How traditional skills could save Eyemouth's historic buildings

Sculptor and stonemason Jo Crossland with one of her carved stone panels

Historic buildings in a Borders coastal town are set for much-needed repairs with the introduction of a pilot training scheme focused on traditional building skills.

The Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) says a nationwide shortage of tradespeople has led to hundreds of centuries-old municipal properties across Scotland being left in a desperate condition.

In Eyemouth a dozen buildings - dating back as far as the mid 18th Century - are in need of urgent repairs and maintenance.

To make a start on the backlog, a course will begin in the new year to train up to 14 people with traditional skills such as stonemasonry and joinery.

Project manager Jess Burrows from SHBT said: "There is a crisis in traditional skills across Scotland.

"At the moment we simply don't have enough people with the masonry, joinery, plastering or roofing skills that are required to maintain all of these buildings that are falling into a state of disrepair."

Project manager Jess Burrows said traditional buildings were built differently to modern properties

The first cohort of Eyemouth's traditional skills students will start their training in January.

An introductory 20-week course has been devised with a programme of repointing - a process of removing and replacing mortar - and windowsill repairs at the category A-listed Gunsgreen House.

Ms Burrows added: "Traditional buildings are constructed differently from modern day ones, and that means different interventions are required to look after them.

"Learning traditional building skills allows people to approach repairs and maintenance in a different way."

Gunsgreen House will be the first historical building in Eyemouth to benefit from the programme

Built in 1753, Gunsgreen House was initially the home of merchant and smuggler James Nisbet.

Although the three-storey palladian villa, which is now a museum and visitor attraction, is in relatively good condition, it will provide the canvas for new students to hone their skills.

Kevin McClure, who will help deliver the first training course, said: "This is an opportunity to mould a career in a traditional skill.

"We are hoping that a further 20 weeks of training will follow the initial pilot, and by giving people that multitude of experiences over the year, it will help them make informed decisions about their next step.

"We are a nation of towns and villages with historic buildings at their centre - and we currently don't have the skilled people to maintain them."

Further buildings in and around Eyemouth have been identified for future phases of the programme.

Kevin McClure will help deliver the traditional skills courses

The certified course is open to anyone aged 16 and over, including school leavers and anyone looking to retrain.

To publicise the programme - and invite applications - SHBT is holding taster sessions in Eyemouth town centre.

Local artist and stonemason Jo Crossland is overseeing limestone carving.

She said: "Even in these days of computers and AI, there is still an urge to work with your hands - there is something really appealing about creating things and fixing things.

"There is a demand for traditional stonemasonry as so many old buildings are in need of repair - and it offers such a variety of work.

"You never know what your next project will be."

Artist Jo Crossland demonstrates letter carving on a block of Bath limestone