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Old decorative ceilings - Dawn Hoskins (5th Jan 2009 - 17:32:39) My hubby is a structural engineer and has decided (just for fun!) to do a masters in restoring listed buildings. He needs to write a paper on decorative ceilings but can’t locate any in the area. Does anyone know of any?

Re: Old decorative ceilings - Sue W (5th Jan 2009 - 18:50:47) Dawn Sorry to ask a stupid question, do you mean decorative painted as in artistic or as in plaster decorations? I seem to recall that Compton has a very decorative building, which I think is/was a church. I am sure someone will provide better information than I have! Sue

Re: Old decorative ceilings - Alan Baker (5th Jan 2009 - 19:12:37) Yes Sue, it is off Down Lane, Compton, in a grave yard. Google Map I last visited it in about 10 years ao. As you say, it has a very decorative painted ceiling. It is called "Watts Cemetery Chapel" wattsgallery.org.uk/chapel

Re: Old decorative ceilings - Sue w (5th Jan 2009 - 19:27:59) There is also Masseys Folly in Farringdon - I have never been inside, so I do not know if they have any good decorative plaster ceilings, the pictures on the web only show the exteria, but it was featured on the popular tv programme, about saving old buildings. Sorry not too good at adding links, so will leave it to the expert Ed!

Re: Old decorative ceilings - Simon Coyte (5th Jan 2009 - 20:23:28) Try Uppark House at Harting. National Trust restored it to its former glory afrter a disasterous fire in the late 80's

Re: Old decorative ceilings - Dawn Hoskins (6th Jan 2009 - 13:05:21) Hi there Sorry for cunfusion! He needs decorative plastering I think - but I will check...

Re: Old decorative ceilings - Paul Robinson (6th Jan 2009 - 13:50:44) Leafing through an old book ((History of Surrey Vol 1) I came across a plate of the drawing room of Loseley Hall which is between Godalming and Guildford. It has a very impressive moulded ceiling and I am sure that the house is normally open to the public. During a visit to the Ironbridge Museum near Telford in Shropshire I was delighted to find that this working museum has a plasterer's shop that still makes moulded plaster detail for use in ceilings, pillars and balustrades. Check these places out at Google. Paul Robinson

Re: Old decorative ceilings - Sue Marshall (6th Jan 2009 - 17:19:34) Quite a few National Trust properties in the general area have got fine ceilings, Clandon Park in West Clandon and The Vyne near Basingstoke for example. Of course it is now out of season for most Nat Trust places but if your husband approaches the Trust they might let him have a look without masses of visitors getting in his way! Sue Marshall

Re: Old decorative ceilings - Dawn Hoskins (7th Jan 2009 - 16:44:17) thank you everyone I have passed all your info on to Richard and also the National Trust have been fabulous - they actually have a conservation officer especially for stone and plaster so hopefully he can find something suitable from all of this input. thanks again, Dawn

Re: Old decorative ceilings - Sue W (7th Jan 2009 - 19:47:16) Dawn, There may be much more behind this than 'for fun'. My brother is a surveyor, and worked a lot on buildings in Brighton, which led him into a desire to find out more about restoration, he became a volunteer with the NT, and now with this experience has just landed a job in the States (near Detroit), to oversee the restoration of their Victorian buildings - as they now have decided to 'list' them for posterity - and there are few home-grown people with experience!! You never know where this could take you!!! LOL Sue

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