THE skill of handmaking bagpipes and sporrans has been added to a list of endangered crafts in Scotland.
The Heritage Crafts charity has included both practices on its “red list” of crafts at risk of extinction, which identifies skills where there are fewer practitioners than ever before and limited options for training the next generation.
Handmaking bagpipes and crafting sporrans have long been central to Scotland’s cultural heritage, but the number of people with the expertise to carry out these trades is now critically low.
Speaking to STV News, Gibby MacNaught, one of the few remaining artisan bagpipe makers in Scotland, said he began making his own pipes as a schoolboy after discovering he could not afford to buy them.
He now produces each part of the instrument himself, including the pipes, chanters, reeds, mounts, and leather bags.
In Braemar, Alasdair Colquhoun is among the last craftsmen still hand-stitching sporrans using traditional methods.
He runs Lamont Sporrans in Royal Deeside and uses a variety of animal hides, including badger, fox, and raccoon, to make bespoke items.
He told STV that the detail and difficulty involved in the work has discouraged younger people from learning the skill.
Daniel Carpenter from Heritage Crafts said the situation reflects broader challenges across the heritage sector.
“Many of them have very well-established markets but because of the nature of the work and its handmade, they can’t upscale enough to create enough income to pass on the skills to the next generation,” he said.
“The apprenticeship system in the UK is really not set up for these small businesses. There’s just not enough support for training and government-funded apprenticeships are very hard to access."
The charity is calling for greater government support, including dedicated training schemes and more accessible apprenticeships.
Colquhoun said he will continue his work as long as he can, but is concerned by the lack of a successor.
“A lot of people now don’t like sewing needles because it’s hard,” he said.
“I don’t decry advances in technology, there’s nothing wrong with that, but I think if we lose all the hand crafts and skills it will be a crying shame.
“It will be a tragedy for Scotland.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “Scotland has a proud heritage of traditional skills, and these skills will continue to play a crucial part in ensuring a sustainable future for Scotland’s heritage.
“The Scottish Government is working with Skills Development Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland and the wider sector to see how we can better promote careers and opportunities in traditional skills.
“As part of this, the Scottish Government has supported the opening of Falkirk’s Lock 16 – a new national training centre focused on traditional skills.
“Additionally, the Developing the Young Workforce employer network has collaborated with employers and sector bodies to develop the Build Your Future programme, which helps to highlight careers in construction and heritage skills.”
