Thursday 2 - Friday 3 July 2026
\n \nDay 1: 9.30am - 5.30pm
\n Day 2: 9am - 4.
30pm
This course is now sold o ut. Please sign up to the waiting list to be notified if spaces become available.
\n \nJoin us for a hands-on introduction to lime pl astering – perfect for homeowners and DIYers\, bui lding custodians and specifiers.
\n \nOur course venue is the custom-designed plastering stu dio at the National Trust’s Heritage a nd Rural Skills Centre\, where you’ll have you r very own plastering bay to practice throughout t he course. We also keep our classes small and frie ndly\, so you’ll have plenty of attention from our course team. Tutors Sean Wheatley and Michal Wolf are Master Plasterers with decades of experience working with lime. They will be joined by Marianne Suhr\, a chartered building surveyor and co-autho r of the SPAB's Old House Handbook\, with assistan ce from the Durrant & Daughter team.
\n \nI f you live in or care for an old house\, you’ll co me away with the practical skills you need to conf idently tackle lime plaster repairs in your own ho me.
\n \nThi s introductory course is for anyone interested in learning about plain lime plastering for their hom e or old buildings under their care. We also welco me conservation officers\, heritage consultants\, architects\, building surveyors and other specifie rs too.
\n \nBy the end of the course\, you will know:
\n \nSean has four decades' experience as a plasterer specialising in traditional method s\, materials and decorative plasterwork. He is a SPAB Guardian on our Education and Training Commit tee and is a Master Plasterer of the Worshipful Co mpany of Plaisterers.
\n \nMich al is a Master Plasterer of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers and a founder of All Things Lime. He is passionate about traditional methods of work ing and keeping the craft of lime plastering alive .
\n \nMariann e is a chartered building surveyor\, writer and br oadcaster specialising in the repair of historic b uildings. Marianne is co-author of the SPAB's Old House Handbook and Old House Eco Handbook.
\n \ nWith thanks to Jon and Lottie Durrant for the ir assistance on this course.
\n \nThe SPAB is an IHBC-recognis ed CPD provider and attendance certificates for CP D are available on request.
\n \nThis is a practical course held in a workshop environment\, which can be dusty\, cold and noisy. There are some uneven surfaces\, s uch as cobbles\, due to the historic nature of the building.
\n \nPlease bear in mind that the workshop demonstrations and activities will re quire standing.
\n \nAccessible parking sp aces are marked in the car park. Accessible toilet s are available.
\n \nAnything we can do to make this event more accessible for you? Please email educ ation@spab.org.uk.
\n \nAll bookings are s ubject to our Terms and Conditions.
\n \nPhoto credit: Ralph Hodgson.
\n \nThis event is in association with the Nation al Trust.
DESCRIPTION:Thursday 2 - Friday 3 July 2026\n \n \n \n Day 1: 9.30am - 5.30pm\n \n Day 2: 9am - 4.30pm\n \n \n \ n This course is now sold out. Please sign up to t he waiting list to be notified if spaces become av ailable. \n \n \n \n Join us for a hands-on introd uction to lime plastering – perfect for homeowners and DIYers\, building custodians and specifiers. \n \n \n \n Our course venue is the custom-designe d plastering studio at the National Trust’s Herita ge and Rural Skills Centre (https://www.nationaltr ust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berks hire/heritage-and-rural-skills-centre)\, where you ’ll have your very own plastering bay to practice throughout the course. We also keep our classes sm all and friendly\, so you’ll have plenty of attent ion from our course team. Tutors Sean Wheatley and Michal Wolf are Master Plasterers with decades of experience working with lime. They will be joined by Marianne Suhr\, a chartered building surveyor and co-author of the SPAB's Old House Handbook\, w ith assistance from the Durrant & Daughter team.\n \n \n \n If you live in or care for an old house\ , you’ll come away with the practical skills you n eed to confidently tackle lime plaster repairs in your own home. \n \n \n \n Who is it for? \n \n \n This introductory course is for anyone interested in learning about plain lime plastering for their home or old buildings under their care. We also w elcome conservation officers\, heritage consultant s\, architects\, building surveyors and other spec ifiers too. \n \n \n \n You will learn\n \n \n By the end of the course\, you will know:\n \n \n \n \n The basics of working with lime\, including sl aking\, mixing and sand selection.\n How to safel y work with lime\, including the correct use of to ols and PPE.\n How to fix laths and other substra tes you might encounter on the job.\n The correct technique for mixing and applying plasters\, incl uding the base coat\, pricking up coat\, float coa t and setting coat.\n When and how to use hydraul ic lime.\n How to repair lime plaster cracks.\n How to limewash.\n \n \n You will need\n \n \n \n Please wear warm\, comfortable clothing that you don't mind getting dirty or damaged. We recommend you bring overalls or coveralls to wear if you can . Your arms should be covered during the practical sessions.\n You will need to wear sturdy (flat a nd closed) footwear for the practical sessions\, a nd bring a spare pair of clean\, indoor shoes (fla t and closed) for when using the classroom space. \n We will provide all necessary protective equi pment\, but if you would prefer to wear your own g loves and goggles\, please bring them. \n All too ls and materials will be provided. If you would pr efer to bring your own plastering tools – hawk\, t rowel and water brush – please ensure they are lab elled. \n \n \n Tutors \n \n \n Sean Wheatley\, tr aditional plasterer\n \n \n Sean has four decades' experience as a plasterer specialising in traditi onal methods\, materials and decorative plasterwor k. He is a SPAB Guardian on our Education and Trai ning Committee and is a Master Plasterer of the Wo rshipful Company of Plaisterers.\n \n \n \n Michal Wolf\, plasterer and conservator in lime\n \n \n Michal is a Master Plasterer of the Worshipful Com pany of Plaisterers and a founder of All Things Li me. He is passionate about traditional methods of working and keeping the craft of lime plastering a live.\n \n \n \n Marianne Suhr \n \n \n Marianne i s a chartered building surveyor\, writer and broad caster specialising in the repair of historic buil dings. Marianne is co-author of the SPAB's Old Hou se Handbook and Old House Eco Handbook.\n \n \n \n With thanks to Jon and Lottie Durrant for their a ssistance on this course. \n \n \n \n Accreditatio n \n \n \n The SPAB is an IHBC-recognised CPD prov ider and attendance certificates for CPD are avail able on request.\n \n \n \n Accessibility \n \n \n This is a practical course held in a workshop env ironment\, which can be dusty\, cold and noisy. Th ere are some uneven surfaces\, such as cobbles\, d ue to the historic nature of the building. \n \n \n \n Please bear in mind that the workshop demons trations and activities will require standing. \n \n \n \n Accessible parking spaces are marked in t he car park. Accessible toilets are available. \n \n \n \n Anything we can do to make this event mo re accessible for you? Please email education@spab .org.uk (mailto:education@spab.org.uk). \n \n \n \ n \n Photos and filming: We may take photos or vid eos at this event to be used in future promotion\, including in print and online. Participants may t ake photos and short videos for personal use\, wit h permission of the course leader and all other pa rticipants in frame. If you want to post on social media\, please message SPAB's Comms Team (press@s pab.org.uk or @spab1877) for permission. If your m aterial is good\, we might ask to share it with ou r followers.\n \n \n \n All bookings are subject t o our Terms and Conditions (https://www.spab.org.u k/content/booking-terms-and-conditions).\n \n \n \ n Photo credit: Ralph Hodgson.\n \n \n \n This eve nt is in association with the National Trust.\n \n CATEGORIES:Course CALSCALE:GREGORIAN DTSTAMP;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T093000 DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T093000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T163000 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=1364 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR