Engine Shed

14/10/2026

How do we make traditional buildings fit for the future without losing what makes them special?

It's one of the challenges facing Scotland's built heritage today. Traditional buildings were made to last, but they're already feeling the impacts of climate change. Combined with a lack of maintenance and repair, the consequences could be catastrophic. However, these buildings are a vital part of the journey towards a cleaner, greener society. We must adapt and protect them.

Our upcoming events explore everything from climate change impacts to improving energy efficiency in traditional buildings and understanding new approaches such as heat networks: https://ow.ly/BuRC50ZXzjO

What do you think the challenges are in adapting Scotland's traditional buildings?

09/10/2026

Here’s to the next generation of heritage craftspeople!

This week, young people from across Scotland joined us to get hands-on with the traditional skills and science that protect Scotland's historic buildings and places.

Stained glass making, stonemasonry, traditional roofing and paint making may have centuries of history behind them, but these skills
have an important future too.

As Heritage Careers Week draws to a close, we’re proud to be helping young people discover the skills, crafts and career opportunities within the heritage sector.

If you're interested in learning more about what it's like to build a career in heritage, visit our website: https://ow.ly/Pzfq50ZVJmp

08/10/2026

Traditional skills matter. From stonemasonry and joinery to thatching, the traditional skills used to care for Scotland’s historic buildings are needed to keep our built heritage in good condition for generations to come.

New research has found that eight in ten heritage employers report skills gaps, showing we must develop, share and sustain the specialist skills our historic environment depends on. At the Engine Shed, we’re passionate about helping people understand Scotland’s traditional buildings, the materials they’re made from, and the skills needed to care for them.

Read the full story: https://ow.ly/H9qt50ZVV2V

06/10/2026

It's Heritage Careers Week 🙌. All week there will be a range of activities taking place to inspire young people with careers in heritage, including building crafts, science and technology. We're delighted to be welcoming schools into the Engine Shed for skills demonstrations 🛠️.

Excitingly, our Digital Documentation and Innovation team has created a new learning resource exploring Kisimul Castle through an interactive 3D model. Play the video to find out more 👇

04/10/2026

How much iron is hiding in our historic buildings?

You might spot iron railings, gates and rainwater goods on a walk down the street, but iron can also be hidden away in shop fronts, lintels and floors, and was even used to create entire façades.

During the 1700s and 1800s, advances in mass production made iron much more affordable. From the 1820s, cast iron became increasingly common and Scotland developed into a global centre for its production. At one point, Glasgow alone had more than 800 foundries.

Today, surviving historic ironwork is an important part of the character of our traditional buildings. Look closely and you might even find a maker’s mark that helps identify the foundry where it was produced.

So next time you pass a traditional building, take a closer look. How much iron can you spot?

02/10/2026

Could Scotland’s lost quarries help us look after our traditional buildings?

Matching replacement stone isn’t just about getting the colour right. Different types of stone absorb and release moisture in different ways, so using the wrong stone for a repair can actually cause the building to deteriorate more quickly.

Yet while 198 building stone types are recognised as having been used in Scotland, only 17 quarries produce building stone today.

New research has identified 170 historic quarries with development potential. Bringing some back into production could provide suitable materials for conservation, support traditional skills and rural jobs, and help reduce the carbon associated with transporting stone.

Our Technical Officer Madeleine Clark takes a closer look at the research, from the revival of slate production on the Isle of Luing to the potential future of Kemnay granite: https://blog.engineshed.scot/2026/08/20/scottish-stone-revival

30/09/2026

Could your future be in heritage?

From stonemasonry and traditional building skills to architecture, surveying, archaeology and climate roles, it takes a huge range of people and expertise to look after Scotland’s historic environment.

As part of Heritage Careers Week 2026, the Edinburgh Castle Careers Fair is back for its second year.

Come along after hours to meet employers, colleges and universities, explore different career and study pathways, and discover where your skills could take you.

📍 Edinburgh Castle
🕖 7–9pm, Tuesday 6 October
🎟️ Open to anyone aged 16+, including young people, career changers and those looking to enter the heritage sector.

Find out more: https://ow.ly/Z5NU50ZRu5t

23/09/2026

Fantastic news for the energy retrofit of traditional buildings 🙌. Scotland's Centre of Excellence for Canals and Traditional Skills will house a national retrofit facility. The centre is being created in Camelon, Falkirk, in what was once the home of AG Barr's Irn Bru. Learn more about the fascinating history of the site: https://ow.ly/SgyG50ZQwAh

From soft drinks to heritage skills, uncover the story of the former AG Barr factory and its new future as Lock 16 in Falkirk.

22/09/2026

New event! Heat Network Guidance, November 📢 Heat networks are vital to net zero. They offer a communal solution that can heat a range of buildings by capturing or generating heat locally. On Wednesday 25 November, we're launching a new Short Guide on heat networks and traditional buildings and you can take part at the Engine Shed or online. Join the authors and the Scottish Government policy team to consider the suitability of traditional buildings for connection to heat networks, the practicalities of doing so and consents. Find out more and book a free place: https://ow.ly/y0qN50ZQa8f

20/09/2026

You might be thinking about improving the energy efficiency of your building now temperatures are starting to drop. But before you do that, make sure your building is in a good state of repair. Regularly maintaining your home is the best and most cost effective way to do this. Our Maintaining Your Home Short Guide will help you get started: https://ow.ly/cEnH50ZPb75