School pupils from North Lanarkshire have taken part in a traditional building skills workshop in Fife.

A total of 20 students from St Ambrose, Coatbridge, St Andrews and Portland high schools learned about traditional building techniques at the Scottish Lime Centre Trust, as well as the geology of materials such as lime, sandstone, whinstone and slate.

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In addition, pupils had an opportunity to design and carve masons' marks on limestone and apply 'hairy' lime plaster onto wooden laths.

The visit was organised by the council as part of the Coatbridge Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), which supports the regeneration of Blairhill and Dunbeth Conservation Area within the town centre.

The CARS project has a budget of over £1.4 million, funded by Historic Environment Scotland and the council. It offers grants up to £25,000 towards external improvements works on traditional buildings, including repairs to stonework, chimneys and gutters.

Image credit: Tina Norris Photography

(LM/MH)