A new deal to train Scotland’s builders of the future to maintain and repair historic buildings has been set up between the Dalkeith Townscape Heritage Initiative and Edinburgh’s Telford College.

The Dalkeith Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) and Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) is a £1.9m programme of renovation and regeneration work to improve historic Dalkeith town centre.

Telford College was appointed as the Dalkeith THI training partner following a competitive tender. It will provide courses in making and using traditional mortar, masonry repair, roofing and sash and case window repair as well as other areas of traditional building repair and restoration.

With earliest records dating from the 12th century, Dalkeith - which was first granted Royal Burgh status in 1540 - still retains its traditional mediaeval streets pattern. But - like many other historic town centres - Dalkeith has suffered from economic decline and many buildings in the conservation area are in need of improvement.

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The new training programme between Dalkeith THI and Telford College will combine practical tuition and learning at Telford with on-the-job mentoring at actual renovation sites in Dalkeith. Trainees can progress one unit at a time through the learning programme, which can ultimately lead to a National Progression Award in Conservation of Masonry.

John Laing, Sector Business Senior Manager at Telford College, said: “To repair and maintain the fabric of our historic buildings, we need to train tomorrow’s craftsmen today with the skills of their forefathers – and Dalkeith THI provides trainees with excellent ‘live’ learning experience on Listed Buildings.

“These are not simply ‘museum-piece’ skills – they are transferable craft skills which can be used in the maintenance and repair of historic and Listed Buildings anywhere – apart from London, Edinburgh has the greatest number of A-listed buildings in Britain.”

Councillor Russell Imrie, Cabinet Member for Strategic Services at Midlothian Council, added: “Sadly, many of the tradesmen who built our heritage are no longer with us – so I’m very keen that young people, community groups and local builders and contractors are fully involved in learning both the skills and the processes involved in restoring our historic buildings. And training and education is a vital part of the regeneration process.

“Maintaining historic buildings in a good state of repair means keeping an eye on the historic fabric – roofs, walls, and rainwater goods so that they are kept in a sound state and repaired when necessary to avoid large expense if things are not sorted out in a timely manner. It’s all about historic good-housekeeping.”

Trainees from Midlothian Council’s Midlothian Training Services have been involved in the first phase of the training workshops and they are now applying the skills learnt at Telford College on-site to repair traditionally-built walls in some of the vennels running off Dalkeith High Street.

(GK)