An Introduction to Ornamental Lime Plastering

Event details

An Introduction to Ornamental Lime Plastering

9 - 10 June 2023
Heritage & Rural Skills Centre, Buscot and Coleshill Estate, Swindon, SN6 7PT
£495 per person

Bursaries, generously provided by the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers, are available - see below for details of how to apply. 
£100 per person bursary place * Bursary applications now closed *

"I found it very interesting and learned new skills that will help me in the future of my work on historic listed buildings" - course participant (2022). 

"It was brilliant, well structured and informative; great teachers that made everyone feel welcome and comfortable, enabling all to engage fully and ask questions. Lovely location too." - course participant (2022)

We are delighted to return to the Heritage Skills Centre, Coleshill, for our third year of popular lime-themed courses in association with the National Trust. This course is ideal for people with plastering experience, and particularly working plasterers who are keen to expand their skill base. Working in a small group with experienced tutors, this two-day course will include a demonstration of making a running mould, and provide a practical introduction to running a cornice in-situ and forming external and internal mitres. There will also be instruction on casting and fixing enrichments as well as running fibrous plasterwork formed ‘on the bench’. 

The lead tutors, Sean Wheatley, Keith Langton and Michal Wolf, are knowledgeable lime plasterers with decades of onsite experience.

Watch this video, created by one of our tutors, of the 2022 Introduction to Ornamental Lime Plastering course. 

Spaces are limited - advance booking is recommended.

The SPAB is an IHBC recognised CPD provider and attendance certificates for CPD are available on request. 

Although we cannot guarantee it, previous course participants have had success in gaining a CITB short course grant (code: GET2226) towards the cost of this course fee. Please visit the CITB website for further information. 

This a is a two-day course. Refreshments and lunch are provided.  Accommodation is not included. 

"It was excellent, such a positive experience. I really appreciate all the time given by the tutors and everyone involved in making the course happen. It was perfectly organised and well timed." - course participant (2022). 

"Having a chance to actually practically take part and practise in the booths, as I find that is the best way to learn... 
Also it was great networking with all the other students, I met some really great people and sure we can all learn from each other." - course participant (2022). 

Programme (subject to minor changes): 

Day 1
09:30 Registration
10:00 Welcome + Health & Safety briefing
10:15  Introduction to tools and materials, and demonstration of making a running mould
11:15  Introduction to fibres plastering, and demonstration of casting fibrous plaster and casting  
           enrichment. 
12:15  Lunch
13:00  Practical session:
-    Fixing running rule, understanding and mixing plaster for coring out. 
-    Preparing to run a cornice. Running a muffle coat/coring out.
14:00  Practical session: 
-    Carry on running a muffle coat/coring out. 
-    Start on creating a mitred corner.
15:00  Finishing off and preparation for Day 2
15:15  Refreshment break
15:30  Running in situ case study.
16:15  Fibrous plaster case study
17:15  Close

Day 2
09:00  Registration
09:15  Practical session::
-    Understanding and mixing plaster for finishing coat. 
-    Preparing to run a finishing coats: plain face cornice.
10:15  Practical session:
-    Carry on finishing coats. 
-    Start on finishing coat on mitred corner.
11:15  Refreshment break
11:45  Practical session: 
-    Understanding of fixing fibres run cornices on site.        
-    Fix fibres run cornices.
12:45  Lunch
13:45  Practical Session:
-    Finish off mitred corner on solid and fibres cornices.     
-    Demonstration of fixing enrichments.
15:30  Clear up
16:15  Close

You may also be interested in our other introductory course: An Introduction to Plain Lime Plastering, 6 - 7 October 2023.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): 
The course will take place in a workshop. Delegates should wear suitable clothing and sturdy footwear. PPE (hi viz, goggles, gloves) and all tools and materials will be provided. Delegates are welcome to bring their own goggles and gloves if they wish. 

Bursary: 
*APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED*
A couple of bursary places are available on this course at the reduced fee of £100 per person. Bursaries will be given to plasterers, or plastering students, seeking to develop their lime plastering skills in their early career and require this financial assistance. The SPAB is committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity in the sector. We particularly welcome applications by people from backgrounds underrepresented in building conservation. 

Bursary places are made possible through the generous support of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers. 

To apply for a bursary place on this course, please email us at education@spab.org.uk to tell us:
- how long have you been a plasterer?
- what is your previous experience of plastering?
- what courses have you previously attended?  
- how do you think a place on the course would assist your career?
- about your need for the bursary. 

Please attach a short CV which tells us a bit more about you – your background, interests, and any training and/or work to date. 

If you have any questions before you apply, or would prefer to apply in another format, please email us at education@spab.org.uk marking your message “Plain Lime Plastering Bursary”. The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Tuesday 7 March 2023. Applicants will be contacted about the outcome of their application as soon as we can after this date. Please do not book a place on the workshop online if you intend to apply for a bursary. 

Accessibility:
Please contact us if there are any adaptations we can make that would make the course more accessible for you. We would be happy to have an informal chat about the course and possible access issues before you book. 

Lead Tutors:

Sean Wheatley - traditional plasterer
Sean has worked as a plasterer for 40 years - initially with modern materials and for the last 30 years he has concentrated on traditional methods, materials and decorative plasterwork. Sean has also been involved in the preparation of reports, surveys and methodologies regarding the conservation and restoration of historic plasterwork in listed and historic buildings. Sean is a master craftsman of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers. 

Keith Langton - decorative plasterwork specialist
Keith is a specialist in heritage and fibrous plasterwork. A master craftsman of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers. 

Michal Wolf - plasterer and conservator in lime
Michal is the founder of All Things Lime, a small but dynamic company which helps owners of traditional buildings and national charities to look after their historic buildings. Michal believes in a positive and sensible approach towards caring for historic buildings, and is also interested in traditional methods of working and keeping the craft alive by researching and using different lime plasters (such as chalk lime and hot lime). 

Booking Terms & Conditions

Images credit: Marianne Suhr