Recently the Trade was invited courtesy of Ian Walker of Historic Environment Scotland and his staff, to view The Engine Shed, their new building conservation centre in Forthside Way.

Before the visit commenced, there was a brief toast to the new March Stone dedicated to the Seven Incorporated Trades of Stirling. This is the second stone kindly produced by Historic Environments Scotland’s apprentices at Forth Valley College, Stirling.

The visit then commenced and Ian explained to them the purpose of the new facility which includes workshops and masterclasses as well as interactive exhibits, hands on activities and a 3D theatre. They were particularly taken by the virtual reality headsets where you could explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The facilities will also allow visitors with traditional buildings to seek advice on components, materials and common problems faced, so that they then can look for and identify problems early to prevent them becoming worse.

The Engine Shed building, used as a goods transfer shed, was built sometime between 1896 and 1913 with the programme of restoration beginning in 2013. The building itself is built to a very high standard using many recycled materials, some of the examples being; recycled stone from the dismantled Seaforth bridge next to the site, wood (some of the internal cladding is an old gymnasium floor) and recycled wrought iron for window repairs.

To conclude, Deacon Andy McEwan thanks Ian and his staff for  producing the second March stone and hosting such an enjoyable and interesting visit.