Usually the Traditional Building Festival is very much a hands on affair, with participants invited to try their hand at cutting slates and all sorts of traditional crafts.

The schedule is a firm part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe and is usually a sell out, but this year there is room for all online, and will be opened by Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning.

The lead organiser of this year’s event is Tyler C. Lott, Scotland Officer for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings who said “I am delighted to be involved once again in the delivering the Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival. It has been a pleasure to work with such a talented group of professionals to organise and produce another amazing event that brings helpful advice and solutions for our built environment. This year, we are bringing forth a wide range of topics that will provide something for everyone interested in the built environment whether they’re a practitioner, a building owner, or a traditional building enthusiast.”

Schedule: 

24 August 2020 – 11:00

  • Festival Opening Remarks by Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government, Housing, and Planning 
  • Granville Place, Stockbridge – Una Richards of Scottish Historic Building Trust

24 August 2020 – 14:00

  • Energy Efficiency Improvements to Traditional Buildings – Jessica Hunniset, SPAB Scotland Guardian, SPAB Lethaby Scholar, and District Surveyor for Properties in Care in the West Central Region of Scotland for Historic Environment Scotland

25 August 2020 – 11:00 

  • The Building Stones of Edinburgh – Martin Gillespie, Team Lead of Building Stones for the British Geological Survey

25 August 2020 – 14:00

  • Lime Mortar – Scottish Lime Centre Trust 

26 August 2020 – 11:00 

  • Traditional Stonemasonry – Andy Bradley, SPAB Fellow and stonemason joined by Architect SPAB Lethaby Scholar Martin Haddlington

26 August 2020 – 14:00

  • Newhailes Estate, Musselburgh – Emma Rose Berry, LDN Architects

27 August 2020 – 11:00 

  • Roof Leadwork – Steve McLennan of National Federation of Roofing Contractors

27 August 2020 – 14:00 

  • Roof Slating and Tiling – Graeme Millar of National Federation of Roofing Contractors

28 August 2020 – 11:00

  • Timber and Sash & Case Windows – Oliver Beatson, SPAB Fellow and Joiner for Historic Environment Scotland and James Innerdale, SPAB Lethaby Scholar and architect

28 August 2020 – 14:00

  • Property Repair Seminar – Jo Parry-Geddes, Jackie Timmons, James Innerdale and more! 

Attendance is free for all, but booking is required and can be done through:

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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.