Scottish Stone Liaison Group

What's on

Historic Scotland National Stone Conference 2007:
Bridging with Stone

SECC, Glasgow. 7-8 February 2007

Glasgow Project publication launch

Building with Scottish Stone publication launch

Selecting the right building stone

Edinburgh World Heritage Trust in association with the British Geological Survey held a seminar entitled "Selecting the right building stone" in February 2003 in Edinburgh.

The programme included:

• Welcoming address by Richard Griffith, Director, Edinburgh World Heritage Trust
• How sandstone walls weather - Brian Bluck, Professor of Geology, Glasgow University
• Stone matching on buildings - Ewan Hyslop, Mineralogist-Petrologist at the BGS
• Stones for repair in a World Heritage Site - Fiona MacDonald, EWHT Conservation Architect
• Performance requirements and sources of sandstones - Bob Heath, Architect and Stone Consultant
• The workability of stone - Duncan Strachan, Stonemason
• The stone contractors viewpoint - John McLeish, Hunter & Clark

NSI Seminars

In 2002-2003, the SSLG/NSI held a series of Seminars around the country with the title being "From Geology to Building - Set(t) in Stone". Details are on our Training pages.

SSLG mailing list

The SSLG mailing list is now around 2,000 with copies of its "Newsletter" being directed to a list of names that contains all Scottish Architect practices, all Chief Executives and Head of Planning Departments in Local Government, all MSPs and conservation bodies. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, then simply telephone, fax or email (see below) with the necessary details.

News

Summary of articles

The list below shows headlines and summaries of articles. Follow the links for more detailed information.

Full news articles

Natural Stone Institute (NSI) Project Team

The Natural Stone Institute's web site came on line in June 2003. While a summary of NSI activities is available on this (SSLG) site, detailed information on NSI activities can now be found on the NSI web site.

The Natural Stone Institute held its Inaugural Meeting in Stirling Castle on Wednesday 19th September 2001. The meeting was attended by eighty people, coming from diverse backgrounds, from professional to material producers, from contractors to those with a deep interest in Scotland's built heritage. The principal speaker was Professor Gordon Benson (Benson & Forsyth), who spoke about the issues and planning behind the development of the new building at the Scottish Museum, Edinburgh. Mr Ingval Maxwell, Director TCRE Division Historic Scotland, addressed the concerns of Historic Scotland and the challenges confronting those with an interest in Scotland's built heritage. Mr Andrew McMillan, Convener of the NSI Project Team, then advised the meeting of the progress made by the Team over the last year with Mr Dennis Urquhart projecting forward the issues that the Team envisaged being addressed.

Those present were invited to volunteer for membership of a Working Party to take these issues forward and this Working Party held its first meeting on the 23rd October 2001. Subsequently, a number of working groups have been progressing various elements of the NSI operation - structure, fundraising, events, education, research and publications, with those that volunteered to assist being involved in the progress of these matters.

The NSI Convener reported on the activities of the NSI to the SSLG Board meeting on the 7th March 2002 and this meeting approved the necessary documentation that was presented to the NSI AGM on 19th September 2002.

Readers are reminded that the NSI has NO financial resources and is therefore dependent upon the SSLG (itself with limited funds) for its financial support. Whilst supporting the development of the NSI, the SSLG Board is of the view that the NSI will have to become financially independent in the near future and currently, although efforts are being made to raise monies, the only direct source of funds is from its projected Membership. Whilst it is a matter for the Institute to resolve, it is envisaged that there will be three forms of Membership:

• Full Members with full voting rights and able to accept nomination to elected office.
• Corporate Members will be entitled to ONE vote but will not be entitled to sign nomination papers.
• Overseas Members will be entitled to ONE vote but not entitled to sign any nomination papers.

Everyone on the current mailing list has been invited to consider making application to join the NSI and those who do will able to vote at its AGM on matters relating to its structure, operation and the election of its office bearers. As can perhaps be imagined, only those with the appropriate membership will be entitled to vote on such matters. It is however STRESSED that everyone will receive a warm welcome and - even if not joining - are invited to attend.

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Scottish slate quarries

The Scottish Indigenous Materials Project Team is progressing the question of Scottish slate (or rather the lack of it). The SSLG Chief Executive (Alan McKinney) met with the Ballachulish Community Council on 24th January 2001 to discuss the possibility of opening (or re-opening) a slate quarry in the area. After a full debate, the Community Council agreed, as detailed in an agreed ten-point plan, to a test extraction being undertaken. In December 2001 the Chief Executive met again with the Community Council and provided additional information regarding the test extraction programme. The concerns of the local community in relation to quarrying are recognised and the Chief Executive has sought to address these concerns and ensure that the Community Council was kept fully abreast with all matters relating to the test extraction.

Due to the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease, the test extraction was delayed, but took place in August 2002. Given the loss of a year in this programme, the Project Team was able to secure additional financial assistance to enable a second extraction test to be undertaken. It is currently addressing the list detailed in Technical Advice Note 21, "Scottish Slate Quarries" (Historic Scotland, 2000), with the reserves around Huntly (Foudland) being progressed. A delegation toured the various old quarries with both the local MSP (Mrs Nora Radcliffe) and local MP (Mr Malcolm Bruce) in May 2002 with all the local community councils and interested parties being advised of the visit. Further visits will be made to bring this issue to the fore and enable an extraction test be undertaken later this year.

Dr Joan Walsh (author of TAN 21, University of Paisley) will test both slate samples. With information gained from the two sites, and with the nature of the material secured, there will be a round of further consultation and discussion. The urgency of this matter can be underlined when considering the building material needs of the World Heritage Site of New Lanark and the consequences of the disastrous fire at the Morgan Academy in Dundee.

• Question: Where will the architect secure the necessary West of Scotland slate for the Morgan Academy rebuild and where would the necessary slate be secured for the restoration of any building so damaged in the latest World Heritage Site of New Lanark?


• Answer (currently): By removing it from a roof outwith the conservation zone and transhipping it to the building under repair - and that is ignoring the subsequent loss of 40% of the slate when it is redressed. In addition this ignores the state of the building from which the slate was removed that may well have been left without any roof cover. It also has to be recognised that that "new" slate may already have had a life of some 200 years and it requires to be recognised that such material simply cannot go on for ever!

It surely is in the interests of the funders of such projects, with their responsibility to ensure that such monies are spent wisely, to insist that all operatives have the appropriate skills and that the appropriate materials should be readily available. The material needs of the conservation zones should surely NOT be at the expense of the rest of Scotland's built heritage! The lack of Scottish slate for the repair and maintenance of Scotland's built heritage is a very serious issue and the Project Team is working to address that deficit. The Project Team is also looking at other areas of Scotland that have previously produced slate and, working from the Historic Scotland publication Technical Advice Note 21, is currently exploring these opportunities.

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Scottish Stone Industry Project Team

The Scottish Stone Industry Project Team has undertaken extensive research amongst masonry building contractors companies. The returns, having been collated by the CITB, provide vital information on the training needs of the industry. Summarising the details contained within the Summer 2001 Newsletter: 10% of all masons will retire in the next five years, but, while the training intake this year appears to meeting this issue it is unlikely to maintain the current position. Currently CITB figures indicate an overall 20% drop-out of new trainees and that, coupled with the tendency when there is a downturn in the industry for trained operatives to leave and not return, clearly indicates that the 'skill shortage' currently with us will not improve.

The opening of the new masonry training centre in Elgin has made a positive contribution to the intake of trainees for the masonry trade, currently at a higher level than for some considerable time. However, as with any good news, there is a cloud on the horizon as the number of trainees securing the SVQ3 award is considerably LOWER than the appropriate trainee intake figures - this is currently being further researched.

While recognising the desire of funding organisations, such as Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund, to ensure that only architects with the appropriate "conservation" qualification should tender for grant-aided contracts, the SSLG considered that the fact that there were NO such trade qualifications available in Scotland was a major issue to be addressed. Subsequently, a number of meetings have been held and in January 2002 the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) secured agreement with stone masonry, bricklaying, carpentry and plastering trades to develop and introduce SVQ "bolt-on" modules for these particular activities. The SSLG considers that this development 'closes the loop' and should ensure that the appropriate conservation skills are available on all grant-aided contracts.

The Scottish Stone Industry Project Team is also looking to test the market by holding a series of late afternoon/early evening seminars in Glasgow and Edinburgh. If these are successful then it would be proposed to roll these out to other centres of population.

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SSLG addresses seminar in USA

Historic Scotland was invited to send a delegation to the USA to outline the efforts being made in Scotland to address the needs of our built heritage. The Seminar, hosted by the Quinque Foundation and held in the Salve Regina University, Newport Rhode Island from 27-29th June 2002, was entitled "International Preservation / Conservation Forum" and was attended by delegates from a wide range of organisations. While there were extensive workshops throughout the three days, the 'Scottish delegation' addressed the main session on the 28th June outlining the manner in which Historic Scotland and the SSLG has sought to address the needs of Scotland's built heritage. The main address was by Mr Graeme Munro (CEO Historic Scotland), with Mr Ingval Maxwell (Director of its Technical Conservation, Research and Education Division) developing the thinking behind the formation of the SSLG. Other speakers included:

• Mr Alan McKinney (Chief Executive, SSLG) detailed the development of the Group.
• Mr Andrew McMillan (Senior Geologist, British Geological Survey and Interim Convener of the Natural Stone Institute) outlined the need for the Natural Stone Institute and progress achieved to date.
• Mr Douglas Fergus (Scottish Manager, CITB) outlined the training structures that are operational in Scotland.
• Mrs Pat Gibbons (Director, Scottish Lime Centre Trust and a SSLG Director) covered the expansion of Lime Technology & Training.
• Ms Louisa Fraser (Business Manager, Inverness College) addressed the "Vernacular Craft Skills and Training" issue.
• Mr Graham Campbell (Training Manager, Elgin Cathedral Training Workshop) highlighted the achievements of this most recent addition to the training structures in Scotland (previously masonry training was available at Glagow and Edinburgh only).
• Ms Susan Brown (Quinque Conservation Network Manager, Historic Scotland) developed on the Fellowship opportunities that exist, and the exchanges that have taken place.
• Mr Robert A M Stern (Dean, Yale School of Architecture) delivered the keynote address on Thursday 27th June.

Throughout the three days of the Seminar the programme included extensive workshops that sought to consider the American structure and weigh that up against the issues that were outlined by the Historic Scotland delegation. The Historic Scotland delegation members were allocated to different teams with the appointed facilitators reporting back during the final session on Saturday afternoon. It is anticipated that papers will eventually emerge from these sessions as the ideas are 'pulled together' and consideration given to the way forward.

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SET(T) IN STONE seminar programme

A series of one day seminars will be held at various locations around Scotland: Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Renfrew, Ayr and Dumfries. The theme is: "From Geology to Building - SET(T) IN STONE" and the Seminar will address issues that affect the entire delivery system of stone, from its creation to its use and maintenance. A detailed programme can be found on our "Training" pages. The SSLG has been advised by both the RIAS and the RICS Scotland that the contents of the seminars will be considered as contributing to professional CPD obligations. Details of the Seminar programme have been mailed to members of the SSLG, every Scottish architectural practice, Chief Executives of all Local Authorities, their architectural department, planning departments and conservation officers (if appointed) and a significant list of those with a genuine interest in the needs of Scotland's built heritage.

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Scottish granite for the new Parliament building

The SSLG actively lobbied and campaigned for the use of indigenous materials in the new Parliament building and was delighted when the decision was made to use Kemnay Granite as a cladding material. Unfortunately the other cladding material (slate) has presented a particular problem and this material will now be "imported" as there is no Scottish slate currently in production. It is a matter of regret that Caithness Flagstone, although used on other sectors of this contract, will not be substituted for this slate requirement. The "importation" of slate for this flagship building graphically underlines what could happen if Scottish slate is not brought back into production. There is a general threat to maintenance and care of Scotland's built environment from "imported" building materials and unless there is support for indigenous material producers, by the use of such material on new build projects, then the very source of the materials to repair and maintain Scotland's built heritage could be lost. This is not "scare mongering" it is simply a statement of the obvious.

SERIOUS CONCERN:
[NB Following publication of this article the contractor referred to went out of business. The current contractor is in no way related to that company]
On the 6th September 2001 the story broke about the difficulties that had arisen within the company that had won the cladding contract on the new Parliament building . The SSLG has argued continually for the need of smooth production schedules to ensure the most efficient and cost effective preparation of the cladding panels. The Chief Executive has raised this issue with the Holyrood Project Team and, whilst a formal reply is yet to be received, has been assured that the concerns expressed are being addressed. The SSLG offices, on hearing of the appointment of the contractor, had immediately undertaken a "health check" on this company and the advice received included the words "touch, bargepole, not, do, with a" but not in that particular order. The SSLG is seeking assurances that the apparent financial difficulties visited upon this company do not "filter down" to the indigenous material suppliers - such assurances have not been forthcoming.

The fact that the "black granite" that will be used on the building will come from South Africa (accepting that South Africa is indeed to source of the material) raises a number of other questions. For example,

• At a time when efforts are being made to cut energy consumption to ease global warming, is it really acceptable to tranship this heavy material such long distances?


• What happens if any of the units attached to the building fail at some future date? Will the material still be available?


• Will the Parliament be held to ransom for replacement panels?


• Could Scottish whin or dolerite not have provided an ideal counter balance to the grey Kemnay granite?

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New publications

June 2003: Recent publications by Historic Scotland covering stone related issues include "Conservation of Historic Graveyards" (Conference proceedings from a meeting of November 2001) and two Research Reports - "Evaluation of limestone and building limes in Scotland" and "Chemical consolidants and water repellents for sandstones in Scotland".

Sept 2001: Historic Scotland has recently published three documents covering issues being addressed by the SSLG. These are TAN No 21: "Scottish Slate Quarries" and a Research Report on "Scottish Slate - The Potential for Use" both of which are significant documents; the former being the first definitive paper on Scottish slate reserves since the "Wartime Pamphlet 40: Scottish Slates" (1944). The latter is a report on the consequences of there being no Scottish slate production. A further Research Report entitled "The Pattern of Scottish Roofing" is a pictorial record of Scottish roofs.

For more details of the above, or to purchase copies on-line, see Historic Scotland's technical publications list.

The SSLG has produced a number of on-line research publications. These are available from the Publications page.

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Your opportunity...

We welcome contributions to both the "News" and "What's on" pages. It is hoped that this opportunity to act as a "clearing house", or facilitator, for the spread of information, ideas and topics will be attractive to all involved in the industry. It is stressed however, as potential contributors will accept, EDITORIAL rights will be retained by the SSLG. Contributions should be sent to the Secretary by email (to Mr Alan McKinney amckinney@support-services.fsbusiness.co.uk) or by post to Mr Alan McKinney, SSLG, Room 133, Pentlandfield Business Park, The Bush, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RE, UK.
Tel: +44 (0)131 448 0313. Fax: +44 (0)131 440 4032.

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Are you interested in assisting the Group?

If you would like to join the SSLG, or assist in any of its areas of interest, please make contact with the Secretary indicating your areas of interest and expertise. A number of people attending the launch of the Group completed questionnaires issued at the event, but we are always looking to build on the contribution of those interested in assisting in the care and maintenance of Scotland's built heritage.
Email: Mr Alan McKinney at amckinney@support-services.fsbusiness.co.uk
Postal address: Mr Alan McKinney, SSLG, Room 133, Pentlandfield Business Park, The Bush, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RE, UK.
Tel: +44 (0)131 448 0313. Fax: +44 (0)131 440 4032.

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