Black Mountain Conservation

Happy to announce that I have been awarded Apprentice of the Year for plastering, by The Worshipful Company of Master Plaisterers. Wonderful afternoon spent with some great people, and fantastic to see so many women entering construction.

I couldn't have done it without the support of a huge number of people- many thanks to all of you.

If anyone is interested, I'm presenting a paper on how to make decisions on heritage assets at risk of loss due to climate change at this symposium in November.

You can register by following the link. It's all online so you can watch from the comfort of your sofa!

Symposium 2023 The Future by the Sea: Engaging with maritime archaeological research during the climate emergency 4 November 2023 Online through Zoom Register here: Programme All time zones shown are GMT (London,…

Do I have any Welsh friends/ contacts with drones and 3D capable cameras?

I'm doing my MSc and would love to be able to get a 3D image of my case study, however, unless someone is after footage for a portfolio or similar, it's unlikely to happen.

As it's a MSc, there's no scholarship/ grant attached for the research, and I've had to self fund the MSc, so there are very few pennies left in my education pot!

I'm therefore asking on the off chance that someone has the skills/ equipment to help out for free, in return for credit on the project/ experience/ involvement post dissertation when this *possibly* goes further than hypotheticals.

I'm happy to quid pro quo and help you out with some heritage stuff in return, I just can't afford the cash price of however many hundred pounds I'd be looking at.

I'm aware it's a long shot/ stab in the dark etc., but noone ever got anything without at least asking the question.

The study is Swansea based and not particularly accessible (i.e., long walk, tide dependent) so that should be factored in.

Very happy to take someone in my vehicle and to buy them lunch, too!

Thanks!

I'm working in the Forst of Dean over the next few weeks on a beautiful old house. I've been teaching one of the owners how to mix h**p plaster and the process of dubbing out walls ready for further coats. The external walls are going to have a good 50mm or so on to help with insulation and the internal walls are having a bag finish to limit how much dust they collect.
They've stayed a little wetter than we would have liked, so rather than go back for a day, he has cracked on and finished one of the bag walls himself, after we did one together before I left.
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This is one of the reasons I love to teach owners, groups and custodians. I don't believe in keeping mix ratios to myself, nor the reasons behind what and how I do things. It is my belief that people should be able to carry out basic maintenance on their properties, and if they can't afford to employ trades then they should be given the opportunity to learn the skills to do so themselves.
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Well done to L who has been an amazing apprentice so far. 🥳
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We also played with a local fine sand, which gave us a deep purple plaster. Unfortunately it hasn't dried in the purple, or even a lighter shade of it, but it has given a slight buff colour which they may leave unwashed.

Just a quick post to apologise if you've received a spam email from me today. It seems that my email has been compromised.
As far as I can tell, nothing has gone out to clients, just to an imported address book. If you have received anything, please don't open it and let me know on here so I can address the issue.
Thanks,

Bel

For anyone who is the custodian of a listed building, these courses run by the Tywi Centre are a great place to develop your knowledge and understanding of the LBC process. It's a lot cheaper than pre-planning advice and is run by Carmarthenshire's built heritage team, so you're getting the right information from the horse's mouth, so to speak..

It's this Friday, so check your diary and book now!

You can book your place at https://bit.ly/32lLJnC
Gallwch archebu eich lle yn https://bit.ly/2Fi7pJc

Pembroke Town Walls Trust Traditional Home Heritage & Listed Property Owners Heritage Skills

Whitford Point Lighthouse is my case study for my Conservation of Metals module for my MSc.
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It was built in 1865 to guide boats into the Burry Inlet, but even so there were still a lot of wrecks due to the treacherous sand banks.
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It is the only surviving wave swept cast iron lighthouse in the world, and one of only a handful cast iron lighthouses ever built.
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It was out of use by the 1920s but due to another wreck, it was reinstated in the 80s, this time with solar lights. The light failed within 12 months and the light has been out of commission, other than as a landmark in the estuary, ever since.
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The lowest 6m of the lighthouse is submerged at high tide and is host to a number of molluscs and crustaceans.
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Over the years there have been several attempts to initiate conservation of the lighthouse, but due to access difficulties (it's about 2.5miles from the nearest main road, over sand dunes) and its wet environment, costs have been prohibitive and it has continued to decay.
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In June, EFT organised for solar lights to be put on the structure to celebrate the jubilee, sparking public interest in the light once more.
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Facts above have been sourced from extensive research. If you know anything else about the lighthouse, please get in touch :)
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I took mum to her first ever festival this weekend. It was absolutely amazing- even having just had my tooth out and being in loads of pain. So proud of my mum- she never lets what she's got stand in her way of making the most of life. It was soooo hot but better than rain!

I'm back on the tools today, and going strong. I've been looking for my string line, and found it in the fridge with the wine. Maybe it's sending me a message?!

We stayed in a beautiful Airbnb last week, with some stunning morning and evening walks.
People tend to associate the valleys with dirt and industry but they really are so much more than that.

A few bits around the windows left to do, but it's onto the internals next.
Had enough of the horsefly bites this last week, I've got a tennis ball on my arm and another on my calf.

Still failing at social media, and insta in particular.

Here's the current job, before and in progress. I have not relished this heat, I'm definitely a winter and spring girl, not a 28°C lugging buckets up scaff girl.

In the process I managed to miss the first women in trades day, which was on the 15th.

I've been doing this now for about 5 years.. and it's thanks to Joe ( ) that I decided to jack in the day job and actually make a living from it. I've been really lucky with all my placements that my being a girl has never been an issue, and I was raised to give zero shi if anyone ever had an issue with my fierce determination to stick my nose where it wasn't welcome 😅 but for all his constructive criticism over my trying to be perfect, inability to avoid obstacles and general lack of coordination, it's never been about me being a girl. Big shout out to all the guys in this industry who aren't threatened by a woman's presence, and who are prepared to give us space and a chance in what is still a male dominated industry.

Before and during photos of a current job in Cwmbrân. It's been lovely to have sunshine but sooo hot to work in. I am very glad to see some rain today!
Despite wearing gloves I've still managed to get lime burns all up my arms 🙄.
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Signal and WiFi has been hit and miss in our accommodation (and I've been exhausted working 10 hour days in this heat), so if anyone has been expecting anything from me this week, I'm really sorry you haven't had it- I've cancelled my weekend plans and will be working hard today and tomorrow to ensure you get it.

Getting set up and ready to start here..

Had a play with some cornice last week, looking to see if (with more experimentation) a marblesque effect could be run into the cornice using varying pigments. Needs more of a play, but I think it's worth doing.

Happy hump day yesterday, spent the morning running cornice and preparing the living room for the next round of fibrous fantastic..
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Then went to Merthyr to play with some perfect beardie pups- who doesn't love a ball of fluff tugging at your cardi sleeves?!
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Went for a walk and pushed mum through potholes and puddles to get to the stunningly beautiful Pontsticill Reservoir before finding this gem of an old farmhouse opposite a picnic site, where we got the little stove going for hot dogs and coffee.
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Happy dogs and happy people.
And today I'm running cornice and loving my new plants from .barn.nursery .. one day I'll get a chance to plant them!
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There are worse places to work!

I've spent a lot of time on my hands and knees over the last 36 hours, pushing lime into dips and crevices in these walls!



Big thanks to for the recovery massage this morning!

One of the reasons I love lime plastering (apart from getting to work in some beautiful old buildings!) is that there are plenty of opportunities for the use of sustainable and "waste" materials. Unless a job is small or particularly large, I usually make all of my own plaster. One of the plasters I make uses waste off-cuts of wood fibre board, resulting in a fibre laden but very light-weight plaster which is perfect for running the core of cornice work.

This room had had its cornice pulled down in the 1960s, probably when they merged this room from 2 others. The wall they removed was load bearing and this area of the ceiling has dipped about 30mm compared to the other end. The first thing you need to do when running cornice is find your high and low points, so that the bottom of the cornice is level around the room, and so you know you have room between the ceiling and any immovable features such as window heads, beams etc.

I used the template from the hall and landing, and the bedrooms, to create a profile made of zinc. The Victorians generally made their entertaining rooms more lavish than those used by the family, so the existing profiles were modified to reflect this.

Due to the undercut, and the particularly thin plaster there, this profile isn't suitable for running on a bench, so it is all run in situ- this means getting ceilings plumb (often tricky in a wonky old house!), supporting battens on the wall to ensure any unevenness there is limited, and in this case, having the running rule propped in the middle as it's being run onto a beam. Once all the lengths are run, the corners are scribed in using a joint rule. Due to the shape of the horse, you can't run entirely to the corner as it will get stuck on the plaster you've run.

Once the cornice is run, you can ensure your walls and ceiling are brought out level.

Tip tip- old hand whisks are great for mixing small amounts of plaster, especially when you've got some fibres in the mix and helps to ensure that the casting plaster is distributed evenly. I use an awful lot of kitchen equipment throughout the course of my day; probably best to make sure you don't use the best gear though- and if they're not your gadgets, ask first!! 🤣

job

It's been a crazy few months. My personal life is manic, MSc is more intense than I'd bargained for and work is also hectic. Trying to run a business, do a masters, go to college and work was maybe a little ambitious when balanced with renovating a house, trying to have a life and see my family. But I do get to go all over the UK, attend events, see amazing craftsmanship, work with and for some lovely people, and the dog is always pleased to see me when I get home, even if the husband isn't quite so happy!

We're exhibiting at this free event in Llandeilo next month. Come along and learn about the best way to care for your traditional building.

Sending out over 1000 invitations to the Listed Buildings Fair today to owners across Carmarthenshire, but you too are invited. Join us - we have over 20 exhibitors and demonstrators coming along and talks throughout the day. Get your free ticket here - https://bit.ly/35UExnM

Black Mountain Conservation updated their business hours.

When the mortar has been washed out of the walls and what is left is literally soil, the worms move in.

In the misty mountains again this afternoon, looking at a couple of jobs. This one is some lime plaster which needs a bit of help, amongst other issues.

Today started with a beautiful misty drive over the mountain into the "ugly, lovely town" of Swansea. The weather quickly reminded us, on the top lift of scaffolding, that we are in Wales, in November, and it is duty bound to not be dry and not sling it down, so a fine drizzle descended on us for the rest of the day while we raked out some thankfully shoddy cement pointing.
Pooch and I walked along the beach at dusk, watching the mist creep down to the sea and the top of the Meridian Tower get swallowed by clouds.
I stood for an awkwardly long time, randomly pressing the camera button in order to capture the lighthouse and the port/ starboard lights on the boats in the bay flash in the same moment! 🤦‍♀️

First day of the MSc today. I learned a LOT about timber framing. What Joe Thompson doesn't know about historic timber frames isn't worth knowing!

Back onto a pargeting project today. So much was taken out of this house in the 60s that was at odds with its character and I'm trying to repair what I can.
Strictly speaking, there is no place for pargeting in this house- it's not a local art form and the house almost certainly didn't have any. However, there are some nice deep cornices and the fireplace was ruined when they took it out in favour of a 60s river rock full wall monstrosity (we'll say no more on that front) so I feel that adding in some art nouveau pargeting around the fireplace is a way of giving it back some grandeur (hopefully!).
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Pargeting is a form of relief plasterwork which uses a bulkier plaster mix, generally with added fibres for strength. It can be sculpted into a 3D relief form, embossed and textured using stamps, rollers and other tools. It is most commonly found in East Anglia where the remaining masters still practice.
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Barring one pictorial panel I made years ago on a course, this will be my first attempt. It may be a little ambitious yet, we will have to wait and see!
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I'm using a hot mixed plaster with recycled wood fibre board off cuts, quicklime and calcium carbonate flour. The smell of the wet board pulp makes me think the adhesive is size based or similar, which could have an effect on the setting and carbonation properties of the mix. As it's only for a small area I'm not too worried, but worth thinking about if you were using it in large areas.
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To see the work of people who do this properly and well, check out and
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Check your guttering and rainwater goods people! Current clients had floods of water in their hall and wet walls. Having had the roof just done and the joints repainted, they were a little confused as to where the water was coming in.
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A quick investigation showed that 1. The hopper is broken, and not seated in the downpipe in any way, 2. The join on the downpipe is cracked and was letting water out, and 3. The guys on the roof had just swept everything off the scaffolding and let it fall where it may; in this case into the hopper.
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A look down into the hopper showed nothing but standing water, but a broom handle poked down forced water out of the top crack and through the lower join.
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We took the shoe off the bottom and out came all the crap off the roof came flying down, along with the water. Although the cracks are still there and will need repair/ replacement, the water can now flow freely enough that the water is bypassing them without issue.

Kayaking down the Severn today with hired kayaks from . Just stopped for a flask of coffee, with a roll and a piece of shortbread, both bought from Blists Hill Bakery . Noms! Think we're doing ok time wise. Nearly halfway there and 3 and a bit hours to go.

Doing the rounds in the Midlands at the moment. Stopped in a favourite haunt for some pork scratchings in memory of my Pa. They'll do nicely for the kayaking trip I'm taking .degree.burns on tomorrow. Let's hope we don't spend the day going around in circles 🤣🤣

Well it's been a very busy week. I've been writing HIA inserts for proposed specs for a house in Sussex; arranging on site training for a house in Shropshire; pricing a couple of skimming jobs in Wiltshire; consulting on a house for a buyer in Swansea; carrying out conservation repairs in Carmarthenshire and I've ended my week by surveying for works on an old vernacular build in Pembrokeshire. I think I need the rest of the weekend off 🤣

Pigments
A bit closer to the colours on the cornice. A mustard yellow, a plummy red and a dark muddy green.
This is why you should make your own limewash. You can play with pigments, mix them up, apply them in different ways and find a colour you love. There are limitations.. not everything is lime stable. But sometimes mixing something that isn't, with something that is, creates a colour or effect that you wouldn't find otherwise.
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To steal 's slogan..
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The Victorians were renowned for their ostentatious decor, rich and vibrant hues and generally bold and eclectic clutter. I'm hoping to put some of that back into this living room, while keeping it bright and welcoming (and not something I have to dust regularly!).
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