Plaster Analysis at Castle Dairy Kendal

Womersleys have been instructed by Maysand and the NPS Group to analyse the mortar and plaster types on the ground floor walls of Castle Dairy in Kendal Cumbria to guide restoration of plasterwork following serious flooding during last winter.

An important grade I listed building in the town The Dairy, which may have been a Dowry House linked to the Castle, dates back to the 14 Century. It was extensively remodelled c1560 for Anthony Garnett (numerous dated features have survived). It has a Central Hall with 2-storey cross-wings to either end and contains an exceptionally well-preserved interior.

It is proposed to replace all modern cement and gypsum plasters on the lowers sections of the walls following the flood with more traditional and breathable haired lime plasters, whilst conserving existing historic plasterwork. The plaster analysis that we are undertaking will help guide this approach