Heritage Team Restoring Fife's Historic Buildings

The Kingdom tops a list for listed monuments and conservation buildings.

Fife has more listed monuments and conservation buildings than most other areas in Scotland.

Cllr Judy Hamilton, the Council's Executive Spokesperson for Housing & Building Services, has spent the day with the Council’s heritage and restoration team. The 'back to the floor' visit allowed her to find out more about the skilled work of the team to preserve Fife’s many historic buildings.

Within Fife Council there is a small dedicated team, with a wide range of skills and experience, to undertake restoration projects on these important landmarks for years to come.

The skilled team includes two apprentice stonemasons with another first year apprentice due to start later this month. They also carry out work such as stone repair and replacement, lime mortar repairs, lime rendering and lime washing.

Councillor Hamilton, who tried out stone carving as part of her day with the team, was interested in hearing more on the work they undertake. She said: 

"As well as taking on external projects in their own right, the heritage team work closely with other council departments to retain and renovate the Council’s portfolio of older buildings.

"High profile projects such as the restoration of Pittencrieff House Museum in Pittencrieff Park or the refurbishment of Kirkcaldy’s museum, library and art gallery are great examples of the sort of work the team are capable of. As well as that though, they carry out routine and specific maintenance all year round to our buildings, war memorials and conservation areas.

"I've been across Fife to see the range of projects being delivered on including the recent stonework repairs at St Andrews Town Hall and Wemyssfield House in Kirkcaldy. It’s great to see these traditional skills still being developed within the Council. They complement the work of the bigger Building Services department, which is more known for its new build projects."