Repairing Historic Buildings: Traditional Masonry & Joinery (One-Day Seminar & Workshop)

Join building conservation specialists Craig Frew, Darren McLean & Jamie Ryan for an engaging one-day seminar and workshop focused on the repair of traditional masonry and joinery in historic buildings.

Key Topics Include:

• Stonework conservation and repair
• Stone cleaning and paint removal
• Lime mortars, harling and limewash
• Repair & upgrading of traditional windows and doors
• Paints and coatings for exterior timber

This course is Recognised by the Institute for Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) for CPD (see www.ihbc.org.uk). Participants will receive a CPD certificate of attendance.

Who Should Attend?
Building professionals (architects, surveyors, planners etc.), building contractors, heritage professionals and others responsible for maintaining and repairing historic buildings.

What’s Included:
✅ Expert-led talks, demonstrations, discussions and case studies.
✅ Lunch (freshly made soup & sandwiches) and refreshments (tea, coffee & delicious home-baking) by The Stables Café. All dietary requirements catered for.
✅ Travelling from further afield and staying locally? Join us on Sunday and/or Monday evening for an informal social gathering (walk and talk through the historic designed landscape of Falkland Estate, ending with a fire pit gathering, drink and blether).

Full Programme Here

Meet the Tutors

Craig Frew - Historic Building Consultant and Director of Frew Conservation, with 24 years’ experience, Craig specialises in traditional materials and repair techniques. He delivers technical conservation advice and training on traditional masonry repair and the use of lime mortars and coatings across Scotland.

Darren McLean - Conservation Joiner and Educator with 30 years’ experience in the repair of historic buildings. Darren is a skilled trainer in traditional joinery and the application of traditional repair techniques and materials for historic building repair, and specialist conservation advisor working internationally.

Jamie Ryan – Owner of Blast Clean Scotland, provides specialist solutions for historic stonework restoration, cleaning and paint removal. He is experienced in the appropriate removal of detrimental coatings, grime, and biological growth from historic and traditional buildings using a range of techniques.

The Venue

The Stables is set within the historic designed landscape of Falkland Estate in central Fife. Surrounded by ancient woodlands and rolling hills, it’s a peaceful and inspiring setting. A short walk away is Falkland village, a picturesque conservation village with cafés, a traditional pub, and the impressive Falkland Palace and Gardens. 

Falkland Estate is easy to reach by car, train or bus.

• By car: Around 45 minutes from Edinburgh, with free parking at The Stables.

• By train: Nearest stations are Ladybank and Markinch (10-15 minutes by taxi).

• By bus: Regular services to Falkland village from Glenrothes, then a 10-15 minute walk to the venue.

• By air: About 50 minutes from Edinburgh Airport.

Local Accommodation:

• Camping and Campervans at Pillars of Hercules (on Falkland Estate) https://pillars.co.uk/campsite
• The Covenanter Hotel, Falkland (0.5 mile/8 mins walk) https://www.covenanterfalkland.com/rooms
• The Lomond Hills Hotel, Freuchie (2.5 miles/7 mins drive) https://www.thelomondhillshotel.com/
• Also, hotel options in Glenrothes inc. Travelodge, Premier Inn, Holiday Inn etc. (c.7 miles/15 mins drive)