A historic north-east castle will play host to trainees learning how to restore old buildings using traditional methods.
The conservation, repair and maintenance course run by the Scottish Traditional Skills Training Centre will be held at Banff Castle on Thursday July 27 and Friday July 28.
The two-day hands-on session is being led by master craftsmen Hans Norling and Any Newcombe.
Banff Castle, now a grand manor house, was once a motte and bailey castle held by the Earl of Buchan. The castle once housed a garrison of English troops and was later sold to Lord Ogilvy of Deskford 300 years ago.
The house is used as an arts and cultural centre for Banff and the surrounding communities.
A spokesman for the paid-for course said: “The course encompasses the theory and practical use of lime, as opposed to cement-based mortars, in the conservation, repair and maintenance of traditional buildings, walls and other stone-built structures.
“Over the past 17 years Hans and Andy have been involved in project managing and leading teams of specialist masons working on major building conservation projects throughout Scotland.”
The Scottish Traditional Skills Training Centre, based in nearby Turriff, struck a deal with Historic Environment Scotland (HES) earlier this year to secure funding for training schemes in the area.
The centre now runs courses from Banff Castle as well as Duff House, one of the finest Georgian mansions in the world, which is overseen by HES.
HES conservation director David Mitchell said: “HES is fully supportive of the Scottish Traditional Skills Training Centre’s education and training programmes which address subjects, skills and discipline which relate to the conservation, repair and maintenance of Scotland’s built heritage.
“We are impressed with the quality of the delivery of the centre’s courses.”
The centre is a registered charity and was established to tackle “the growing crisis” in the lack of skills to preserve historic buildings.
While the majority of the courses will be held at Duff House, the centre is carrying out other training at locations including Banff Castle, Pitmedden Garden and Balmoral Castle.
