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Category: Materials

A row of lovely, well-kept traditional stone cottages with a flagstone roof
Materials

In search of Angus flagstone roofs: a rare and distinctive Scottish tradition

Thursday 23 July 2026

Flagstone roofs are rare in the UK, but in one area on the East Coast of Scotland flagstone has been used on roofs for over 500 years. We went on a mission to find out how many flagstone roofs are left in Angus and what the future might look for these precious pieces of local heritage.

A person wearing a black Historic Environment Scotland hoody, holding up a long piece of oakum at a table in a workshop setting.
Skills

The tools and techniques of traditional ship caulking

Thursday 2 July 2026

Craft Fellow Rowan Duffy shares a brief history and the process of one of the oldest maritime craft techniques – caulking.

Three tall standing stones in a field and one smaller one, by the coast with a house in the background
Science

Key insights from studying Scotland’s standing stones

Thursday 12 March 2026

Standing stones are some of Scotland's most evocative historic places and many mysteries still surround them. Find out how our standing stone survey is helping us understand them.

A group of people curling with brushes on a frozen loch, with snowy hills in the background.
Materials

Scottish stone makes a clean sweep for Olympic Curling

Tuesday 10 February 2026

There is only one quarry in the world that makes all the curling stones used in the Winter Olympics, and it's in Scotland. Discover the history of curling and the mighty Scottish stone that's one of the stars of the sport.

A concrete, multi-storey building, which is long and is made up of many flats with balconies
Materials

Poetry from concrete: Scotland’s fascinating historic concrete and brutalist architecture

Tuesday 16 December 2025

Mighty, creative and sometimes controversial, concrete structures are important part of our heritage. Explore Scotland's early and 20th century concrete buildings.

One person is holding a piece of equipment up to a stone building and the other is looking at the monitoring screen attached to the device.
Science

Searching for the stones that built Scotland

Wednesday 30 October 2024

We're surveying stone types at the 300+ properties in our care. Join Conservation Scientist, Sarah Hamilton, to find out more.

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Thank you

The Engine Shed is accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and National Open College Network (NOCN). The Engine Shed was supported by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to share knowledge of traditional building materials, develop skills and raise standards in conservation for traditional buildings.

  • Heritage Lottery Fund

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Historic Environment Scotland is the lead public body established to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment.

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