Vernacular Walls: Mud, Stone & Lime

Lecture 5: Vernacular Walls: Mud, stone & lime

Lecture description:

This talk will cover an overview of what mud-walled buildings are, how to identify them and some conservation case studies by Alex Gibbons, along with a discussion of traditional lime mortar, its use in vernacular masonry buildings and how to carry out conservative repair of buildings using lime mortar by Eoin Madigan.

About the speakers:

Eoin Madigan & Alex Gibbons

Eoin Madigan

Eoin is a sixth-generation stonemason and lime practitioner from the Burren region of Co. Clare, Ireland. He is passionate about the conservative repair of vernacular structures and specialises in the use of historic lime mortars. In 2005 he completed a nine-month dry stone walling and stone cutting course run by master craftsman Tom Little in Tralee Co. Kerry. From there he became an active member of The Buildings Limes Forum Ireland and again, under the tuition of master craftsman Pat McAfee, he gained his knowledge and love for historic mortars. In 2005 he won a placement with The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB). The SPAB was set up in 1877 by William Morris to combat the needless architectural restoration being carried out by the Victorians. SPAB believes in conservation over restoration. Along with 2 other craftsmen and 3 conservation professionals, they criss-crossed the UK and Ireland visiting and working alongside master craftspeople and professionals. He is now a committee member and trainer for The Building Lime Forum Ireland and a founding member of SPAB Ireland where again he is a trainer in masonry and lime mortars.

Alex Gibbons

Alex Gibbons is a Fellow of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB). His company Stick in the Mud Conservation is a specialist building conservation firm, based on the Solway which undertakes conservation of historic buildings throughout Cumbria, Dumfries & Galloway and Scottish Borders, with a passion for the repair of vernacular buildings, including cottages, farmhouses and pele towers, with particular expertise in clay dabbin building repair, lime work, and thatching. Alex originally trained as a Surveyor, and has a wealth of experience working on traditional buildings throughout the UK, France, Canada & The USA.  He regularly gives talks for The SPAB, and  several universities as a visiting lecturer.

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