Training Courses
Lime Mortar Workshops – Dunoon CARS
A series of free lime mortar workshops are taking place in Dunoon between 1st – 19th June. The sessions are being delivered by Stuart Dyking and Masonry and are open to anyone with an interest in traditional skills, building conservation or maintaining their property.
This practical 'hands on' training will give participants the skill to undertake repointing works with confidence as you will learn skills to help you carry out your own mortar pointing repairs.
Lime mortar is more sympathetic to older buildings than cement based mortar. It is breathable and flexible with a lower carbon footprint than modern cement mortars.
The Dunoon CARS project in association with the POP Shop are running 6 sessions which will focus on different areas of lime pointing from preparation of the surfaces, through to mixing and applying the lime mortar. Booking is available on Eventbrite: links below
If you are interested in attending any of the sessions but don’t have access to Eventbrite, contact Dunoon CARS Officer Claire Hallybone at claire.hallybone@argyll-bute.gov.uk or on 01369 707121. Places are limited and allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Raking out and cleaning joints
The first step in the process once you are ready to start repointing is to rake out the existing mortar joints to the right depth and understand how joints and beds should be prepared to receive new lime pointing.
- Session 1 - Thursday 1st June 2023
- Session 2 - Monday 12th June 2023
Learn about historic mortars and how to make and apply them
- Session 1 - Friday 2nd June 2023
- Session 2 - Tuesday 13th June 2023
Learn how to apply lime mortars to repair traditional masonry
- Session 1 - Thursday 8th June 2023
- Session 2 - Monday 19th June 2023
Traditional Building Skills Course
A traditional building skills course has been set up with Historic Environment Scotland, Argyll College, Dunoon CARS and Developing the Young Workforce. Seven students from Dunoon Grammar School are working on an outbuilding at the Burgh Hall with the help of John Browne (Strone) contractor. The students will work through a number of modules throughout the academic year including design/ architecture, stone masonry, carpentry and joinery, bricklaying and painting and decorating. On completion of this course, the students will receive the following qualification: NPA Construction Craft and Technician at SCQF level 4.
Stone masons from Glasgow cathedral are currently working with the students on the stone masonry module to repair and consolidate the stonework to the outbuilding.
Past Events
Dunoon CARS had their final ever event on Saturday 5th October where the Gatehouse in Castle Gardens, Dunoon was open for the first time in over 20 years to the public. The new tenants, the Dunoon Community Development Trust and the Dunoon Bothy Project, showcased what they offer and the Dunoon CARS project offered architect led tours of the gatehouse and gardens talking about the history of the gatehouse and the renovation work that was undertaken to restore it.
Traditional Signwriting Exhibition – 21st Feb – 21st March 2020
Traditional signwriting is beautiful and powerful. It helps to attract customers to our shops, enhancing individual brands whilst adding to the character of our town centres. Our free exhibition featured work from the extremely talented Frank Carty of Artisan Artworks.
This event was held on Friday 6th March from 5-7pm in the gallery of the Burgh Hall for a talk on the history of the shops in Dunoon. It focussed on what makes an appealing shopfront and how they should be looked after and celebrated.
Traditional Signwriting Workshop – 21st March 2020
Frank Carty from Artisan Artworks ran a Traditional Signwriting Workshop on Saturday 21st March 1-4pm
Doors Open Day 2019
Dunoon CARS opened Macpherson’s Imperial Tea Room to the public for Doors Open Day in September 2019. The business closed over 20 years ago and the space has been vacant for a number of years. We collected stories of Argyll Street through the ages and learnt more about the Shopkeepers of Dunoon. 107 people visited us over the weekend.
Shopkeepers of Dunoon
In June 2019 we held a week long, street long exhibition celebrating the Shopkeepers of Argyll Street. The project was a collaboration between Dunoon CARS, the Castle House Museum and Tacit-Tacit a local design company and was held in conjunction with the Architecture Fringe. Over 500 people visited the trail with some great feedback and a request to replicate the exhibition in September for Doors Open Day.
Discover Dunoon - Argyll Street through the ages
On Friday 15th and Saturday 16th March 2019, we held an open day to ask people to share their memories of Dunoon and find out more about the Dunoon Conservation Area Conservation Scheme.
Visual Merchandising Event
On 23rd October 2018, we invited Lynda Murray of International Visual to Dunoon to present ideas and tips for store design, window displays and visual merchandising. Following this, businesses were encouraged to book one to one meetings with Lynda to discuss their individual needs. 18 people attended the event with some great feedback from businesses who have since implemented Lynda’s advice.
Shopfront Grant Information Session
We held a drop-in information event on 23rd May 2018 in the Burgh Hall, Dunoon for people to come along and find out more about the shopfront grants available.
Look Up Event
On 24th November 2017, we held a ‘Look Up’ event which focused on the repair and maintenance of tenement and traditional buildings, encouraging property owners to carry out visual inspections of their homes and arming them with information on how to carry out repairs and find a suitable contractor.
Dunoon CARS Project Launch Event
In September 2017, we launched the Dunoon CARS project with an event at the Burgh Hall, Dunoon. It was a great success with 74 people attending. We also held drop-in sessions throughout September for anyone interested in finding out more about the project, where a further 115 people came along.
We will update this page with more information about any upcoming events and training - in the meantime please feel free to contact the Dunoon CARS Project Officer if you are looking for more information about the project.