Students get a taste of crafts

3:52pm Thursday 22nd May 2008

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TEENAGERS from North Yorkshire secondary schools have been practising their construction skills at a world heritage site.

Students from Easingwold School were given a unique insight into what is involved in working as a craftsperson by participating in day-long workshops at the National Trust-owned property, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.

The event was hosted by ConstructionSkills, the national heritage training group and the National Trust.

The workshops, which took place last week, highlighted the range of traditional building skills and techniques employed in the conservation, repair, maintenance and restoration of historic buildings. It gave students the opportunity to decide if a career in the built heritage sector is for them - helping to preserve the past for the future.

Demonstrations across both days included the use of traditional lime plaster and mortars, stone masonry including letter-cutting, lead roofing and specialist decorative skills.

The students also had the chance try out some of these specialist techniques and learn about the importance of preserving English heritage.

Simon Holmes, heritage training advisor from ConstructionSkills in Yorkshire, said: "This two-day event was designed to provide a taster of the skills and careers available within the construction industry and the built heritage sector.

"It is especially important to raise the awareness of the skills needed to work in this niche area, as it has been recently reported by the national heritage training group as an area lacking in skilled trades people, particularly in the Yorkshire region. By raising awareness of these needs among students, we hope to attract a new generation of skilled workers to specialise in this important field."

Other schools that attended the event were Boroughbridge High School, Northallerton College And Nidderdale High School and Community College.

Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, is a ruined monastery, founded in 1132. It is a Grade I-listed building. Along with the adjacent Studley Royal Water Garden it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

ConstructionSkills provides employers with assistance in all aspects of recruiting, training and qualifying the construction workforce.

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