Traditional skills a hit with Inverkeithing High School pupils

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Stonemason assists a pupil to tool a limestone block

Pupils in S2 and S3 at Inverkeithing school recently had the opportunity to trial sessions in traditional skills and hailed it ‘great fun’, ‘rewarding’ and ‘epic!’

Thanks to Fife Council’s Inverkeithing Heritage Regeneration project (generously co-funded by Historic Environment Scotland and the National lottery Heritage Fund), pupils trialled four construction industry skills.

George Dunsire from East Fife Joinery demonstrated how to glaze a sash and case window, and how a door mortice lock works. Fife Council’s heritage masonry squad helped the young people mark out and tool a limestone block. The key skill of trimming roof slates to size was led by John Fulton’s, who are currently working at the A-listed Inverkeithing Town House. And Codaeh’s Tyler Lott Johnson showed pupils how an infra-red camera attached to an iPad can help highlight building defects and that 3D scanning can speed up recording a historic building with great accuracy.

The taster skills sessions were organised by Emma Griffiths, Fife Historic Building Trust’s Training and Development Office. The Trust is working in partnership with Fife Council to deliver the five-year heritage-driven regeneration project in Inverkeithing.

Emma said: “It was so inspiring working with the pupils, who were really keen as well as really able, and to offer a different kind of learning experience in school. Over a quarter of pupils said taking part had given them a more positive view of Inverkeithing. Jim Kinnell of Fife College also visited, and gave guidance on pathways – lucky, as over half the pupils participating said they’d consider a career in construction.”

Councillor David Barratt, Convener of the South and West Fife Area Committee added: “It’s encouraging to hear how well the pupils engaged with this project and that they found it so enjoyable.

“Fife’s heritage represents a huge cultural and economic asset. Towns like Inverkeithing have so many historic buildings so it’s great to see the possibility of maintaining them, presented in such a hands-on way, as future career options to local pupils.”

If you have any questions about the project or would like to find out more, please or visit www.fifehistoricbuildings.org.uk/inverkeithing or email inverkeithing@fifehistoricbuildings.org.uk