Doors Open Day at the Engine Shed

This year’s European Heritage Days theme is ‘Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine’. This theme raises awareness of the various risks threatening our heritage – from a combination of environmental, social, and technological pressures – and encourages reflection on how we can safeguard and cherish what remains.

It’s fitting that the home of Scotland’s first dedicated building conservation centre itself uses traditional materials in a contemporary way.

The Engine Shed building, used as a goods transfer shed, was built sometime between 1896 and 1913. The exact details of its construction were subject to an information blackout, and are still unknown, as it was part of an important military complex. The strategic base on the banks of the River Forth was a key resource for the army in the run up to and during both World Wars.

We are now a dynamic hub of digital innovation, heritage science, and an accredited training centre.

Join us to discover what's inside and learn about the history of the Engine Shed, how it was made using traditional materials in a contemporary way and how we recycled many other materials during the restoration.

Learn about the traditional skills vital to protecting Scotland’s buildings and monuments. Explore scientific techniques and labs which help us maintain and protect our living heritage. See the digital resources we use, including a giant 3D printer, a Digital Imaging Lab and ‘The Howff’ our cutting-edge immersive hub.