Southsea Castle is holding a free heritage skills weekend in association with Find Your Talent on the 9th and 10th October. The weekend is an opportunity for residents and visitors to experience a range of heritage skills including:

Architectural carving
Gilding – oil gilding, water gilding and Verre Eglomise (applying gold to glass)
Brick and lime work
Decorative plasterwork
Scagliola – A realistic imitation marble created with a composite plaster material
Stencil cutting and painting
Plaster mould making
Graining and marbling
Thatching
Wattle and daub

There will also be illustrated talks about restoration and gilding, castle tours and the chance to book short weekend courses. Staff from Highbury College will be available to discuss courses and traditional painting techniques and museum curators will be showing a selection of objects and maps illustrating the built heritage in the Portsmouth area. Refreshments will also be available.

For more information call 023 9282 7261.

Photo: Tristan Savage