Adventures in the Norfolk Countryside
Over the last couple of weeks I have been working with Maltby Plasterers in the beautiful Norfolk countryside.Maltbys are the father and son team of Bruce and Luke Maltby, lime plasterers who specialise in timber framed ,clay lump and flint building of which there are a suprising number surviving in this area. Bruce and Luke have championed these buildings which have suffered in many cases irreparable damage .Neglect, the application of modern cements and gypsum plasters have let to the near disintergration of timber frames and the clay daub/cob which form the walls. During the last few decades in the mistaken notion that Portland cement renders would provide a protective coating, sussessive builders have, perhaps unknowingly trapped damp. Unable to dry out this causes rot in the age old timbers disolving the clay which has been the construction material of these buildings for hundereds of years
The style of the timber framed building is the classic English venacular so loved by the people of these isles. A major influence of on much of British archtectual history in particular the Arts and Crafts movement.
This style is our own ,not dictated by Roman and Greek classicism but built with English Oak ,flint hazel wattles and clay daub.If one of these buildings was in the USA it would have a theme park built to it.
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flint thatched cottage in Norfolk |
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scratch coat applied over flint wall |
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Knapped flint panel left to show construction |
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finished Haired chalk plaster |
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Niches in flint wall finished with chalk lime mix |
