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Category: Materials

Freshly cut reed beds viewed from above, looking down directly on to a tightly packed series of reeds, looking like bunched straws.
Materials

Thatching Reed: supporting buildings and nature

Thursday 31 August 2023

We caught up with RSPB Tayside Reserves Warden Vicky Turnbull to find out more about the Tay reedbeds and how they support both nature and building conservation.

A white stone cottage with a corrugated iron roof, in a countryside setting with hills in the background
Materials

Binding with earth: what we know about earth mortars in Scotland

Monday 5 December 2022

Building with earth mortar is a tradition that's over 5,000 years old. So why do we know so little about this material, and how to use it, today? Traditional Skills and Materials Project Manager, Graham Briggs, is here to help you find out more.

A historic cottage in the middle of nowhere with a bright yellow door
Maintenance

New year’s resolutions for your home

Thursday 13 January 2022

From a bit of TLC to living a greener life, check out our top tips to help your historic home throughout the New Year.

Two people working with squares of turf
Materials

Tour the quarries and fields that built Scotland, and could help us reach a low carbon future

Tuesday 2 November 2021

Join us on a virtual tour to find out more about Scotland's historic building materials, where they come from, what they have been used for, and ways they can help us build a sustainable future.

A building made up of pink, red, cream and white bricks in many different patterns
Materials

Scotland’s beautiful brick buildings

Friday 15 October 2021

From the highest tower in Dundee to Bute's incredible Victorian glazed brick toilets, we explore Scotland's skillfully crafted brick buildings.

Sash and case windows in a stone tenement
Sustainability

Sustainable Homes: Plastic Free Solutions For Your Building Refurbishment

Thursday 8 July 2021

Make small scale DIY repairs and refurbishing jobs around your house more plastic-free and less reliant on materials using fossil fuels.

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Thank you

The Engine Shed has been supported by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to create Scotland’s dedicated building conservation centre. It enables us to encourage understanding of traditional building materials and skills among the public and professionals and raise standards in conservation for traditional buildings.

  • Heritage Lottery Fund

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Part of Historic Environment Scotland

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

© Historic Environment Scotland - Scottish Charity No. SC045925