Saturday 6 June 2026
\n 9.30am - 4.30pm
Join us for a unique opportunity to learn the endangered craft of pargeting from on e of the country’s highest regarded pargeters\, Bi ll Sargent\, at the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre\, Coleshill. This workshop is b rought to you in association with the National Tru st.
\n \nPargeting (also spelled 'pargetti ng') is a decorative render applied to the facade of a building\, believed to have been introduced t o England in the 16th century by Italian craftspeo ple. Patterns are scratched or stamped into wet pl aster\, while more skilled craftspeople make their own relief designs modelled directly on to the wa ll.
\n \nOnce you’ve learned about the his tory and skill of pargeting from Bill Sargent\, it ’ll be your turn to get creative! Under the superv ision of our friendly tutors\, you'll design and c reate your own pargeted panel to take home.
\ n \nIn the UK\, pargeting is considered an end angered craft due to lack of awareness of it outsi de the built heritage sector and a decline in trad itional plastering skills. Join us to learn the ba sics of this fascinating craft and help to keep th is skill alive.
\n \nThis introductory workshop is for anyone i nterested in learning pargeting skills for work\, general interest or leisure. We welcome old buildi ngs enthusiasts\, craftspeople\, homeowners\, buil ding conservation professionals and students. No p rior experience is required.
\n \nBill is one of th e highest regarded pargeters in the UK. After coll ege\, Bill worked with his father\, continuing the tradition of conservation plasterwork and pargeti ng begun by his grandfather almost 100 years ago. Bill’s work varies from claylump and brick to timb er-framed period properties\, using materials such as clay plasters\, chalk lime and sand lime putty plasters to produce a traditional finish.
\n \nAndrew worked as an art lecturer\, taught watercolour painting in Florence and has exhibited his work at galleries. Andrew started working wit h Bill Sargent several decades ago\, using his art istic skills to create pargeting pieces as well as sgraffito and fresco designs.
\n \nSean has four decades' experience as a plasterer speci alising in traditional methods\, materials and dec orative plasterwork. He is a SPAB Guardian on our Education and Training Committee and is a Master P lasterer of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers.
\n \nMichal is a Master Plast erer of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers and a founder of All Things Lime. He is passionate abo ut traditional methods of working and keeping the craft of lime plastering alive.
\n \nThe SPAB is an IHBC-recogni sed CPD provider and attendance certificates for C PD are available on request.
\n \nThis is a practical course hel d in a workshop environment\, which can be dusty\, cold and noisy. There are some uneven surfaces\, such as cobbles\, due to the historic nature of th e building.
\n \nPlease bear in mind that the workshop demonstrations and activities will r equire standing.
\n \nAccessible parking s paces are marked in the car park. Accessible toile ts are available.
\n \nAnything we can do to make this event more accessible for you? Pleas e email edu cation@spab.org.uk.
\n \nAll bookings are subject to our Terms and Conditions.
\n \nPhoto credit: Michal Wolf.
\n \nThis event is in association with the Nation al Trust.
DESCRIPTION:Saturday 6 June 2026\n \n 9.30am - 4.30pm\n \n \n \n Join us for a unique opportunity to learn the e ndangered craft of pargeting from one of the count ry’s highest regarded pargeters\, Bill Sargent\, a t the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre (https://ww w.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckingha mshire-berkshire/heritage-and-rural-skills-centre) \, Coleshill. This workshop is brought to you in a ssociation with the National Trust. \n \n \n \n Pa rgeting (also spelled 'pargetting') is a decorativ e render applied to the facade of a building\, bel ieved to have been introduced to England in the 16 th century by Italian craftspeople. Patterns are s cratched or stamped into wet plaster\, while more skilled craftspeople make their own relief designs modelled directly on to the wall. \n \n \n \n Onc e you’ve learned about the history and skill of pa rgeting from Bill Sargent\, it’ll be your turn to get creative! Under the supervision of our friendl y tutors\, you'll design and create your own parge ted panel to take home. \n \n \n \n In the UK\, p argeting is considered an endangered craft due to lack of awareness of it outside the built heritage sector and a decline in traditional plastering sk ills. Join us to learn the basics of this fascinat ing craft and help to keep this skill alive.\n \n \n \n Who is it for? \n \n \n This introductory wo rkshop is for anyone interested in learning parget ing skills for work\, general interest or leisure. We welcome old buildings enthusiasts\, craftspeop le\, homeowners\, building conservation profession als and students. No prior experience is required. \n \n \n \n You will learn\n \n \n \n A brief hi story of pargeting in the UK. \n Plaster preparat ion requirements.\n Pargeting pattern-making usin g an assortment of tools and techniques.\n Parget ing freehand design inspiration and basic techniqu es.\n Advice on tending and painting the plaster. \n \n \n You will need\n \n \n \n Please wear war m\, comfortable clothing that you don't mind getti ng dirty or damaged. We recommend you bring overal ls or coveralls to wear if you can. Your arms shou ld be covered during the practical sessions.\n Yo u will need to wear sturdy (flat and closed) footw ear for the practical sessions\, and bring a spare pair of clean\, indoor shoes (flat and closed) fo r when using the classroom space. \n We will pro vide all necessary protective equipment\, but if y ou would prefer to wear your own gloves and goggle s\, please bring them. \n All tools and materials will be provided. You are welcome to bring any pa rgeting design ideas or inspiration with you. \n \n \n Tutors \n \n \n Bill Sargent\, pargeter and traditional plasterer \n \n \n Bill is one of the highest regarded pargeters in the UK. After colleg e\, Bill worked with his father\, continuing the t radition of conservation plasterwork and pargeting begun by his grandfather almost 100 years ago. Bi ll’s work varies from claylump and brick to timber -framed period properties\, using materials such a s clay plasters\, chalk lime and sand lime putty p lasters to produce a traditional finish. \n \n \n \n Andrew Fawcett\, artist and craftsman\n \n \n A ndrew worked as an art lecturer\, taught watercolo ur painting in Florence and has exhibited his work at galleries. Andrew started working with Bill Sa rgent several decades ago\, using his artistic ski lls to create pargeting pieces as well as sgraffit o and fresco designs.\n \n \n \n Sean Wheatley\, t raditional plasterer \n \n \n Sean has four decade s' experience as a plasterer specialising in tradi tional methods\, materials and decorative plasterw ork. He is a SPAB Guardian on our Education and Tr aining Committee and is a Master Plasterer of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers. \n \n \n \n Mic hal Wolf\, plasterer and conservator in lime\n \n \n Michal is a Master Plasterer of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers and a founder of All Things Lime. He is passionate about traditional methods of working and keeping the craft of lime plasterin g alive.\n \n \n \n Accreditation \n \n \n The SPA B is an IHBC-recognised CPD provider and attendanc e certificates for CPD are available on request.\n \n \n \n Accessibility \n \n \n This is a practic al course held in a workshop environment\, which c an be dusty\, cold and noisy. There are some uneve n surfaces\, such as cobbles\, due to the historic nature of the building. \n \n \n \n Please bear in mind that the workshop demonstrations and activ ities will require standing. \n \n \n \n Accessibl e parking spaces are marked in the car park. Acces sible toilets are available. \n \n \n \n Anything we can do to make this event more accessible for you? Please email education@spab.org.uk (mailto:ed ucation@spab.org.uk). \n \n \n \n \n Photos and fi lming: We may take photos or videos at this event to be used in future promotion\, including in prin t and online. Participants may take photos and sho rt videos for personal use\, with permission of th e course leader and all other participants in fram e. If you want to post on social media\, please me ssage SPAB's Comms Team (press@spab.org.uk or @spa b1877) for permission. If your material is good\, we might ask to share it with our followers.\n \n \n \n All bookings are subject to our Terms and Co nditions (https://www.spab.org.uk/content/booking- terms-and-conditions).\n \n \n \n Photo credit: Mi chal Wolf. \n \n \n \n This event is in associatio n with the National Trust.\n \n CATEGORIES:Course CALSCALE:GREGORIAN DTSTAMP;TZID=Europe/London:20260606T093000 DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260606T093000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260606T163000 LOCATION:Heritage & Rural Skills Centre\n Heritage & Rural Skills Centre\, Buscot and Coleshill Estate\n Swin don\, SN6 7PT\n United Kingdom\n URL:https://www.spab.org.uk/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=1362 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR