York Guides

Conservation of historic buildings at risk
A SHORTAGE of skilled craftsmen is threatening the future of historic buildings in Yorkshire and Humberside.
Robert Sutcliffe

Just 1,984 people who work preserving 601,000 historic buildings and nearly a quarter of contractors have outstanding vacancies and an ever-increasing workload, a study backed by English Heritage has revealed.
They say the industry needs to recruit almost 350 people at a local level in the next 12 months just to meet immediate demand.

This includes over 40 carpenters, speciality bricklayers and slate and tile roofers; over 30 lead-workers, stonemasons and joiners; and over 20 thatchers and decorators for an industry estimated to be worth over £3.5bn across England every year.

Experts also fear that nationally, in 15 to 20 years' time, vulnerable skills such as dry stone walling, thatching, millwrighting, earth walling, and flint-knapping could disappear completely.

In England today, there are only around 270 professional members of the Dry Stone Walling Association, under 1,000 thatchers and about 50 firms who work on cob and earth buildings.

But in the next 12 months alone, there is a need for almost 200 lime plasterers, around 140 wattle and daub craftspeople, over 100 glaziers and almost 60 cob builders and dry stone wallers.

The shortage in many parts of the country is so acute there can be a wait of over three months for the right craftsperson, potentially putting buildings at risk.

The findings of the report have prompted the National Heritage Training Group, set up two years ago to address staff shortage in the sector by encouraging more people to learn the skills.

This includes campaigning to raise the profile of vocational training and the heritage sector and to attract more young people to pursue careers within it.

New qualifications could be developed to ensure knowledge of traditional crafts could be gained even at GCSE level and funding secured for a heritage conservation qualification and apprenticeships.

David Fraser, regional director for English Heritage in Yorkshire, said: "Not only does the report produce yet further evidence that heritage conservation skills are at risk, but uniquely it puts forward an action plan to tackle specific problems.

"The message is very clear: it is time for joined-up thinking and concerted action across the construction industry, the built heritage sector, educational establishments, careers organisations, funding bodies and government departments to tackle a vital issue that is at the heart of sustaining two things which people hold very dear in this country – beautiful historic buildings and the craftsmanship that maintains them."

Peter Lobban, chief executive of ConstructionSkills, the skills council for the construction industry, added in order to preserve the country's historic buildings, it is equally important to maintain craftspeople's historic skills.
"Although it's reassuring to know that many clients are happy with the skills out there, it's clear that lack of craft training in some areas is potentially having a knock-on effect on our heritage," he said.

"We'll be working with English Heritage and others within the sector to ensure that we have the right skills, in the right place, at the right time to maintain these significant buildings and ensure that some of our more vulnerable trades don't die out."

John David, master mason at York Minster, said: "I think the main thing is a shortage of opportunity. In addition it is not wonderfully well-paid and can be dirty and extremely cold stood at the top of some scaffolding.
"For young people it takes a long time to do a proper apprenticeship, four years, and they may well have to travel to another city or town."

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