A specialist stonemasonry company, Wolds Workshop, has submitted plans to establish an educational heritage centre in the vicinity of Full Sutton, located in East Yorkshire. This initiative aims to address the skills shortages facing the heritage building sector while also enhancing community engagement through educational outreach.
The proposed centre is to be located on a site owned by Wolds Workshop off Hatskill Lane and includes modifications to existing buildings on the former RAF Full Sutton site. In addition to these renovations, plans submitted to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council feature the construction of a new workshop. Wolds Workshop had previously initiated renovations in 2018, but progress was hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading the company to consolidate its operations to navigate the challenging economic landscape.
Wolds Workshop collaborated with Studio Tamacoco Architects from York to create revised plans that aim to maximize the use of existing structures while paying homage to the site’s RAF heritage. The firm noted in their submission:
“Lockdown restrictions and economic impacts of the pandemic provided an opportunity for Wolds Workshop to develop its research activities and its educational and training interests.”
This period of disruption also led to a renewed focus on enhancing the company’s environmental initiatives. The updated proposals reflect a commitment to delivering conservation skills training and fostering environmental sustainability, integrating these priorities into Wolds Workshop’s operational model.
The new workshop facility is designed to accommodate masons and carvers, including apprentice masons, and will provide space for tool and material storage. The heritage centre could occupy the northern half of the compound and is intended to feature lecture spaces, practical workshop rooms, and welfare areas for participants. Wolds Workshop has suggested that this centre will operate as a charitable organization, further emphasizing its dedication to community involvement.
An office for managing the centre is planned to be developed from a small existing building at the site. Wolds Workshop expressed its commitment to preserving heritage skills through the training of apprentices and expanding outreach programs. The firm stated,
“Improving the workshop development to better accommodate our specialist skills and increase the capacity for our outreach programmes will better support the heritage building sector, one that is under immense pressure.”
This initiative aims to enhance the skills and learning environment available and engage local interests, building on existing partnerships with educational institutions in the East Riding and York region.
As Wolds Workshop moves forward with its plans, the local community and stakeholders in the heritage sector are expected to benefit from increased training opportunities and resources, helping to sustain traditional skills that are increasingly at risk of being lost.
