North West Heritage Skills Coordinator improves her Heritage Skills

The Cumbrian Heritage Skills Initiative aims to promote and raise awareness of
heritage skills and provide practical opportunities for training.  The project is managed by Lisa Rothwell-Young, Project Coodinator funded by the Northern Rock Foundation and the project is part funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

There are courses for enthusiastic homeowners, professionals wishing to
understand practical skills for specifying and for CPD purposes, students wishing
to provide evidence towards qualifications and craftspeople looking to diversify
and improve their skills. All courses and events are recognised by the IHBC as
providing the CPD requirements of a full member, and the training courses may
provide evidence towards the NVQ 3 in Heritage Skills and CSCS heritage cards.

Kay Leech, North West Heritage Skills Coordinator joined two of the courses.

‘Introduction to Dry Stone Walling’ The task to rebuild an 8 metre stretch of wall from the piles of local red sandstone blocks and huge cobbles.

After a health and safety briefing from Lisa, Project Coordinator, Adam, the tutor, explained the theory of dry stone walling, backed up with some extremely useful notes to refer back to. Then it was straight into the practical task.

An assessment was made of the remaining wall and the foundation stones. Unstable stones were removed and a consistent ground level established.  In theory we were going to work in pairs – one either side of a stretch of wall.  However, in practice we worked as a team, laying a layer of stones, backfilling, finding that perfect stone.  Enthusiasm proved to be our undoing as we worked on relentlessly building up the wall.  ‘Stand back and look’ Adam commanded – the wall was looking a mess as stones were not lying true.  We took some sections down and settled into a more measured pace, taking time to assess our work as it progressed and by the end of the afternoon we had completed the wall repair.

‘Introduction to Traditional Cobble Laying’.  The cobbles we were going to be relaying were barely visible having sunk and been covered by layers of debris.  Health and Safety, a history of cobbling a briefing and we each took responsibility for a lifting and relaying a section of cobbles, carefully working to the same levels so that each section linked together.

What was the feedback on the courses?
‘Good company, enjoyable conversation, good food AND a new skill which I will use at home to improve my property and streetscape, and to specify at work’ National Park Officer

‘Thought our tutor was fantastic – patient & very instructive, lots of tips, hints and demonstrative style.  Hope to pass this skill on to other villagers and help to look after cobbled areas in our village.’ Local resident.

• For further information visit the following websites
• North West Heritage Skills Hub  (http://www.ccinw.com/services/north-west-heritage-skills-hub/20671
• Cumbrian Heritage Skills Initiative  (http://www.nect.org.uk/index.php?page=north-east-heritage-skills-project)
• Cobbling  (http://www.pavingexpert.com/cobble01.htm)