Norfolk builders given history lesson
Builders - 21/09/2006 15:34:04
Free workshops are being offered to tradesmen in Norfolk to help revive traditional builders' techniques.
Organised by the Breckland Society, the workshops will offer courses on working with flint, chalk, clay and other forgotten building materials as well as guidance on how to construct historical building features.
Each workshop will feature demonstrations, hands-on sessions and tours of building sites.
The launch of the courses comes after a two-year study by the Breckland Society into historical buildings in the Brecks area.
It discovered that the number of builders trained to work on historical buildings was dwindling rapidly, putting some century-old buildings in danger.
The Heritage Lottery Fund are backing the courses amid their own concerns about the long-term survival of some of the UK's historical buildings, which could end up falling into disrepair if the building profession keeps losing specially trained workers.
James Parry, Breckland Society chairman, said: "The society is very grateful for the help we have received from the National Heritage Training Group and especially from the builders and craftsmen who are holding these workshops."
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