Detail of historic Scottish slates. To reduce this, slate quarry waste has been crushed to roadstone, used as aggregate in synthetic slates and felt, even expanded as thermal insulation (vermiculite is minerologically similar). But the heaps of waste at every slate quarry show that the problem remains. In the January l996AJ Focus(p.10) the National Federation of Roofing Contractors reported that it is increasingly difficult to obtain first quality slates in the largest sizes, suggesting that smaller sizes should be specified. Perhaps a new Code of Practice could also suppott the tradition of slating with randoms, to further reduce wastage? RESEARCH To encourage an industry-based revival of Scottish slate quarrying, ensuring continued availability of a traditional material of proven quality and durability, Historic Scotland set in motion two major research commissions last year. The first of these, due to be completed in September 1998, is being undertaken by the University of Glasgow. The aim is to determine those properties which are distinctive to Scottish slate and to undertake a comparative technical appraisal of Scottish slate and alternative materials. A detailed appraisal of the six most promising Scottish slate quarries is also planned, to update the last major survey, carried out by the Geological Survey and Museum in 1944, Scottish Slates (Wartime pamphlet No.40). The second project, due to be completed in June 1997, is being undertaken by the University of Dundee. This project is investigating the supply, technical and financial problems relating to the use of Scottish slate in the repair and restoration of buildings. It includes a survey of current sources, levels of demand as well as the attitudes of architects, conservation bodies, local authorities and developers to the use of slate. TRADITIONAL BUILDING MATERIALSCONFERENCE To air some of the results of these and other research initiatives relating to the use of traditional materials and crafts in conserving the built heritage, Historic Scotland will be holding a major conference on 'Traditional building materials' in 1997. The agency's role in CONTEXT 52 protecting and presenting the built heritage has given it a special appreciation of the importance of Scottish slate. Through research and standard setting, it aims to make technical guidance literature available over the next few years on Scottish slate quarries, slates and slating practices. This will hopefully help to provide further incentives for a revival in the use of one of Scotland's main building materials and encouragement to others seeking to make use of traditional building materials and techniques in conservation work. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author gratefully acknowledges the work of Dr Ralph Skea, Neil Grieve and Shelly Brown at the University of Dundee, and Brian Kelly, at HeriotWatt University. Robin Kent BA Dip! Arch (Oxford) MA Cons (York) RIBA ARIAS is Senior Conservation Architect, Technical Conservation, Research and Education Division, Historic Scotland. Historic Scotland, an executive agency of the Scottish Office, has legislative responsibilities for 40,000 listed buildings and 6,000 scheduled ancient monuments. In 1994/95 it provided £13·8 million of government grant aid to owners, generating an estimated £50 million of repair works. For further details of the Historic Scotland Traditional Building Materials Conference planned for September 1997, contact the organiser, Gwen Scott, The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Scotland, 9 Manor Place, Edinburgh EH3 7DN (tel: 0131-225 7078, fax: 0131-220 4810). A range ofresearch and technical publications including traditional materials is available from the Technical Conservation, Research and Education Division. For further details, contact: F Reid, The Scottish Conservation Bureau, Historic Scotland TCRE Division, Longmore House, Edinburgh EH91SH (tel: 0131668 8668) 25
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