Conservation Centre continue apace.

This issue looks at recent conservation projects which have been carried out across our estate, including Skelmorlie Aisle, Trinity House and Melrose Abbey, and includes a rare and fascinating glimpse into the Royal Vault at Holyrood Abbey. The Collections Team update us on some of their recent projects, including conservation work on a First World War artillery bogie and new carved stone

storage facilities. There are also updates on the work of the Climate Change and Research teams who continue to drive energy efficiency improvements across the estate and support cutting-edge research with partner organisations.

In this issue we hear about topics as diverse as the effects of wetter winters on our stone heritage and developments in the field of Neolithic tool provenance identification in Shetland.

At the centre of the magazine is a pull-out Publications Catalogue which provides a full list of all our technical publications. Many of these are also available to view for free on our website www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/ conservation. If you would like to find out more and keep up-to-date on the most recent research and new publications you can also sign up for our e-newsletter on our website.

Dr David Mitchell, Director of Conservation

Editors Ali Davey and Ewan Hyslop

Design Mark Davies, Alistair McGown, Katherine Pentney

Produced for Historic Scotland by Think Publishing Ltd. Think Publishing, 20-23 Woodside Place, Glasgow G3 7QF www.thinkpublishing.co.uk Telephone 0141 582 1280

Sub-editors Sam Bartlett, Sian Campbell, Andrew Littlefield

Editor Andrew Cattanach Email andrew.cattanach@thinkpublishing.co.uk

Publisher John Innes Email john.innes@thinkpublishing.co.uk While every care has been taken in the preparation and compilation of this publication Historic Scotland cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

IN BRIEF

Newly planted marram grass

Revised BS 7913 published

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fully revised version of the British Standard BS 7913, Guide to the Principles of the Conservation of Historic Buildings, was published in December 2013.

It replaces the original standard from 1998, which was the first of its kind at the time. The revised standard will be a helpful guide and starting point for anyone working with traditional and historic buildings. In addition to this, work has started on drafting a European standard to provide guidance on improving the energy efficiency of historic and traditional buildings.

Historic Scotland technical staff have been contributing to both standards to ensure that they are relevant and well suited to a Scottish context. n Further information on BS 7913 can be obtained from shop.bsigroup.com or bit.ly/buybsigroup

Dune consolidation helps to protect prehistoric remains Programme initiated in 2006 is making a difference to dunes

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evere coastal wind erosion at the Links of Noltland, Westray, Orkney has caused the collapse of the dune system which protected this scheduled prehistoric settlement site for thousands of years. In response to this, Historic Scotland initiated a programme of detailed assessment, survey, and targeted rescue excavations in 2006. This was followed

CATHEDRAL TOUR LAUNCHES NEW SERIES OF INSIGHT EVENTS

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n September and October of 2013 Historic Scotland launched the first of a new series of Insight Events with a tour of the conservation work currently taking place at Glasgow Cathedral. Visitors, taken on a behind-the-scenes journey through the history and development of the building, were given and the opportunity to see current conservation work from a unique vantage point.

The 48 visitors were treated to a stunning bird’s eye view of the city from the scaffold

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on the outside of the cathedral and learned about the work being undertaken from Historic Scotland experts. The sell-out tour offered an opportunity to see the conservation work up close and generated some fascinating discussion.

Through behind-the-scenes tours, the new Insight Events series aims to shed light on the often unseen conservation work and research undertaken by Historic Scotland staff and other experts at our sites, and to introduce visitors to some of the challenges our architects and skilled craftspeople face on a daily basis.

Future tours are planned for various sites across the country and are open to the public, although numbers are limited.

Insight Events in early 2014 include a tour of the conservation work at Melrose Abbey (January) and a visit to Historic Scotland’s conservation workshops at South Gyle, Edinburgh (March). n For more information about future Insight Events and ticket prices, or to sign up to our mailing list please visit our website www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/conservation or contact us on 0131 668 8683.

by dune stabilisation works, including dune recharge, fitting of biodegradable erosion resistant matting, planting and sand entrapment in order to protect the surviving archaeological remains for future generations.

Recent inspection confirms that these measures are working and that the area is being recolonised by vegetation. Many of Scotland’s most vulnerable archaeological sites and monuments are located on the coast and this project provides a model for the stabilisation of other similar sites.

Glasgow Cathedral scaffolding

IN BRIEF

COURTESY OF SPAB

SPAB Scholar Martin Ashley presenting Johnnie Clark with his award

Assistant Works Manager completes SPAB Fellowship Historic Scotland’s Johnnie Clark has completed the William Morris Craft Fellowship. Here he tells us about the experience

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COURTE SY OF SPAB

he William Morris Craft Fellowship, which is delivered and funded by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) has been a unique, challenging and eye-opening experience. Throughout the last nine months, I have greatly valued the opportunity to experience the many places and people I would never have encountered or learnt from had it not been for the Fellowship.

Coming to appreciate and understand all the different crafts in the field of conservation

Johnnie with SPAB Fellows Tyrone Oakley and Jamie Miles

has allowed me to approach my own work with greater confidence. A greater knowledge of these crafts also means that I can pass onto the trainee stonemasons all that I have learnt.

The Fellowship has given me a greater ambition and drive to engage further with my own craft and others that I come across.

I have returned to my work as Assistant Works Manager more prepared for the wider challenges I will face in my career in conservation.

2014 events We have some exciting events lined up for 2014!

Look out for more of our behind the scenes Insight Events taking place at various sites around the country.

We’ll be at St Andrew Square on 19 and 20 May for apprenticeship week, showcasing apprentices’ traditional building skills.

We also have a fantastic series of lectures, site visits and hands-on activities lined up for our Conservation Summer School in June this year. Tickets and more information will be available on our website soon.

And don’t miss our Energy Efficiency Conference in autumn 2014! n For these and further events please visit our events page at www.historic-scotland. gov.uk/conservation or call us on 0131 6688683.

Historic Scotland | Focus 2014 | 5

IN BRIEF

HISTORIC SCOTLAND MEMBERSHIP

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xplore more than 5,000 years of Scotland’s history with an annual Historic Scotland membership.

There are over 300 Historic Scotland properties to visit throughout Scotland, including prehistoric dwellings and stone circles, abbeys and cathedrals, castles and palaces and distilleries and mills.

HOW TO JOIN Membership is available on an annual or life basis. Paying by Direct Debit means that your annual membership can cost as little as £3.04 a month. Sign up today by visiting www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/ member, or call 0131 668 8999 for further information on joining.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE n FREE entry to all Historic Scotland properties, such as Edinburgh and Stirling castles n FREE entry to over 400 daytime events and activities taking place all over Scotland n 20% discount in our shops n FREE quarterly magazine n HALF PRICE ENTRY to over 500 heritage attractions throughout the UK in your first year of membership – free entry in subsequent years.

By joining you will also be making an important contribution to the preservation of Scotland’s built heritage for future generations.

New funding available for the repair of war memorials Conservation project gets under way during First World War centenary

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he Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund (CMRF) is a scheme through which the Scottish Government is making £1 million available for the repair and conservation of war memorials in Scotland during the centenary of the First World War. Funded by Historic Scotland and administered by War Memorials Trust, the CMRF is accepting applications for funding now. A Conservation Officer based with Historic Scotland in Edinburgh, manages the funding and is able to provide conservation advice to those making applications. In addition, they are promoting the scheme to communities, local authorities and interested organisations to ensure war memorials across the country benefit from the funding.

The CMRF is scheduled to run until March 2018 and is open to memorials to all types of conflict. With conservation and repair at the heart of the scheme, the CMRF promotes conservation best practice to ensure that works do not damage war memorials or destroy historic fabric. CMRF seeks to ensure war memorials are protected and conserved for commemorations now and for many years ahead. There is comprehensive advice about the CMRF in the Principles and Eligibility Criteria and Guidance Notes which can be found at www.warmemorials.org/grantsscotland. Historic Scotland have recently produced a Short Guide on the repair and maintenance of war memorials, available from bit.ly/shortguide, and are planning a conservation event for war memorials in April 2014. Visit www.historic-scotland. gov.uk/conservation to find out more.

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Left: War memorial in Roslin, Midlothian, near Roslyn Chapel Above: Strathaven War Memorial, Strathaven Cemetery Completed applications are assessed for grant funding, normally up to 75% of the eligible costs to a maximum grant of £30,000. Assessment is carried out in rounds on the following dates each year: 28 February, 31 May, 31 August and 30 November. n For more information, please contact War Memorials Trust on telephone 07419 372 904 / 0300 123 0764 or email grants@warmemorials.org

IN BRIEF

Traditional Buildings Health Check pilot scheme

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n April 2013, Historic Scotland began a five-year pilot Traditional Building Health Check scheme which will be open to owners of all pre-1919 traditional buildings within Stirling City boundary.

The service will offer members a regular, affordable, comprehensive building fabric inspection, during which emergency small-scale repairs can be undertaken. A building report will be produced for the owner, which includes a prioritised list of maintenance and repair issues to promote, encourage and facilitate proactive building care. The scheme will also be offering training opportunities for local professionals, contractors and craftsmen.

The property inspection element of the project will commence on 1 April 2014. The pilot scheme is being managed by Stirling City Heritage Trust in partnership with Historic Scotland and with support from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). n For more information about the pilot contact info@traditionalbuildingshealthcheck.org

Traditional buildings in Stirling are eligible for a health check

DR ALICK LESLIE ON HIS NEW ROLE AT HS

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’m delighted to have taken up the post of new Conservation Science Manager in November 2013.

Until recently I was working for the British Geological Survey (BGS) as a hydrocarbons geologist. Before that, I worked for the Scottish Lime Centre in Fife, analysing mortar, stone and cement and making recommendations for repair.

My BGS role didn’t give me much opportunity to do conservation work so I’m glad to get back to a role that is focussed on conservation research.

I’ve known the team that I’ll be working with for some time – a few of them for almost 20 years in fact! It gives me great confidence to be joining such a terrific team.

We also do interesting work

Dr Alick Leslie started as Conservation Science Manager in November 2013

(we’ve identified silver embroidery on the cover of Queen Elizabeth 1st’s prayer book, looked at energy loss in Edinburgh’s New Town, and we are all involved in supervising PhD students in universities across the UK) so it’s really exciting to be a part of the research. It’s great to get out into the field and look at a

building and discuss problems with fellow conservators.

Analysis can mean anything from a simple visual inspection on site to look for building defects, to use of a wide range of complex equipment to study geology, structure and chemistry of a material. Historic Scotland is increasingly favouring on site,

non-destructive testing, which can investigate the conditions in a wall to a depth of one metre without any need for taking samples to our laboratory. The new innovative analysis tools mean that the Conservation Science Group is in a strong position to help conservators in Historic Scotland (and elsewhere) to make the best choices for buildings and materials repair.

The team and laboratory will be moving into the new National Conservation Centre in Stirling in a few years’ time. It’s an exciting time to have joined the organisation – to be part of the new conservation centre, and to be able to discuss exactly what you want your labs to look like with the architects working on the project is quite an experience.

Historic Scotland | Focus 2014 | 7

IN BRIEF

Soft-capping protects wallheads

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any of Scotland’s iconic monuments survive as unroofed standing structures with open wallheads and exposed historic masonry. Increasing levels of precipitation and extreme weather events can lead to erosion of the historic fabric and loss of structural integrity through processes such as water penetration, increased freeze-thaw cycles and damaging plant colonisation.

Historic Scotland have undertaken trials of ‘soft-capping’ techniques at a number of sites across the country, applying an impermeable clay layer beneath living vegetation on wallheads and roofs. Carefully selected slow-growing vegetation types are designed to reduce rainwater runoff and withstand extremes of weather, requiring minimal maintenance.

The results are both visually acceptable and technically appropriate for protecting some of Scotland’s most vulnerable historic structures.

Historic Scotland’s Research Report on the use of soft-capping is available at www.historicscotland.gov.uk/conservation

Carefully selected vegetation types reduce rainwater runoff and withstand weather extremes

LATEST PUBLICATIONS

New additions to the Short Guide and INFORM Guide series

S Merger programme In July 2012, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop announced that the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) and Historic Scotland should merge to become one body, ensuring that maximum public benefit is delivered for Scotland’s historic environment.

In May 2013, it was announced by Cabinet that the new body would be a non-departmental public body. The merger programme is expected to run until 2015, when the new body will come into existence. The Scottish Government consulted between 8 May 2013 and 31 July 2013 on the merger and on a Historic Environment Strategy for Scotland. What is proposed is intended to ensure Scotland’s historic environment is understood, valued, enjoyed and enhanced – both now and in the future.

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ince the last issue of Focus, we have added new titles to the Short Guide series, including: Short Guide 3 – The Repair and Maintenance of War Memorials; Short Guide 4 – Maintenance and Repair Techniques for Traditional Cast Iron; and Short Guide 5 – Historic Concrete Part 1: History and Development. The Short Guide series will continue growing through 2014, starting with Short Guide 6 – Lime Mortars in Traditional Buildings and with further titles following in other traditional materials such as brick, slate and stone.

We have also reviewed the content of the first of the Short Guide series, Short Guide 1 – Fabric Improvements for Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings, and this second edition

is now available both as a hard copy and as a downloadable PDF. There are also new additions to the Technical Papers and Refurbishment Case Studies that you can download from our technical conservation website.

Two new INFORM Guide titles have been published: Growing Old Gracefully and Biological Growth on Masonry: Identification and Understanding. Both these publications are intended to raise awareness of the issues surrounding soiling of buildings and historic structures, and the approaches that assess the need for intervention. n You can find all of these titles and many others on the publications page on our website www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/conservation

TECHNICAL RESEARCH

Good practice example added to case studies Technical Research Manager Roger Curtis tells us about the widening scope of Historic Scotland’s popular Refurbishment Case Studies and the new titles that will be available from 2014

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n previous years, the Technical Research Team has concentrated on producing publications focused around energy efficiency pilot projects.

Over the past year, we have widened our Refurbishment Case Study range to include more conventional conservation projects carried out by building owners which demonstrate best practice and deserve a wider circulation.

The series seeks to promote and share good practice, demonstrate what can be done in normal domestic situations, and provide reassurance that most conservation work is within the grasp of homeowners.

Case Studies 1 to 8 published in 2012 describe projects supported as part of the energy efficiency research programme completed over the last three years.

While some of the case studies concern buildings that are listed, several describe work to traditionally constructed unlisted buildings, but which incorporate works that are equally suitable for listed structures. Further titles in the widened range will be available in 2014 and describe work carried out where the owners wanted to do the best for the building and give themselves a rewarding and comfortable place in which to live.

An example of good conservation work by a homeowner, published online in Refurbishment Case Study 9 in January 2014, concerns an 18th-century house in Kirkcudbright. The owner has progressively restored the house to a workable configuration, which involved reinstating the original architectural proportions and using many original elements. At the same time, some intriguing features from an earlier structure were uncovered that shed light on the development of the town since the 16th century. Working with the local history society, and an architectural student on work placement with Historic Scotland, the owner built up a sequence of the site development, enabling a better understanding of the history of the building.

During this project the owner learned a lot about the appropriate use of traditional techniques, and the benefits of using technically compatible materials.

Finding the right tradespeople and contractors for the work did prove challenging on occasion, but it transpired that the best work was done by a local firm, once the needs of the property had been established and explained. An important part of the repair programme was the reinstatement of lath and plaster internal linings, resulting in a special sympathetic texture to walls and ceilings. Energy efficiency measures were adopted into the fabric where practicable and included the use of sheep’s

Details of the refurbishment of this house in Kirkcudbright are in a 2014 Case Study

Roger Curtis roger.curtis@ scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Refurbishment Case Study 12

Traditional materials were used to repair the 18th-century building

DRAFT

Kincardine Castle

Installation of Biomass System

13 Refurbishment Case Study

Kirkcudbright

Conservation works to

DRAFT

e

an 18th century townhous

wool, hemp bats and wood fibre to improve the thermal performance of the building. What was also clearly demonstrated by this project was that, with the right choice of detailing and materials, the building could be kept warm and dry without recourse to modern products unsuited to traditional building repair.

Further titles in the series to be published in 2014 will describe the experience of homeowners carrying out conversions of an office back into a dwelling, the installation of a biomass boiler, and repair and reinstatement works to a cottage in East Lothian. n Visit www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/conservation to view the Refurbishment Case Studies online or sign up to receive our Technical Conservation e-newsletter which will keep you updated with the latest on new publications.

Historic Scotland | Focus 2014 | 9

BATTLEFIELDS

Battle of Bannockburn

Prepare for battle – in 270 degree 3D

Major Projects Architect Jane Rahil gives an update on the project to upgrade the visitor experience at one of Scotland’s most historically important sites

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hat would it be like to board a time machine and fly 700 years back in time into the middle of a bloody and brutal medieval battlefield? That was the challenge thrown out to the Battle of Bannockburn Project Team. Have we succeeded? You will be able to judge for yourself when the new centre opens in March 2014.

The project, which was managed by Historic Scotland’s Major Projects Team in partnership with the National Jane Rahil Trust for Scotland, who own and care for the heritage jane.rahil@ scotland.gsi.gov.uk site, is the largest collaboration ever entered into by the two organisations. A diverse and complex set of teams of talented and creative people were brought together in 2010 to take on this daunting challenge, supported by £9.1m funding from Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The project started as a simple idea – to tell the story of the two days of conflict.

THE PROJECT It soon became clear that the crumbling STARTED AS Bannockburn Heritage Centre was not A SIMPLE IDEA – suitable for the purpose, and that the TO TELL THE landscape and certain A-listed monuments, STORY OF THE including Pilkington Jackson’s iconic TWO DAYS statue of Robert Bruce, were not in a OF CONFLICT condition which befitted a site of such national importance. The aspirations for the site began to take form and the project team started the search for the talent who could make this ambitious project happen.

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The Visitor Centre’s light and airy interior

BATTLEFIELDS

Project

BRIGHT WHITE

Glasgow School of Art’s digital design

REIACH AND HALL ARC

HITECTS

CENTRE FOR DIGITAL DOCUMENTATION AND VISUALISATION

The new Visitor Centre at Bannockburn has a brick exterior that gives the building a sombre character

Following a design competition, Reiach and Hall Architects and Ian White Associates were appointed.

Their proposals called for the demolition of the existing Heritage Centre to allow views to the hilltop monuments from the main road, and the restoration of the hunting park landscape designed by Robert Matthew, who took his inspiration from Asplund and Lewerentz’s woodland cemetery in Stockholm. Selective tree surgery and planting would frame key views to Stirling Castle and to the English approach from the south. The front of the site was lost in the busy suburban streetscape, so the proposals called for a visually calm space, with the building set back from the road and the car park concealed behind a low granite wall.

The building was conceived as a simple steading formed around a central courtyard. Black brick on the outside would give the building a sombre character concealing a light and airy interior. Shiny black pantiles were chosen to evoke the texture of chain mail and echo the pattern of traditional stone roof tiles.

Interpretation designers Bright White Ltd were appointed alongside the architect and landscape architect, and the three worked together on a winning concept for the new visitor experience. A sequence of interpretive experiences start and finish with a visit to a website (www.battleofbannockburn.com) where visitors, teachers and students can set off on a journey which will encourage them to learn about the particular characters, weaponry and tactics which they will encounter at the centre.

Scottish Ministers required that the project funding was used to showcase the best of Scottish digital design talent, so the Centre for Digital Documentation and Visualisation at Glasgow School of Art were identified as the core team who would deliver the 3D immersive elements intended as part of the on-site experience designed by Bright White Ltd. The experience on site starts with the story of King Robert and Edward II, told in a highly entertaining and engaging manner through a virtual 3D puppet show.

From there the visitor enters ‘Prepare for Battle’ in the main exhibition space –surrounded by 270 degree, full size 3D 14th-century conflict. The visitor will then be led (possibly slightly shaken!) by a Battle Master into a circular arena where they will be assigned units and take charge of their troops to try to win the battle in an interactive game centred around a 3D map. Other installations will use Kinnect technology to allow visitors to interact directly with key characters.

But this is not a project which uses technology just for its own sake. Thanks to the Academic Panel chaired by the National Trust for Scotland’s Interpretation Project Manager Tom Ingrey-Counter, the academic rigour which underpins the interpretation has created a virtual database of medieval weaponry, armoury and costume which will be a great asset as an education and research resource.

While the Visitor Centre opens its doors to the public in March 2014, the official launch will take place in June to coincide with the anniversary of the battle. The team are also working with the BBC on a documentary on the battle, centred on the new building, to be aired in 2014. Though only just launched, the project can already claim to be award-winning – the new Bannockburn brand recently won an international award for best branding campaign.

Historic Scotland | Focus 2014 | 11

COLLECTIONS

Remains of an ammunitions bogie used to transport artillery shells in the First World War

Regional Collections Manager Lynsey Haworth tells us about ongoing works to stabilise a First World War artillery bogie found at Inchcolm Island in the Firth of Forth

Cleanup operation for war bogie A

Lynsey Haworth lynsey.haworth@ scotland.gsi.gov.uk

mile off the shore from Aberdour in Fife lies the small island of Inchcolm. Today a peaceful place with a resident population of two (both Historic Scotland stewards), the island is a popular destination for tourists wishing to visit the remains of the Augustinian Abbey. But travel back in time, and this tranquil setting has seen its fair share of warfare. Rewind nearly a century, and this island formed a crucial link in a chain of defences designed to protect the Forth from the German threat.

Fast forward to 2010, and a discovery was made in the waters below the pier. A contractor moving some boulders causing access difficulties for boats coming in at low tide came across an unknown metal object. When brought to the surface, its shape became clear. It was an ammunitions bogie, used to transport artillery shells around the island during the First World War. The ammunitions railway line on the east side of the island is one of several surviving

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The first step in conservation is to desalinate the bogie by immersion in fresh water

COLLECTIONS

The bogie was found below Inchcolm pier

Many storage facilities across Historic Scotland’s estate are being upgraded to provide better protection for medieval stones. Regional Collections Manager Jill van Millingen explains

Setting great store for Scotland’s stones

Jill van Millingen jill.vanmillingen@ scotland.gsi.gov.uk

After desalination, marine encrustations on the bogie will be removed wartime structures on Inchcolm. Although largely overgrown today, traces are still visible near the pier where the bogie was discovered.

The bogie was transported to Loanhead where conservators from AOC Archaeology could assess its condition and begin the conservation treatment.

Corrosion and encrustations had formed on the bogie’s iron frame and wheels during its time submerged.

Emersion in seawater for so long also meant that the iron, corrosion products and encrustations all had high levels of salt within them. Salts are very damaging to metals and promote aggressive and rapid corrosion, especially in iron.

The first step in the conservation process was to desalinate the bogie by continually IN 1914 INCHCOLM immersing it in fresh water. Next, the marine encrustations obscuring much of ISLAND IN FIFE the surface of the bogie will be removed.

FORMED A CRUCIAL LINK IN Some of these are already loose, but others are quite solid and may need to be A CHAIN OF removed mechanically. The iron will then DEFENCES undergo a corrosion treatment to prevent DESIGNED TO further rusting. A protective coating may PROTECT THE also be applied to the surface to offer FORTH FROM THE further protection.

A custom-built mount is currently GERMAN THREAT being designed. Unfortunately one set of wheels is fully detached, and the second set is barely attached. Both will need to be supported in position.

Hopefully the bogie will be returned to site for permanent display sometime during 2014 to coincide with the centenary of the First World War.

Historic Scotland’s Collections Unit cares for a large number of medieval carved stones including tomb slabs, architectural carved fragments and statues. Many of the stones display the great skill of the medieval craftsmen who carved them.

Most of the stones are stored and displayed outside where wind and rain can erode the carvings and frost can break up the stones.

Consequently, the Collections Unit has been focusing on their long-term protection and care.

At Melrose a room at the brewery has been converted into a stone store and the Monument Conservation Unit has been systematically moving the stones onto racks. This is done under the supervision of Dr Mary Markus, an architectural carved stone specialist contracted by Historic Scotland, who catalogues the carved stones to provide information for the Collection’s database.

At Jedburgh Abbey many of the carved stones have been stored in open-fronted ‘bike sheds’ and are green with biological growth. The Collections Unit are installing three sheds to house the stones.

In addition to protection, suitable storage can provide increased researcher and visitor access to the stones. At Dundrennan Abbey a larger area of the steading has been fitted with racking at different levels so that the public can access the space and learn about the stones. The stones will be arranged by type with captions explaining their function in the Abbey building.

The Collections Unit has been involved in a project to return stones stored at Dallas Dhu Distillery to Elgin Cathedral. The Elgin collection is one of the most significant collections of medieval carved stones in Scotland. Approximately 60 stones and the Rose window fragments will be installed in the tower as part of an interpretative redisplay. The rest of the stones will be stored within the Bishop’s House at Elgin Cathedral.

Historic Scotland is improving storage of medieval stones

Historic Scotland | Focus 2014 | 13

CLIMATE CHANGE

Will wetter winters change the appearance of our historic buildings?

Conservation researcher and Historic Scotland Climate Change Research Fellow Dr Alison Wright examines the effects of wetter winters on the greening of sandstone buildings

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art of Historic Scotland’s efforts to assess the impact of changing climate on our built heritage has included a project at the University of Glasgow to see how increased winter rainfall may affect the biological patinas that develop on sandstone buildings.

Initial work has focused on characterising growths present on existing buildings, which are largely a mixture of green algae, cyanobacteria, and lichens.

The most important factors thought to control biological Dr Alison Wright growth are aspect and the porosity of the sandstone. Aspect a.j.wright00@ is undoubtedly crucial: south-facing facades support less aberdeen.ac.uk growth as biological material is highly sensitive to solar radiation. The dominant organic compounds present in biological crusts are the pigments carotene and scytonemin, which act as sunscreens for biological cells.

Biological material only manages to penetrate a few millimetres below the surface of the sandstone.

Experiments with stone blocks show that, given suitable growing conditions, green algal filaments and HIGHER WINTER lichen hyphae can be found up to 3mm deep RAINFALL IS LIKELY after one year’s exposure. Stone blocks exposed for over 20 years do not show any TO LEAD TO greater depth of penetration, making growth GREATER self-limiting. Interestingly, it appears to be GREENING OF rock chemistry, rather than porosity, which OUR HISTORIC has the greater influence on the amount and BUILDINGS, type of biological growth over the longer PARTICULARLY ON term, with more variable chemistry NORTH-FACING supporting the greatest diversity of flora. This FACADES also allows new minerals to form as lichen acids interact with the underlying stone. Most sandstone is dominated by quartz which doesn’t react as readily as calcium-bearing minerals, so that the development of secondary products is not widespread.

Higher winter rainfall is likely to lead to greater greening of our historic buildings, particularly on north-facing facades where the stone is not subject to enhanced solar radiation. It is also possible that increased rainfall intensity will remove material but, given the tenacity of biological activity, this is likely to be temporary unless the frequency of rainfall events is such that it prevents growth from becoming established on new (or recently cleaned) buildings. This highlights the importance of ongoing work

by Historic Scotland to ensure that stone at heritage sites does not remain wet for long periods as, once growths become established, it becomes costly and potentially damaging to remove them.

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Stone that remains wet for prolonged periods is prone to biological growth

CLIMATE CHANGE

The historic city of Bamberg, Germany, is one of seven EFFESUS case studies

Researching energy efficiency of historic cities

biological material

feldspar

calcium oxalate formed by the interaction of lichen acid and calcium in feldspar

Under the microscope you can see, from left, algal cells filling pore space in sandstone, lichen hyphae wrapped around a grain of quartz and whewellite in sandstone

Historic Scotland is one of 23 partners in the research project Energy Efficiency For EU Historic Districts’ Sustainability (EFFESUS), investigating the energy efficiency of historic districts. The project, running from 2012 to 2016, is co-funded by the European Commission and brings together 23 European partners from industry, research and the public sector.

Unlike other projects, EFFESUS does not focus solely on individual buildings, but evaluates them in their urban context. This approach allows balancing energy generation from renewable sources, installed within a historic district, with retrofit measures, to improve the fabric and technical systems of buildings.

EFFESUS will develop a location-specific software tool to support the decision making process of construction professionals, city managers and urban planners. The project will also adapt existing retrofit solutions to make them suitable for use within historic buildings, including aerogel insulation developed by the A. Proctor Group, another Scottish project partner.

‘During the first year, we have been very busy collecting data to develop the software tool,’ says Carsten Hermann, Senior Technical Officer at Historic Scotland. ‘Some of this data has recently been published as Technical Paper 21.

And in 2014, we will be organising a case study in Glasgow to trial retrofit solutions under real world conditions.’ The Glasgow case study will be one of seven studies throughout Europe, including Bamberg, Budapest, Genoa, Istanbul, Santiago de Compostela and Visby.

Carsten Hermann carsten.hermann@ scotland.gsi.gov.uk

n Updates about Historic Scotland’s involvement in EFFESUS are available at www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/effesus Historic Scotland | Focus 2014 | 15

CLIMATE CHANGE

Derrygonnelly stone decay test facility, County Fermanagh

Edinburgh Castle renews floodlights Historic Scotland District Architect Bruce Chandler gives an update on the installation of new energy efficient lighting at the capital’s largest tourist attraction A floodlighting scheme at Edinburgh Castle was first installed in 1931, on a temporary basis, as part of an International Lighting Conference.

In 1932 a permanent installation was paid for

by Edinburgh Corporation, but this was only lit by agreement with the Ministry of Works, and on a very limited basis. This installation was completely renewed in 1972 by the Property Services Agency, which designed and funded the whole exercise, and this scheme still forms the backbone of the present floodlighting at Edinburgh Castle.

Since its first tentative use in the 1930s, the floodlighting of the castle has become an established feature of the Edinburgh nightscape.

The old high pressure sodium floodlights from the 1970s scheme, with their characteristic orange glow, were replaced by more efficient metal halide lamps in the 1990s, reducing energy consumption and producing a whiter light. These metal halide fittings are themselves now being replaced by Historic Scotland, using the latest LED fittings and a state-of-the-art control system, which should result in significant savings both on lamp maintenance and energy consumption.

Each year a number of requests are received to change the colour of the floodlighting for particular occasions, such as blue for St Andrew’s Day, or pink for the MoonWalk charity event. Previously, these requests were met by physically fitting coloured filters to the faces of all the floodlights, a time-consuming and expensive process. With the new LED fittings and control system, it is possible to change the colour of individual lights or groups of lights remotely via a PC, resulting in greater flexibility, and cost savings. The system also allows for the pre-programming of the floodlights to give particular lighting schemes, which can then be activated by a simple push button control.

16 | www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Bruce Chandler bruce.chandler@ scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Measuring the Historic Scotland Climate Change Research Fellow Dr Stephen McCabe, based at Queen’s University Belfast, explains trials to investigate the effects of moisture and algae on stone decay

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eomorphology seeks to understand the processes that shape the earth’s surface. It straddles the interface between environment and material to understand, for example, how temperature and moisture regimes control the behaviour and weathering of stone. Geomorphologists have generally sought to understand stone behaviour in natural landscapes, but many of the same principles apply to stone when it has been placed into a building.

Because we view the environment/stone interface as a causal system (i.e. inputs and storage mechanisms determine output, though not always linearly), we would expect that climate change (a change in the fundamental controls on stone decay, temperature and moisture input) would alter the behaviour of stone.

Recent studies have linked stone surface modification to climate change – increased algal growth on stone buildings in north-west UK is likely to be the result of reduced atmospheric sulphur, combined with prolonged wet periods. This algal colonisation could be seen simply as an aesthetic problem. However, it is more likely that the algal

CLIMATE CHANGE

In salt weathering and temperature fluctuation experiments, fresh (left) and surface-modified (right) blocks were investigated

Algae can modify stone response to moisture and salt

e effects of moisture on stone Stephen McCabe stephen.mccabe@ qub.ac.uk

growth is symptomatic of underlying changes in moisture relationship of temperature and moisture from the exterior input and storage within the stone that may have more than environment to the interior of stone blocks. simple aesthetic implications.

Salt weathering simulations carried out on fresh and To investigate this, a test structure was built in surface-modified stone show that even subtle surface Derrygonnelly, Northern Ireland. Stone was instrumented modification can have significant implications for moisture with moisture sensors at 5, 15 and 25cm from the exposed uptake and retention, and salt concentration and surface. Data collected showed that, over October and distribution from surface to depth. Increased algal cover November 2010 (when it rained every day), a wetting front resulted in increased salt concentrations at depth, because moved into the stone over 25cm from the surface. After this, the modified surface retained moisture and allowed soluble the stone found it very difficult to dry out. salts to accumulate in the stone interior.

This has raised a range of issues for decay and RECENT STUDIES This can drive future decay. Temperature conservation. Studies have shown that it is fluctuation experiments showed that algal HAVE LINKED difficult to speak simply of how long a stone STONE SURFACE growth has an impact on energy transfer block or facade may be wet without reference processes that occur at the stone surface, MODIFICATION potentially decreasing surface-to-depth to how the measurement has been taken, TO CLIMATE clarifying whether we are speaking of the stress gradients (with the implication that CHANGE surface or the interior of a building material mechanical decay at the surface slows down). (which may have very different times of Of course, in the context of historic stone, wetness in the year; one frequently wetted and dried, the it should be remembered that surfaces are often already other much less dynamic in response to short-term modified by long exposure. Ultimately, fresh and surfaceenvironmental cycling), and without addressing how surface modified blocks are quite different systems, which respond and interior moisture are linked. This ‘deep wetting’ of stone to moisture inputs differently because of different storage under increasingly wet conditions has myriad implications mechanisms, encouraging divergent behaviour between for how stone decays in the north-west of the UK, and fresh and surface-modified blocks over time. The research potentially for its colonisation by algae at the surface. has shown that surface-modified blocks accumulate and The relationship of algae to the underlying stone is retain moisture and soluble salts, where the open pore complex in terms of accelerating or hindering decay. Algae is characteristics of fresh surfaces allow natural drying to take a surface-modifier – something that changes the physical place. This has implications for the behaviour and character of the stone surface, and hence mediates the management of stone in historic structures.

Historic Scotland | Focus 2014 | 17

SCOTTISH TEN

Scottish Ten manager Dr Lyn Wilson gives us the latest on the ongoing digital capture project

Scottish Ten update The Scottish Ten is an ambitious five-year programme which will see Historic Scotland and the Digital Design Studio at The Glasgow School of Art digitally document in 3D Scotland’s five UNESCO World Heritage Sites and five international heritage sites. Scottish Ten data will be shared with the world via our US partner CyArk’s digital archive.

Reflecting on the past 12 months, it has easily been the busiest in the Scottish Ten’s schedule so far. We have captured data for a further two international sites, and carried out fieldwork on our fifth Scottish site. Data processing has also been proceeding at a rate of knots, coupled with our active programme of public engagement and dissemination.

Dr Lyn Wilson lyn.wilson@ scotland.gsi.gov.uk

EASTERN QING TOMBS, CHINA

In November 2012, our team was braving the winter elements in the Chinese countryside, digitally documenting the Xiao Ling and Jing Ling Tombs at the Eastern Qing Tombs complex, near Zunhua, three hours drive north of Beijing. Over the course of four weeks, six linear kilometres of processional roadways, two tombs, ten bridges, forty-six statues, four stele, six ceremonial halls and over twenty ancillary structures were accurately surveyed in 3D using a combination of terrestrial laser scanners, mobile mapping OUR MEASURABLE and multi-image photogrammetry. As the 3D INFORMATION site was so vast, we needed to ensure we WILL BE USED [IN were systematic in our approach to data CHINA] TO ASSIST capture methodology, metadata collection WITH ON-SITE and download and backup. With terabytes of CONSERVATION, raw data quickly accumulating, we couldn’t FIRSTLY AT THE afford any mistakes.

While on site, we worked closely with JING LING DIVINE the Eastern Qing Tombs Cultural Relics TOWER, WHICH Management team and with our colleagues WAS BADLY at the Chinese Government’s State DAMAGED BY A Administration for Cultural Heritage. We LIGHTNING STRIKE were delighted when our Chinese friends

18 | www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Our friends from the Chinese Government heritage agencies with us at Edinburgh Castle

SCOTTISH TEN

Digital documentation at the Eastern Qing Tombs, China.

A point could was generated from data gathered (bottom left)

visited us in Scotland in March 2013 as part of the Scottish Ten cultural heritage exchange. We were able to show how we use digital documentation of cultural heritage at our Scottish sites for conservation purposes, site management and for interpretation. Of course, we also managed to find time to share our fantastic countryside and heritage, including a trip to the top of the Forth Bridge, and to introduce the wonders of Irn-Bru and haggis!

Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond, presented the first fruits of the project (an animated flythrough of the Tombs) in November 2013 during a St Andrew’s themed reception in Beijing, in advance of the final project handover to our Chinese Government partners in early 2014. The data will be used for online virtual tours and educational resources to promote the site both within China and internationally. Our measurable threedimensional information will also be used to assist with on-site conservation, firstly at the Jing Ling Divine Tower, which was badly damaged by a lightning strike and is currently undergoing conservation.

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, AUSTRALIA

We barely had time to unpack our bags on our return from China before preparations began for our fourth international site: the Sydney Opera House. After three months of logistical planning, the team Historic Scotland | Focus 2014 | 19

SCOTTISH TEN

The team generated a 3D point cloud plan view (left) after documenting the Sydney Opera House

travelled to Australia in April 2013 to embark on the most technically challenging venture yet. In 17 days, our team of seven captured over 980 laser scans and 56,000 photographs from every angle of the House. The shells of the structure curve and angle beautifully, and not all areas are visible from ground level. We worked closely with the House staff and their specialist rope team to develop a cantilevered rig with our laser scanner firmly attached to overhang at the apex of each shell, capturing the obscured areas. For really THE OPERA HOUSE difficult to access areas, we worked with STAFF AIM TO abseilers who descended the shells with our USE THE DATA small lightweight scanner attached by ropes.

GATHERED Thankfully all went well!

FOR SITE The House staff aim to use the data INTERPRETATION gathered for site interpretation materials, as a MATERIALS, AS A preventative conservation tool and for PREVENTATIVE facilities management – and the point cloud CONSERVATION will form the basis of a building information model. Data processing began as soon as we TOOL AND FOR arrived back in Scotland and has proceeded FACILITIES through the summer of 2013. Processing such MANAGEMENT a complex site was not without difficulties, in part because the glazing of the House reflected the laser beams from the scanners at varying angles causing multiple reflections, which had to be digitally ‘cleaned’.

The Sydney Opera House is the youngest site on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites, celebrating its 40th

birthday in October 2013. To mark the occasion, we were able to hand over the digital models we had created as a birthday gift.

THE ANTONINE WALL, SCOTLAND

The summer months gave us the opportunity to work on our fifth Scottish World Heritage Site, the Antonine Wall, part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site. In July 2013 the team undertook digital surveys at Rough Castle and Bar Hill Roman forts. With the sites being relatively close to Historic Scotland’s main offices, we took the opportunity to train several of our architectural technicians in 3D survey methods. By building a bigger in-house resource in this way, we will be better placed to deliver the ‘Rae’ project – to digitally document all 345 monuments in the care of Scottish ministers – over the coming years.

We’re really excited about the potential of the 3D data for the Antonine Wall sites. As there is not much extant archaeology here, there is great potential for virtual reconstruction and even augmented reality applications to help in the understanding and interpretation of these important sites. With the airborne LiDAR data we have also collected, we’ll be exploring its research potential to identify further archaeological features in the vicinity.

LOOKING FORWARD

In 2014 the team will be continuing data acquisition for the Edinburgh project, and we’ll be delivering our final international site – location to be announced! Until now, the Scottish Ten project has focused on the collection of digital assets – the raw 3D data itself. But as we move forward, we want to use the data gathered for public engagement, education and research, and tangible conservation and management solutions. Finally, National Geographic magazine has been following our progress for the last few years and we’re privileged to have our work feature in the December 2013 edition. You can view it online at bit.ly/scottishten

Measuring up at Rough Castle on the Antonine Wall

20 | www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Visit www.scottishten.org and archive.cyark.org/scottish-ten-partner Follow us on Twitter @ScottishTen See videos and animations at the official Historic Scotland YouTube channel youtube.com/ historicscotlandtv

SCIENCE

Mik Markham explains how portable X-ray equipment is shedding new light on the source of stone axes in Shetland. (No stone tool was harmed in the making of this project…)

Portable X-ray fluorescence kit enables analysis of stone without damaging it

Stone axes in Neolithic Shetland A ccurately provenancing Neolithic stone tools to their source often requires removing a piece of the artefact to produce a petrologial thin section, which when analysed identifies the source rock type, and therefore its probable geological origin. It is not surprising, therefore, that curators are very reluctant to send such objects for analysis, with the need to retain integrity usually winning out over the need to extract knowledge about the tool’s origin. However, with advances in technology there is a non-destructive solution that is being used to explore Shetland’s Neolithic past.

Historic Scotland recently invested in portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) equipment, managed by Dr Maureen Young at South Gyle, that is able to measure the elemental compositions of a huge range of materials which, in this case, can be used to provenance stone tools without harming the tool. Historic Scotland, in conjunction with National Museums Scotland, is using PXRF as part of a National Geographic sponsored project, led by Professor Gabriel Cooney of University College Dublin, to investigate Shetland’s stone tool history.

The recent 14-day field season in North Roe and at Shetland Museum saw the HS PXRF being used to make over 2,000 elemental analyses. The Neolithic axe factory

Using PXRF at Shetland’s Neolithic axe factory

Mik Markham mik.markham@ btinternet.com

site at the Beorgs of Uyea was extensively analysed along with other locations in North Roe where outcrops of similar rocks are found. The team spent two days in the Shetland Museum, with the support of curator Jenny Murray, analysing all the unique Shetland knives held by the museum along with a large number of axes, 140 stone tools in total, which were all unscarred by the analysis.

The data is presently being analysed and early indications are that there are tantalising signs of elemental signatures that may be usable in linking measurements of tool with outcrop, thus non-destructively provenancing the tool to its source.

Historic Scotland | Focus 2014 | 21

CONSERVATION

Stone Conservator Christa Gerdwilker and Conservation Scientist Maureen Young outline some of the non-destructive investigations underway at a Largs chapel to identify the causes of stone decay

Skelmorlie Aisle: A ‘whodunnit’ of stone conservation T Christa Gerdwilker christa.gerdwilker@ scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Dr Maureen Young maureen.young@ scotland.gsi.gov.uk

he chapel of Skelmorlie Aisle in Largs was built in to chemical attack by acidic solutions produced when fine 1636 by Sir Robert Montgomerie for himself and particles of iron sulphide are exposed to high humidity. his wife Margaret. It formed the north transept to Water is involved in most forms of decay, either through the now demolished Parish church. Externally, only water ingress, condensation or high humidity. Environmental a small armorial panel above the entrance hints at what lies monitoring by preventive conservation consultant Rob within – the Montgomerie Memorial – a large, highly Thomson revealed that the monument is exposed to high ornamental Renaissance tomb overlying the crypt. The humidity for extended periods of time and episodes of barrel-vaulted timber ceiling is elaborately condensation occasionally cause surface THE BARRELpainted with local 17th-century scenes, zodiacal wetting. X-ray diffraction found soluble salts and heraldic symbols and biblical quotations.

VAULTED TIMBER (sodium chloride) in the stone. Humidity levels Historic Scotland’s Stone Conservation in the aisle were often sufficient to dissolve CEILING IS Team are investigating means to control sodium chloride allowing it to re-crystallise ELABORATELY deterioration affecting parts of the sandstone within the stone. The stone’s low porosity PAINTED WITH memorial. Several causative factors could be increases its vulnerability to internal LOCAL implicated and will determine the most crystallisation of salts. Water soluble salts are 17TH-CENTURY one of the most prolific agents of decay in effective course of remedial action.

SCENES, ZODIACAL masonry, crystallising during dry spells to form The stone itself has been found to be AND HERALDIC potentially ‘pore-busting’ crystals. particularly vulnerable. Microscopic analysis of SYMBOLS the fine-grained sandstone by British Historic Scotland’s Science Team used a Geological Survey revealed its unusually low microwave moisture sensor to nonporosity (approx. 1 per cent). Its natural mineral cement destructively image moisture levels in the aisle’s stonework. binder is a mixture of clays and carbonates. Clays can be A thermal camera was used to highlight areas at risk of implicated in stone decay as some expand considerably condensation. The building envelope was significantly when wetted, developing stresses within the stone. damp in several places. While the damp walls will contribute However, testing showed no evidence of the presence of to the observed high humidity, there was no obvious damaging types of clay. Particles of iron sulphide were impact on the tomb. The crypt is partially subterranean and, identified in the sandstone; carbonate cement is vulnerable unsurprisingly, was very damp. Surfaces in the crypt are

22 | www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

CONSERVATION

Deterioration of sandstone at column bases on the Montgomerie Tomb The vault was inspected and cleaned in November 2013

Holyrood Abbey royal vault ‘stable’ Architectural Technician John Crae gives an insight into the royal vault at Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh, following its annual inspection

Christa Gerdwilker using the microwave moisture sensor on the tomb

severely affected by salt efflorescences, mainly sodium sulphates. It was considered possible that soluble salts from the crypt were being drawn up into the overlying tomb.

However, the absence of sodium sulphate in the tomb’s stone implies that this is not occurring.

Past conditions and interventions may also have impacted on the tomb’s current condition. Records show that similar decay was observed in 1931 and some surfaces were treated with magnesium fluoro-silicate and shellac; treatments which could have over-hardened the surface leaving it vulnerable to undermining by subsequent decay. It is also possible that paint stripping was carried out on some of the tomb’s sandstone columns as contemporary descriptions note that they had the appearance of marble.

The project has turned into an ongoing ‘whodunnit’ of stone decay. Current environmental conditions are not ideal and are in the meantime being addressed by interventions to control humidity. The stone itself has particular vulnerabilities and may have been negatively affected by previous well-meaning interventions. Its weakness and vulnerability to salt crystallisation reduce its ability to accommodate physical stresses and environmental changes. Stabilisation of the internal environment at a level which protects both the stone and the timber ceiling should ensure that this rare surviving example of a Renaissance tomb and associated decorative ceiling remains in a condition to be enjoyed by future generations.

In 1544 and 1547, English troops attacked Edinburgh. They damaged the east end of Holyrood Abbey, removing lead from the roof and setting fire to cloister buildings. In 1569, the commendator of the abbey, accused of neglecting repairs, claimed the abbey had been ruinous for 20 years and he had no funds for repairs. He then supervised demolition of most of the abbey. Stone from the choir, transepts and crossing arches was used to repair the nave for parochial use as a parish church.

The abbey’s destruction is recorded on the plaque outside the royal vault. This crypt was constructed in the south-east corner of the nave after 1569, blocking the c.1133 Norman style doorway from the earliest abbey building.

Bones were collected from tombs near the high altar and relocated to the new vaults.

After the death of Charles II in 1685, his brother James VII assumed the throne. Appropriating the church as a chapel royal, he had it fitted out in an elaborate style. James’s Catholic faith and the alleged ‘papish’ imagery led to riots during which the chapel royal’s interior fittings were destroyed and the contents of the vaults scattered.

Although most of the remains were returned to the vault, the coffins were smashed and the bones jumbled. In 1898, Queen Victoria ordered repairs. The vault’s south wall was refaced and the elaborately hinged doors of the coffin chamber are probably of this date. The scattered remains were re-interred in one coffin.

The vault was last inspected in November 2013. The condition of the vault and the coffins within is relatively stable although there is evidence of salt crystals forming at the east end of the coffin chamber. The top of the upper coffin had a light coating of dust and small debris. This was carefully cleaned. The velvet over the coffin of Mary of Gueldres (relocated to the royal vault in 1848) is in good condition.

John Crae john.crae@ scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Historic Scotland | Focus 2014 | 23

CONSERVATION

Aiming high in latest phase of work at Melrose Abbey Applied Conservation Manager Stephen Gordon outlines some of the stone conservation work that has been undertaken at the south aisle of Melrose Abbey

M

any of our historic buildings, especially the ecclesiastic monuments, include very fine museum displays of carved architectural stones that once adorned these structures.

The Scottish Border abbeys are no exception; there are fantastic collections of stone carvings which include bosses, statues, gargoyles, heraldic panels and many other finely carved elements. Some of these collections are maintained in relatively controlled environments where their conservation is readily managed.

At Melrose Abbey there is a lot of figurative and ornate carving at a high level where it is very vulnerable to natural weathering. The superb carved detail provides a fascinating insight into the period in which it was carved and forms a significant part of the visitor experience, complete with references to it in audio guides and publications. As this carving defines these buildings, its loss would take much away from the sites and as such its conservation should be a priority.

Undertaking surveys and conserving carved detail externally at high level presents some challenges and can be costly, although the long-term benefits to the site are considerable. It is vital to have a programme of regular maintenance as the weather inevitably continues to take its toll.

The Applied Conservation Unit (ACU) recently undertook extensive cleaning and consolidation works on the south aisle at Melrose Abbey. This work follows on from a previous phase of work on the south transept in 2009 and the east transept in the 1990s. Prior to this in 1986 the ACU replaced four effigies at Melrose Abbey with glass fibre copies, and kept the vulnerable, decaying originals safe for museum display. As such there continues a long history of maintenance dating back many decades.

The ACU last surveyed the south aisle in 2010 and a conservation report was prepared. This survey was undertaken from a specialist high level hoist that was able to operate between the headstones in the adjacent graveyard and give close access to the highest carved detail.

This revealed that much of the ornament was in a very friable and unstable condition, heavily enveloped in biological growth potentially concealing further issues.

Funding for a scaffold was secured by 2013 to allow for a more detailed assessment and for works to start.

The project was split into three distinct phases of work commencing with cleaning to carefully remove biological growth so that the condition of the stonework could be properly assessed.

This was followed by extensive consolidation works using a range of established methods to deal with a wide variety of conditions. Loose stones and large pieces of unstable 24 | www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Extra funding for scaffolding enabled the team to access and work on a buttress finial

Conservation included recording details of the bagpipe-playing pig using a 3D laser scan

Stephen Gordon stephen.gordon@ scotland.gsi.gov.uk

masonry were secured using phosphor bronze bars and dowels fixing into construction joints. Some of the delaminating finials were strapped with copper bands to supplement mortar repairs. Areas of more superficial deterioration such as hairline fracturing and areas of delamination were consolidated using acrylic-based mortars and low strength resin injected into fractures. The local masonry works team based at Melrose Abbey were brought in to assist with some of the specialist works, providing them with additional skills that can be applied to other projects. They also undertook selective repointing and stone replacement where required.

The final phase of work was to 3D laser scan some of the most significant carvings, such as the famous bagpipeplaying pig. The digital images will provide a permanent and accurate record of the most detailed and unique carvings for future study and other initiatives.

Working exposed to the elements can be challenging, but the fruits of this labour will be to conserve some of the most precious medieval carving for years to come.

CONSERVATION

Historic Scotland stonemasons carrying out repairs to the supporting stone wall

Corrosion damage to the decorative panels at ground level has now been repaired

Railing against the elements at Trinity House Architectural Technician John Crae explains how the gates and railings of Edinburgh’s Trinity House have been restored to their former glory

Blacksmith Bert Pichlmayer tamping lead into the masonry sockets

T

John Crae john.crae@ scotland.gsi.gov.uk

rinity House, built for the Incorporation of Painting of Trinity Masters and Mariners of Leith, operated as an House, c.1816 Alms House from 1555. The current building dates from 1816 when it was built over the vaults of the earlier building. The wrought iron railings and cast iron gate

by Anderson’s Leith Walk Foundry are contemporary with this re-build. The original lamp arch which topped the gate piers has been replaced by ball finials.

The piers, gates and railings are a mix of cast and wrought iron components. Rusted joints in the gate and piers had forced some castings apart and corrosion between the castings and decorative beading had also caused distortion and cracking. Some cast sections were missing, welded repairs were visible on the circular elements of the gate one coat of gloss, before being re erected with new fixings piers and corrosion was evident on the plinth and fixings. and pivots.

The worst damage was to the decorative panels at ground The railings were similarly treated with the rust inhibitors level where rust had forced apart the castings. but could not be installed as many of the stone copings were Charles Laing and Sons of Edinburgh were awarded the severely fractured due to rust jacking at the contract for repair of the gates and railings.

Between November 2011 and March 2012, the THE WROUGHT base of the vertical rods. The base of the rods gates, gate piers and railings were dismantled IRON RAILINGS also required new wrought iron ends to be and removed to the contractor’s workshops AND CAST IRON attached to replace the lower sections which had corroded away. Historic Scotland where existing paint coatings were stripped, GATE BY stonemasons, including two apprentices, hand rust removed and essential repairs carried out.

ANDERSON’S dressed the new stone copes, raked, tamped Missing sections were replaced to match LEITH WALK and repointed the masonry parapet wall and existing surviving components using FOUNDRY ARE bedded the new copes. Sockets in the copes traditional materials and techniques, and CONTEMPORARY were formed in situ by the masons, and fractures were pinned with threaded rod and epoxy. The gates and gate piers were then WITH THE 1816 together with Historic Scotland’s blacksmith, the railings were leaded into the sockets and painted with two coats of zinc phosphate REBUILD the railings repainted in situ. primer, one coat of micaceous iron oxide and Historic Scotland | Focus 2014 | 25

METAL 2013

The five-day event in Edinburgh was the largest international conference that Historic Scotland has organised

From new conservation technology to a Forth Bridge visit and the Scottish crown jewels, Metal 2013 was packed with interest, says Vanesa Gonzalez

Conference is a success T

he International Council of Museums Committee for Conservation (ICOM-CC) Metal Working Group awarded the organisation of Metal 2013 to Historic Scotland after a successful bid by colleagues at Metal 2010 in Charleston (USA). After three years of careful planning and anticipation, this major international conference took place in Edinburgh between 16 and 20 of September 2013.

It is a triennial event that takes place in different locations around the globe, hosted by a different organisation each time. The 2012 conference was attended by 197 people representing 24 countries.

Metal 2013 was the seventh interim meeting of the ICOM-CC Metal Working Group, although it was the first time the event had been held in the UK – and the first time it has been organised by Historic Scotland. The organisation of an event of this magnitude presented some challenges for the HS team which, despite an 26 | www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

impressive portfolio of international events such as Digidoc, had not before undertaken an academic event of this size. The team worked closely with members of the Metal Working Group to ensure that the conference was delivered to the established high standards for which the Metal series is famous.

A very successful call for papers resulted in the submission of an excess of 100 abstract proposals from a wide variety of countries for inclusion in the programme.

In order to provide academic rigour, and in line with previous Metals conferences, Historic Scotland invited 25 leading international metal conservation experts to form the scientific committee to carry out a peer-review process. Each abstract was double-blind reviewed and the 45 successful papers were then edited by a core group of scientific editors. Historic Scotland co-ordinated all the correspondence between the editors and the authors, ensuring anonymity throughout the process and working

David Hallam, Coordinator ICOM-CC Metal Working Group

XXXXXXXXXXX

with people as near as Edinburgh and as far as Mexico, Hong Kong and Australia.

The final programme contained a wide variety of topics, from the conservation of small metal artefacts such as coins and daggers to the maintenance of large-scale objects such as the 1864 HL Hunley Submarine or the 1940s DC-3 ‘Betsy’ aircraft. Other papers explored topics such as the use of new technology for monitoring and conservation purposes, and ethical considerations when Vanesa Gonzalez conserving metal artefacts. vanesa.gonzalez@ scotland.gsi.gov.uk In addition to the papers, there was also a call for posters, a great opportunity to showcase projects in their early stages and receive feedback from the pool of experts.

A total of 60 poster abstracts were submitted and after a double-blind review 32 were presented at the event.

To buy a copy of the conference proceedings, visit www.lulu.com and search for Metal 2013.

When it came to organising the logistics and social programme, the HS team were in EDINBURGH their element. The committee’s aim was to CONVENTION organise an event that not only had cuttingBUREAU edge academic content, but that also ESTIMATES THAT showcased Scotland to the international METAL 2013 HAD delegation and provided networking AN ECONOMIC opportunities. On top of the already packed IMPACT OF programme, the organising committee £407,000 INCOME added three optional lunchtime seminars, where delegates learned about the FOR SCOTLAND conservation of the Forth Bridge, the

development of Scottish iron foundries and how National Museums Scotland (NMS) cares for its collection of metal artefacts. These seminars were complemented by exhibits such as historic trade catalogues and examples of Historic Scotland’s and NMS’s collections for delegates to peruse throughout the breaks.

The social programme had four evening events, including preregistration drinks for early arrivals at Surgeons’ Hall, and an optional visit to the Forth Bridge, where the group was treated to a fish and chip supper at Orocco Pier. The poster session took place in the capital’s most famous landmark, Edinburgh Castle, and included a tour of the Honours of Scotland. Finally, the conference dinner was held at Stirling Castle, one of the most majestic royal palaces in Scotland, where a superb three-course meal was followed by a ceilidh.

The organising committee was truly impressed by all the dancing and delighted that the delegation did not want to leave at the end of the night.

The organising team has received much positive feedback from the delegates, and the event not only helped to raise the profile of Historic Scotland and Scottish metal conservation at international level, it also provided links with other organisations around the globe.

Edinburgh Convention Bureau estimates that Metal 2013 had an economic impact of £407,000 income for Scotland.

For the HS Technical Outreach and Education team this was a major undertaking, but after all the long days and sleepless nights, would we do it again?… without a doubt!

Historic Scotland | Focus 2014 | 27

FOCUS ON SKILLS

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Introduction Welcome to FOCUS ON SKILLS. Traditional skills and skills training are at the heart of our work. In 2011, the Scottish Government published its strategy for sustaining and developing traditional building skills in Scotland (available from Historic Scotland).

In it, the Government makes a commitment to encourage better repair and maintenance, improve the availability and standard of skills training and promote a better understanding of the relevance of traditional skills to our current building stock.

Historic Scotland plays a significant role in delivering this vision. The agency is currently working with other partner organisations to develop stronger and better ways to teach and promote traditional skills, with the aim of ensuring this expertise is readily available across Scotland in the future and contributing to the country’s economy.

FOCUS ON SKILLS highlights some of the work that Historic Scotland is doing to develop skills training and promote the

value of traditional skills. Moses Jenkins outlines a new two-day accredited energy efficiency training course which is now being rolled out, while Dorothy Hoskins provides an update on the new National Conservation Centre. Graeme Bell talks about high level consolidation works that have been carried out at Arbroath Abbey, while Dorothy Hoskins returns in another article to tell us about her skills exchange trip to Iceland which explored outreach and education opportunities for traditional turf buildings.

This is followed by an article from Ali Davey which gives us a glimpse into the work of the early 20th-century, Edinburgh-based blacksmithing firm of Thomas Hadden.

Later in this section we are introduced to some of Historic Scotland’s Craft Fellows and Heritage Lottery Fund Bursary Placements.

Finally, Gillian Ferguson highlights some of the fantastic achievements of our stonemasonry apprentices and explores planned training for our own stonemasons.

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HS team hits the heights Head of Conservation (Central) Graeme Bell gives an insight into essential masonry works carried out on the weathered towers of Arbroath Abbey

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Graeme F. Bell graeme.bell@ scotland.gsi.gov.uk

n 2013, falling fragments from Arbroath Abbey’s north-west towers prompted us to take action, given that the falls were occurring close to the neighbouring Visitor Centre and primary access route into the site.

We began with an aerial survey using a small remotecontrolled multirotary-winged helicopter supporting a high-resolution live-feed camera. This technique allowed the District Architect (DA) to see the condition of masonry quickly without the need to access the higher levels of the structure in person. This in turn meant a quick decision could be made on whether work could be carried out by our Rope Access Teams, steeplejacks for low-impact works, or whether more complex consolidation works were needed, which would necessitate a full-access scaffold being installed.

The aerial survey confirmed that a full-access scaffold was required and so preparations were made for a full scheme of conservation works to be carried out in the areas of highest risk. The DA for the project, Karen Williamson, began by identifying areas where work was required and then drawing up an application for Scheduled Monument Consent Process (Historic Scotland’s parallel process to Scheduled Monument Consent). This was then submitted to HS Heritage Management Directorate for approval.

To facilitate works by our Masonry Conservation Unit (MCU) squads, a designed scaffold was required to enable a safe working platform. Organised by our District Works Manager Stuart McFarlane, this involved collaboration with our in-house engineers, the DA, an external consultant scaffold designer and a scaffold builder. At Arbroath, we essentially had a ‘bird cage’ scaffold which

Arbroath Abbey is built of Devonian old red sandstone, which can be susceptible to significant weathering

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gave full access to the monument area to be worked on (in this case 12 levels, or lifts).

The abbey is built of Devonian old red sandstone which contains impurities including pebbles and soft mud clasts.

A high proportion of mud or clay in the sandstone makes it susceptible to significant weathering in exposed areas of the building. Earlier stone pointing regimes used harder grit pointing which caused sacrificial weathering of the stone rather than the pointing. The older pointing appears as lines or ribbons of hard mortar standing proud of the surrounding stone surfaces (rather than being flush with the stone surface) which can create water/ice traps which further accelerate the erosion process. This issue was tackled under the current works programme, along with stone deterioration. Our current pointing regimes are designed to allow the mortar pointing to be softer than the stone (and hence sacrificial to the stone), allowing the stone to breathe at joints and beds.

The local Arbroath MCU team led by Jim Robertson was assisted by other MCU squads from St Andrews, Perth and Aberdour, with the works scheduled to be completed (at the time of writing) in March 2014.

HLF Bursary Manager Gillian Ferguson explains the importance of training apprentices in the vital craft

Stonemasonry: the next generation

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A 2nd year stone plinth being checked for accuracy

Jessica Thomson, 1st year stonemasonry apprentice

Stonemasonry requires practical and theoretical knowledge

or over 14 years Historic Scotland has been training its own stonemasonry apprentices through the National Conservation Centre (NCC) at Elgin Cathedral in Moray, and since 2011 at a second HS facility created within Forth Valley College’s campus in Stirling. To become a time-served stonemason takes four years with a mixture of practical training, theory and time on site undertaking live projects and putting the practical skills into use. HS currently has 42 apprentices Gillian Ferguson based at depots around Scotland and caring for more than gillian.ferguson@ 300 of the agency’s properties in care. scotland.gsi.gov.uk Tuition at NCC Elgin is led by Training Manager Graham Campbell and Lecturer Alan Cormie, while Charles Jones is Training Manager at the Stirling facility, supported by Lecturer Innes Drummond and Traditional Skills Officer Stephen Townsend. The teaching staff have also been heavily involved in a review of stonemasonry qualification being undertaken by the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA).

Graham said: ‘Our high-calibre training staff are required not only to be time-served and experienced masons they need to have the skills and enthusiasm to teach and pass on their knowledge. Our tutors are accredited by the SQA to assess the qualifications we teach, and we have staff accredited to undertake internal verification.’

The NCC Elgin and Stirling teams are also involved in Historic Scotland’s practical outreach activities. With a shortage of young people entering the heritage sector and training to gain the skills vital to undertake the repair and maintenance required to safeguard Scotland’s traditional buildings, HS delivers a programme of outreach events to primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities and organisations which work with young people.

‘We give young people the chance to get hands on and try stonemasonry for themselves, and take the chance to explain to them how important Scotland’s built heritage is,’ said Charles Jones.

‘The 2013-2014 term has been a busy one. To fulfil the Scottish Government commitment to creating employment and giving the opportunity for young people to gain skills, both of the facilities have full classes of firstyear stonemasonry apprentices, with eight at Elgin and 12 attending Forth Valley College. And in November’s 2013 UK SkillBuild masonry WE GIVE YOUNG competition, despite being up against the PEOPLE THE best eight apprentices in the UK, the two HS CHANCE TO TRY apprentices who entered – John Reid and STONEMASONRY, Connor Crawford – did exceptionally well, AND EXPLAIN gaining 4th and 8th place. We are hopeful HOW IMPORTANT that one or both of them may go on to SCOTLAND’S BUILT further training with WorldSkills this year – which could result in one of them going on HERITAGE IS to compete in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 2015.’

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Building on a monument of skills HLF Bursary Manager Gillian Ferguson on how Historic Scotland is dedicated to improvement

Gillian Ferguson gillian.ferguson@ scotland.gsi.gov.uk

The Historic Scotland team that undertakes practical repairs on a range of properties and sites is the Monument Conservation Unit (MCU), which sits within our Conservation Directorate.

The MCU team is also host to all of Historic Scotland’s apprentices, including electricians, painters and decorators and stonemasons.

It has been recognised that the MCU teams are in need of refreshing or gaining new skills in certain specialised areas such as leadworking and drystone dyking. Historic Scotland are also keen to give their stonemasons and final year stonemasonry apprentices the opportunity to put into practice their skills in decorative carving in stone.

To increase practical knowledge of traditional leadworking, Historic Scotland will look to bring in outside experts to deliver training courses and provide accreditation for staff. The traditional skills team are also identifying current staff with dry stone walling experience who can be given further training.

Thomas Hadde Traditional Skills and Materials Project Manager Ali Davey explores the work of Edinburgh-based blacksmith firm Thomas Hadden Historic Scotland are keen to give their stonemasons the chance to put their skills in decorative stone carving into practice

As a chance to put their creativity to the test and decorative carving skills into practice, Historic Scotland are inviting all of their masons and final year stonemasonry apprentices to participate in a stone carving competition. The competition will take place over two days. Innes Drummond, our Masonry Tutor based at Historic Scotland’s National Conservation Centre at Forth Valley College, has been tasked with organising the event.

Innes said: ‘This event gives Historic Scotland’s masonry staff the opportunity to demonstrate their skill through friendly rivalry and to share ideas and techniques, as well as engaging the apprentices aspiring to develop their craft. Those taking part will be asked to create a piece of work within a short timescale all using the same size and type of stone and following the theme of ‘Tools of the Trade’.

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uring the first half of the twentieth century, many of the most prestigious ironwork commissions in Scotland were carried out

by Thomas Hadden. The founder and namesake of the firm was born in 1871 in Hamilton, Lanarkshire. He was the son and grandson of blacksmiths and followed in their footsteps, taking up an apprenticeship with a blacksmith in Howgate.

By 1901, Hadden was setting up his own blacksmithing business in East Silvermills Lane, Stockbridge, Edinburgh (despite being advised against it by one of his most devoted patrons, Robert Lorimer). Hadden later moved to premises in Murrayfield in 1927, the same year his nephew Robert Hadden joined the firm.

Robert later took over the firm on his uncle’s retirement.

Depending on the size and number of commissions, Hadden’s workshop could have up to 30 blacksmiths working at any one time.

Despite working largely to designs created by others, much of Hadden’s ironwork is very recognisable.

Replica Holyrood balustrade at Dunderave Castle © CROWN COPYRIGHT: RCAHMS. LICENSOR WWW.RCAHMS.GOV.UK

COURTESY OF RCAHMS (THOMAS HADDEN COLLECTION). LICENSOR WWW.RCAHMS.GOV.UK © COURTESY OF RCAHMS (SCOTTISH COLORFOTO COLLECTION). LICENSOR WWW.RCAHMS.GOV.UK

Casket, Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh

Hadden had a passion for natural and medieval motifs

en: Edinburgh’s artist blacksmith Many of his pieces included recurring motifs such as birds, animals, flowers and berries, as well as others drawn from medieval ironwork.

WORKING WITH ROBERT LORIMER While Hadden worked with many designers, one of his most fruitful partnerships was with renowned Scottish Arts and Crafts architect, Robert Lorimer. The working partnership began early in Hadden’s career and continued until Lorimer’s death in 1929. Lorimer shared Hadden’s passion for natural and medieval motifs and it is clear that Lorimer’s designs influenced Hadden’s workshop style.

One of Lorimer’s earliest commissions was balustrades for Ardkinglass Castle around 1906-08. The influence of 17th-century Scottish ironwork is obvious, particularly in the use of flat plate, and was probably directly inspired by a 17th-century balustrade in Holyrood Palace. In fact, Hadden went on to produce an exact replica of this balustrade for Dunderave Castle in 1911, also for Lorimer. This feature was echoed in many other commissions, including the railing panels and gates produced to the designs of Phoebe Anna Traquair for a private house in Collinton in 1924.

One of Thomas Hadden’s most notable commissions was the stunning casket which forms the centrepiece to Lorimer’s Scottish National War Memorial. The casket was made in 1927 to house the Rolls of Honour, and included figures modelled by Alice Meredith Williams.

Ali Davey ali.davey@ scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Much of the information in this article was sourced from the National Museums of Scotland Thomas Hadden archive and Elizabeth F Wright’s article Thomas Hadden: Architectural Metalworker, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquities, 121 (1991) pp 427-435.

Hadden produced ironwork for many other clients, including renowned cabinet makers Whytock & Reid.

The bread and butter work for the firm was producing smaller items such as fire irons, well-head covers, lanterns and light fittings. Hadden’s firm even produced some of the cages and enclosures for Edinburgh Zoo. Like so many other businesses, Thomas Hadden suffered with the outbreak of World War Two; many of his smiths moved into shipbuilding. Some returned after the war and business picked up temporarily as the firm worked on many memorial commissions.

One of their big commissions in the 1950s was to produce the Quincentenary gates for Glasgow University.

However, by the 1960s many of Hadden’s skilled smiths were moving to better paid jobs in industry. Fashions and consumer habits were changing too, and the demand for hand-crafted goods was in decline. Robert Hadden noted in a lecture at the time: ‘I am afraid what is lacking is the determination and imagination of the people to use us and our craft before we perish of neglect.’ Sadly prophetic words as the firm eventually closed in 1975.

It is unquestionably a loss for Scotland that Thomas Hadden’s firm is no more. However, we are left with a wonderful legacy of skilfully made wrought ironwork to inspire the following generations of smiths, architects and designers – let’s hope they can be as inspired by the past as Thomas Hadden was.

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BURSARIES

Funding the future Historic Scotland’s HLF Bursary Manager Gillian Ferguson introduces us to the bursary opportunities offered by Historic Scotland and some of those who have benefitted from them

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or many years Historic Scotland has supported traditional craft skills through funded vocational placements with experts working at Historic Scotland, as well as leading crafts people in the wider heritage sector.

More recently, an exciting new partnership has been formed with the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for two projects managed by Historic Scotland. Both look Gillian Ferguson to build on the capacity in the repair and maintenance gillian.ferguson sector in Scotland. scotland.gsi.gov.uk The first project is the HLF Masonry Bursary Scheme which aims to address masonry skills shortages within the heritage sector. Funding has allowed over 30 five-week courses throughout Scotland, delivering the National Progression Award qualification for the Conservation of Masonry – an SQA recognised level 3 qualification.

In addition, year-long bursaries are available to fund placements with masonry contractors throughout Scotland and Northern Ireland, where bursary holders can undertake training and SEVERAL YEARgain skills through experience of vocational LONG BURSARY work on site. Several of these year-long HOLDERS HAVE bursary holders have been engaged by their BEEN ENGAGED host company at the end of their placement or moved into formal stonemasonry

BY THEIR apprenticeships, proving that the scheme HOST COMPANY increases employability.

AT THE END The most recent project is the HLF Skills OF THEIR for the Future Bursary Scheme, which aims PLACEMENT to create vocational training programmes where bursary holders gain a deep practical and technical understanding of a range of key traditional skills, while increasing their employability skills.

Both of the HLF funded projects have seen Historic Scotland strengthen links with industry and other heritage organisations, such as the National Trust for Scotland and Scottish Canals, as well as contractors working in the construction sector.

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Leigh Bradley Leigh was one of the first to benefit from a Historic Scotland masonry bursary placement. She is the owner of The Colin Braid Stone Workshop – formerly her uncle’s business – and is now hosting Jackie Perkins, making her the first HLF bursary holder to teach the next generation of bursary recipients.

‘I started off on what would have been your basic first year masonry apprenticeship but I suppose to a certain extent I was fasttracked. I began training on flat surfaces and then my final piece was quite an intricately detailed and carved arch stone for a cathedral.

‘I met Jackie on a letter carving course, she was very keen to learn more and moonlighted at my workshop before starting the bursary scheme. We began with some basic drawing and letter carving exercises and Jackie quickly got up to speed. She is now working on some of the smaller letter carving jobs that come into the workshop, following the process through from beginning to end, consolidating her learning.’

Jackie Perkins

Jackie is a current bursary holder and is training under Leigh Bradley at The Colin Braid Stone Workshop.

She will finish her placement in March 2014.

‘Since the beginning of the placement my time’s been divided between practising my letter carving and drawing and design skills – and that’s the side which I didn’t have very much experience with before I started.

Right now I’m just starting my first cremation stone – my first memorial. So that’s quite a big one. It’s going to be quite challenging, I think.

‘I’m glad to be getting quicker and quicker as I go along. Particularly with carving, I think I’ve improved quite a lot in a short space of time. But you just need practice to get quicker. We work mainly with slate and sandstone, but there is quite a lot of variation even with them. I’ve also attended two courses, both of which were run by the Lettering and Commemorative Art Trust, which is a charity that specifically runs letter carving courses. ‘

BURSARIES Digital documentarian Matthew Strahan

Margaret McCabe Margaret McCabe was recently Historic Scotland Craft Fellow based with Robin Abbey Traditional Signwriter in Leith.

‘The signwriting work I do is so diverse, it ranges from painting the back of a model baby elephant to doing carousel horses, and heraldry.

‘At first, I couldn’t paint at all with a brush and a mahl stick. I just thought that the mahl stick was a hindrance. Now I can’t paint without it. Just being able to draw a straight line and a curve has taken a long time to master. We need traditional signwriters because they are creating something unique.

‘My biggest achievement to date is doing a heraldry plaque which is in the doorway of Capital Building, George Street, Edinburgh.’

Matthew Strahan

Matthew Strahan was a Skills for the Future Bursary Holder dealing with 3D Digital Documentation, based with Historic Scotland’s Laser Scanning team in Edinburgh. He finished his placement in January 2014.

‘My Masters involved laser scanning and I ended up doing my dissertation on this topic. We learned about it for maybe a week at the start of the course but I was somewhat smitten with the technology and thought it was really really cool.

‘The main project we have is the RAE project.

When completed, it will make Scotland the first country in the world to have all of the sites in government care digitally documented – so that’s 350 sites, more or less.

‘The bulk of the work I’ve been doing has been scanning Edinburgh Castle. The scanning of the castle began last year with the last Bursary placement, Adam Frost. The team, including Adam, started doing the inner castle and we have the exterior of the castle almost entirely finished.

There’s just a few bits left to do. I’ve been working in all sorts of places I didn’t think I would ever end up in, such as the roof of pretty much every building you can get on to in the castle.

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A laser scan image of the Engine Shed building in Stirling

Further progress at National Conservation Centre Technical Outreach and Education Manager Dorothy Hoskins gives an update on a project set to transform traditional skills in Scotland

Dorothy Hoskins To become involved in the stakeholder engagement process, or to find out more about the project as a whole, contact Dorothy Hoskins on dorothy.hoskins@ scotland.gsi.gov.uk

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lans for Historic Scotland’s National Conservation Centre have continued to grow, having secured a Stage 1 pass from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in July 2013 and £1.936m funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in November 2013.

The Stage 1 pass from the HLF has helped us to continue to develop the project, bringing a full professional team on board and allowing us to undertake stakeholder engagement on the plans.

At the heart of the centre will be the Engine Shed building in the Forthside area of Stirling, scheduled to open in the spring of 2016. It will operate as a training and education centre for technical conservation and will be open to the public free of charge.

It will also house our Technical Outreach and Education, Conservation Science and Digital Preservation teams.

The centre will be the hub for technical outreach and education facilities, also using HS depots and monuments across the country as training bases. Many resources developed there will be shared

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with partners nationwide and a online survey. The purpose was to strong virtual presence will ensure capture opinions on plans for the as broad an access to resources centre and to help identify and shape and events as possible. cross-sector collaborative working.

We are already developing a full Around a hundred stakeholders annual programme of events and attended these meetings and over activities including the delivery of a 440 respondents completed the postgraduate technical conservation online survey. Overall, responses were qualification, offering modules on very positive identifying traditional materials and skills. It will opportunities presented by the host demonstrations and workshops centre to support and enable work on traditional craft skills and be a across the wider sector. All comments resource centre for information on received are being fed into the traditional building materials. The project development to ensure the programme will include events aimed centre meets expectations from the at families and children including public and all industry sectors evening and weekend workshops in which we operate. and activities, and 3D immersive Looking forward, 2014 is a very environments to transport visitors to exciting year for the project with the buildings across the world. Online HLF Stage 2 submission and on-going resources will provide information on sector engagement as our plans other training courses crystallise. Although and centres across the THE CENTRE WILL the building itself is not country and due to open until 2016, ACT AS A FOCUS opportunities within our activities have ALONGSIDE OUR already started aligning the heritage sector.

OTHER DEPOTS, A series of stakeholder with our aspirations and MONUMENTS engagement events you will be hearing AND FACILITIES were held across the more from Historic country in November Scotland’s National ACROSS THE and December 2013, Conservation Centre COUNTRY running alongside an throughout the year.

Moses Jenkins, Senior Technical Officer with the Technical Research Team, gives an update on a new course that makes use of some innovative training techniques

Energy efficiency award O ver the last year we have transformed Historic Scotland’s awardwinning technical research in the field of energy efficiency into a training course. This is a key development in ensuring that traditionally constructed buildings have their thermal performance improved in a way which will not lead to long term problems for the building fabric. It is also a critical part of ensuring that such buildings contribute to the Scottish Government’s ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions. Under the 2010 Energy Efficiency Action Plan, Historic Scotland has been tasked with leading and disseminating the results of research in this area.

In October 2013, a three-day course was held for staff from the Scotland-wide regional advisory teams of the Energy Saving Trust.

The course drew heavily on the fiveyear program of practical site-based research conducted by Historic Scotland and covered in depth all aspects of improving energy efficiency in traditionally constructed buildings. This included how such buildings were constructed, the impact of building defects, air and moisture movement, as well as improvement options for building elements including walls, floors, windows and roof spaces.

The course also saw the first use of purpose-built training rigs. These are four full size replicas showing typical traditional construction details including suspended timber floors, coom ceilings and lath and plaster wall linings. The rigs are used to demonstrate a range of energy improvement options earlier discussed in a classroom situation, giving a much clearer view of the practicalities of insulating traditionally constructed buildings.

For example, the air gap which should be left between sarking board and insulation when making improvements to an attic room in the roof space can be much more clearly demonstrated on a full size training rig than using photographs or diagrams. Further rigs will be developed over the coming months

New training rigs make practical insulation demonstrations much clearer for students and it is anticipated that these at those who will be supervising work will form a key part of training in on site. It is anticipated that in 2014 energy efficiency going forward. further energy efficiency courses The training which has been targeted at specific groups will be developed by Historic Scotland is run. The Specialist Up Skilling currently undergoing the process of Program, the Award in Energy becoming a qualification Efficiency and courses accredited by the SQA. for a more general THE TRAINING The Award in Energy audience are all likely to IS CURRENTLY Efficiency for Older and be available from midUNDERGOING Traditional Buildings will 2014, and details will be THE PROCESS be a three-day course at available in our regular OF BECOMING SCQF level 6, and will e-newsletter (sign up at provide 0.5 SQA credit A QUALIFICATION www.historic-scotland. points to those who gov.uk/conservation) ACCREDITED BY complete it. The target and on our website.

THE SQA audience will initially The development be those who provide of training based on advice on energy efficiency measures the extensive technical research for traditional buildings including undertaken in recent years is a Green Deal advisers, energy significant and exciting development assessors, surveyors, housing officers of the work that Historic Scotland is and appropriate professionals. doing in the field of energy efficiency.

The award is designed to meet By developing and delivering such the requirements of a series of UK training, traditionally constructed National Occupational Standards buildings in Scotland can have their which were developed earlier in 2013 thermal performance improved using under the auspices of Asset Skills with methods and materials which will the input of Historic Scotland, English work with, rather than against, their Heritage, CADW, the National Trust fabric. This will help ensure such and SPAB, among others. buildings are made energy efficient In addition to this, Historic in a way which will not cause long Scotland is also contributing term harm to our built heritage, and material to a Specialist Up Skilling will ensure that these properties Programme being developed by contribute towards the national Construction Skills. This is aimed emissions reduction targets.

Moses Jenkins moses.jenkins@ scotland.gsi.gov.uk

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FOCUS ON SKILLS

Icelandic inspiration Last year, Technical Outreach and Education Manager Dorothy Hoskins visited Iceland to find out about local traditional building methods

Dorothy Hoskins

dorothy.hoskins @scotland.gsi. gov.uk

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or a week in May I was lucky enough to participate in a CHIST study trip to Iceland, where I learnt about traditional Icelandic turf buildings, the traditional skills involved in constructing and maintaining them, and about heritage tourism in Iceland.

The trip consisted of hands-on turf cutting and building as well as field visits to turf buildings and insights into how Iceland is coping in the face of a growing tourist market.

Through the trip I hoped to gain an insight into the traditional turf building skills of the area and to understand how they are being kept alive through outreach and education programmes. I was also keen to see how a materials-based programme would work and to see whether we could develop something similar within Historic Scotland, perhaps with reference to stone.

Lessons learnt from this trip would feed directly into development plans for the National Conservation Centre and had the potential to influence how we approach skills engagement going forward.

The trip largely concentrated around the Skagafjördur area in the north west of Iceland, in an area known for its turf buildings. This area is a four-hour drive from Reykjavik and is characterised by a landscape with flat plains flanked by high mountain ranges.

Two days were spent at Tyrfingsstaðir rebuilding a wall of a traditional turf steading, including cutting and preparing the turf to be used. Working so closely with the material really helped us to understand its qualities and how the buildings work. Working with turf is sustainable and zero waste, with all trimmings being used to fill the wall cavity, and we all developed a respect for this material having spent time building with it.

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Many of the surviving turf buildings in the area were important buildings such as churches and priest houses. We visited a number of these buildings, many of which are looked after by the local museum. While there is a keen recognition of the cultural significance of these buildings, and their importance in bringing tourists to the area, there is a conflict, as with vernacular buildings in Scotland, where people no longer wish to live in them and often they are preserved only as museum pieces.

Whilst the trip itself was educational, insightful and a huge amount of fun, my conclusions are mixed.

The types of courses run at Tyrfingsstaðir are mainly international in focus with groups such as ourselves on European exchange and Americans visiting to learn.

Local interest does exist, but the level of maintenance required for turf buildings appears to put people off developing and using these skills. Moreover, there are no hands-on education programmes aimed at children, although they will learn about this heritage through museums. There is also little work to sustain these skills and it’s clear the challenges they face in Iceland are similar to the challenges within the vernacular building skills sector here.

Hopefully some of the links made through our visit will provide a way forward to maintain these building traditions. n The Cultural Heritage Interpretation and Sustainable Tourism (CHIST) exchange was funded by the ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ programme and delivered through Archnetwork in Scotland.

Spreading skills through Scotland

LERWICK

SKARA BRAE KIRKWALL

STROMNESS

ELGIN

TULLYNESSLE

INVERNESS BRIDGE OF OICH

FYVIE

BANCHORY

BARRA

CALLANDER STIRLING

KILMELFORD

BANFF

PERTH METHILL

LINLITHGOW PAISLEY

GLASGOW PEEBLES

We work hard to take our CAMPBELTOWN knowledge on the road, bringing unique training courses to a town near you.

Here are just a few of the places we visited recently

AYR

KIRKCUDBRIGHT

EDINBURGH DALKEITH

GALASHIELS

Historic Scotland Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh EH9 1SH T: +44 (0)131 668 8600 www.historic-scotland.gov.uk