Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival Tuesday 23rd – Saturday 27th August 2016

The Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum is delighted to be running the fifth Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival as part of the official Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival aims to “Celebrate Edinburgh’s Traditional Buildings” and offers a series of free demonstrations and talks about traditional buildings and the skills and materials to build, and maintain, them.

All those participating, organising or hosting the Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival do so voluntarily for the benefit of the traditional building sector and without their support this event

Tuesday 23^rd August

10.30am – 11.30am (Free to attend)

Stonemasonry skills demonstration –Scotland’s traditional buildings use similar skills and materials in their repair and maintenance as when they were build. Marcus Paine and Richard Groom of Stone Federation GB give a demonstration of stonemasonry.

12 noon – 1.00pm (Free to attend)

Lime mortars demonstration, Roz Artis and Scott MacAskill of the Scottish Lime Centre Trust, demonstrate lime slaking, part of the alchemy of the lime cycle. These processes have provided building mortars and more for millennia.

2.00pm – 3.00pm (Free to attend)

Marbling and graining techniques, signwriting skills – Mark Nevin, Nevin of Edinburgh demonstrates remarkable painting techniques. Robin Abbey, Robin Abbey Sign Writers demonstrates inspirational signwriting skills used for projects like heraldry.

Wednesday 24^th August

10.30am – 11.30am (Free to attend)

Sash and case windows, maintenance and repair; Care for these windows and they’ll thrive for decades. Keith Swann of Edinburgh College gives a demonstration on the workings of these window.

12.30pm – 1.30pm (Free to attend)

Architectural cast iron – skills demonstration – Andrew Laing of the Charles Laing Foundry gives an entertaining demonstration of casting processes

2.00pm – 3.00pm (Free to attend)

Traditional building skills and world heritage – Edinburgh provides a magnificent festival setting, structures and spaces must be repaired properly. Adam Wilkinson of Edinburgh World Heritage Trust gives a stimulating talk on how this can be achieved.

Thursday 25^th August

10.30am – 11.30am (Free to attend)

Roof Slating Demonstration – Scotland’s buildings have slate roofs and Scott Miller of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors gives an informative demonstration the skills used to repair and maintain these roofs

12 noon – 1.00pm (Free to attend)

Lead Roofing Demonstration – Steve McLennan of the National Federation Roofing Contractors provides an enjoyable demonstration of the expertise required for creating and repairing lead roofing details, it’s vital these details are done correctly.

3.00pm – 4.00pm (Free to attend)

Calton Hill Geology and Building Stones Walk: Luis Albornoz and Paul Everett of the British Geological Survey deliver a rewarding walking talk on Edinburgh’s geology, providing information on the bedrock of our built environment.

Friday 26^th August

12.30pm – 1.30pm and 2.00pm – 3.00pm (Free to attend)

Riddle’s Court Tour: See work in progress on a 16th century merchant’s house as the original fabric is revealed and conserved, discover its fascinating past, hear about its future as the Patrick Geddes Centre for Learning.

Clothing and sturdy footwear suitable for a tour of a live construction site must be worn – admission may be refused if not. A site induction will be provided before the tour begins, personal protective equipment will be provided and must be worn at all times.

Saturday 27^th August

10.00am – 3.00pm

Craigmillar Castle Craft Skills Festival – Something for the entire family! Come along, learn about the science of medieval construction, try stone carving, join our expert guided tours! Entry fees apply – see website for details www.historic-scotland.gov.uk