Property Today

Property News

Published Date: 30 April 2008

Thatched roofs like this look beautiful, but do we have the workmen with the skills to maintain them?

We don't have the skills to maintain historic buildings

More than five million historic buildings around the UK are at risk – because we just don't have the technical skills to maintain them.

That claim is being made by the National Heritage Training Group. It believes there is a shortage of specialist workers trained to work on heritage buildings,

And it's not just village churches or 200 year old barn houses that are at risk. The group believes even famous buildings such as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle could be at threat.

Its report issued this week suggests that more than two thirds of heritage work being done is by workers without the right skills or materials. More than two thirds of that work is being done for homeowners.

The group claims there is a short supply of skilled thatchers, dry stone wallers, stonemasons, and other workmen with the skills to help buildings more than 80 years old survive in the future.

Last Updated: 30 April 2008 12:54 PM

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