Lack of skilled workers threatens capital's historic buildings

Historic buildings across London are under threat because of a shortage of skilled workers.

Research by the National Heritage Trust Group (NHTG), published today (Thursday) has revealed that there are about 1,600 people qualified to maintain the 891,000 buildings built before 1919.

An extra 500, including carpenters, bricklayers, slate and tile roofers, stonemasons and joiners, must be recruited in the next year to meet demand.

College Farm in Finchley and Golders Green Hippodrome, both in north London, are among those buildings listed as being at risk.

Experts also fear that within the next 15-20 traditional craft skills, such as dry stone walling, thatching, millwrighting, earth walling, and flint-knapping, could disappear completely.