The Engine Shed is Scotland’s dedicated building conservation centre, based in Stirling. Run by Historic Environment Scotland, it serves as a central hub for building and conservation professionals and the general public.
Scotland’s historic built environment is a finite and unique resource, yet its care calls for conservation skills that are in short supply. This new learning and visitor resource is helping to encourage a greater understanding of traditional building materials and skills – and inspire future generations to continue to care for Scotland’s built heritage.
Heavy Metal at the Engine Shed was a weekend event on 28th and 29th September which included demonstrations of blacksmithing, casting and other metalcrafts. Examples of work done by blacksmiths was demonstrated and showed ornamental gates and ornamental iron work being produced and metal casting of plaques and ornaments taking place while visitors watched the entire process.
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- Learn Inspire Share
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- Inside the Engine Shed
Metal pressing of coins and metal jewellery were also demonstrated with visitors having an opportunity to try for themselves the process of making bracelets and necklaces.
Visitors could also have a go at making their own sand mould for making poured metal items.
These demonstrations all took place outside of the main building and inside there is a very interesting interactive map of Scotland where, through the use of hand-held interactive tablets, visitors can scan the map and bring up a whole range of facts about a chosen place on the map.
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- Interactive Map
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- Crannog Centre Tools
There are displays in the building which tell the story of Scotland’s industrial heritage with facts and figures concerning many foundries which existed across the country, in nearby Falkirk and Glasgow, and the only one remaining in central Scotland based at Bo’ness.
A fascinating example of a cast metal ceiling from the 1800’s is also on display and this came from the Sun Foundry in Glasgow and is a good example of ornate cast iron panels.
The Engine Shed has a full programme of events planned for future dates and some of the October events concern developments in the digital world and how these advances will help us with understanding many areas of our world. For more information on what is planned visit the Engine Shed website at https://www.engineshed.scot/whats-on/
