A PROJECT to save a historic ruin near Penicuik will train a new generation of stonemasons needed for essential conservation work in the city and across Scotland.
The £6.2 million scheme to preserve A-listed Penicuik House will pass on traditional building skills much in demand for heritage projects in the Capital and elsewhere.
Penicuik House, which dates back to the 1760s, is one of Scotland's finest Pal
ladian mansions. But it was virtually destroyed by a blaze in 1899 and never restored.
Now Historic Scotland and the National Lottery are supporting a six-year programme of work to preserve and make safe the ruin.
Project organisers also want members of the public to visit the site and learn about the A-listed building as the work proceeds.
Project manager Catherine Gregan said the house's shell had survived well due to the quality of the construction, but it was currently unsafe for people to go inside.
She said by the end of the project visitors would be able to go into the ground floor of the building, see the outlines of the rooms and with the help of old photographs understand how it had looked.
Ms Gregan said the Penicuik House Preservation Trust was working in partnership with the Scottish Lime Centre Trust to offer training opportunities on the project to apprentice masons and other trades.
She said: "There is huge demand for people with these traditional skills, which were in serious danger of dying out. We will be ensuring these skills are passed on and understood and that will have a knock-on effect for projects in Edinburgh and Scotland."
Officially launching the project yesterday, Culture Minister Linda Fabiani said: "Penicuik House is an excellent example of how public money, invested in historic buildings, can have multiple long term effect.
"The Penicuik House Partnership will provide invaluable training, educational and employment opportunities in traditional conservation skills and will secure the long term future of this important building while providing increased public access."
The former kitchens and courtyard will be adapted to provide workshop facilities and courses, demonstrations and open days will be held regularly on site.
Roz Artis-Young, the Director of the Scottish Lime Centre Trust, said: "The project is an opportunity to upskill existing masonry contractors, raise awareness of traditional building skills and improve the quality of conservation, repair and maintenance work for traditional building stock."
The project organisers say they hope around 50,000 people a year will visit Penicuik House to watch the preservation work carried out.
James Dawnay, the chairman of the Penicuik House Preservation Trust said: "We started work earlier this year but it's only now the car park and access route are complete that people can see what we're doing. The idea is to let people come and see the conservation process for themselves as the programme unrolls."
The project has already won funding from Historic Scotland, the National Lottery and other bodies. But there is an estimated £1.5m shortfall, which organisers hope to make up from grants and donations.
The full article contains 515 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
