[ee—di—kyool]

ædicule’s services

(Latin. Noun. Of micro architecture. Lit. Little building)

Website designed, built and published by Michael Alexander Brown

Toby Norris Public House, Stamford

NOTES: This limestone arch was recently uncovered during extensive yet sympathetic works carried out by it new owner. Until then it had been hidden behind a stud wall. On the arch, large areas of lime plaster remained and were thought to be in excess of two hundred years old. It was vital to preserve this intact. Initially, there were hard soot deposits around the apex which were softened and lightly sponged. Where the plaster was ‘hollow’ it was injected behind with lime grout to help bond the plaster to the stone. This process has a secondary benefit in that it fills the voids which are potentially very vulnerable if knocked. Next, the edges of the plaster were capped with lime mortar. This process helps to bond and arrests further flaking. In addition, it also removes the temptation from people to pick at the edges (note the guard rail also). Finally the plaster was given multiple coats of lime-water. This helps give new life to the plaster, consolidate any friable matter on it’s surface and encourages any hair in the original mix to lie down (another picking temptation!).