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An Arbroath-based stonemason who is helping preserve some of Scotland’s most important historic buildings has called for more people to consider learning such skills.

Sarah Tebbs said the country is “full of historic buildings in need of repair”, but not enough people are aware that learning traditional skills can lead to a fulfilling career.

The 25-year-old, who previously worked as an outdoor activities instructor, is doing an apprenticeship in stonemasonry with Historic Environment Scotland (HES).

HES is working wit the Institute of Conservation (Icon) and partners to develop a new risk register to highlight the traditional building and heritage skills most at risk of disappearing, including thatching, traditional stained and leaded glass making, architectural blacksmithing and stonemasonry.  Demand for such skills is growing rapidly, partly because of the urgent need to retrofit historic buildings to make them more sustainable and also due to a lack of training opportunities.

Explaining her profession, Sarah said: “As I work in conservation, not construction, the pace is very different.  Our aim is to ensure every action we take will not cause damage to our monuments.  Every job, no matter how small, requires careful assessment, planning and approvals, which can take time.

“Our upcoming project is replacing several damaged cills at the Abbot’s House in Arbroath Abbey.  The stone is ready to be cut, but we need all relevant approvals and checks in place.

“All the cutting we do at college is done by hand, using techniques stonemasons have used for centuries.

“The main difference is the strength and quality of our tools – nylon mells instead of wood and stronger chisels, sharpened on a bench grinder rather than by hand.

“Power tools and machinery have made shaping stone more efficient, but knowing traditional methods is essential for working at sites without access to power, when machinery fails or when replicating historic stonework.”

HES says Scotland urgently needs to expand training opportunities in heritage skills to meet the growing demand for repairing and retrofitting traditional buildings.

Sarah hopes to help secure the future of stonemasonry in this country by demonstrating to others that learning the skill is worthwhile.

She added: “How many children do you think know what a stonemason is?  You can’t aspire to a job you don’t know exists.

“I’m here because I was exposed to it at a young age and carried that curiosity into adulthood.

“This country is full of historic buildings in need of repair, but not enough people have the skills and knowledge to repair them without risking further damage.

“Our aim in conservation is to preserve what we have now so its historical and cultural importance can survive for future generations.

“Stonemasonry is a male-dominated field, which can be intimidating, especially if you are not used to that environment.

“I have worked at outreach events for school and university leavers and spoken to young women who didn’t think this was something they could do.  It’s strange to hear that in 2025, but there are still social and psychological barriers that can prevent us from pursuing careers in construction.  I want to show that stonemasonry is a career for any gender.”

Dr David Mitchell, director of cultural assets at HES, said: “We’re delighted that Sarah is enjoying her apprenticeship and is already gaining experience working on some very important projects.

“However, we need more people to have similar opportunities and would particularly welcome interest from women who – as she rightly points out – might not have previously considered such a career.

We have been sounding the alarm on Scotland’s heritage skills shortage for some time and it is now reaching a critical point.

“The Heritage Skills At Risk Register is a proactive measure to address this crisis.  We must significantly increase training opportunities to ensure our traditional and historic buildings are preserved for future generations.

“Traditional skills are not just about preserving the past; they are crucial to Scotland’s future, particularly in our efforts to achieve net-zero.

“With approximately one in five homes in Scotland being built before 1919, these skills will play a pivotal role in our journey towards a sustainable future.”

This article appeared in The Courier on 6 March 2025.