English Heritage Paint *LINK*

[Anonymous]

Now that EH has had its funding cut by HM Gov again, it's gotta be pulling in the dosh somehow.

No idea what it's like... but here's a link...



http://www.thelittlegreene.com

 

[Anonymous]

WHAT!???? No distemper and a recommendation to prime powdery surfaces with stabilising solution prior to emulsioning. I rest my case. Mike.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes - I rather thought it may be like that... mmmm.

 

[Anonymous]

"A traditional alkyd-based paint" That'll be traditional as in from way back in the 20th century then. I've had a good look round their technical data and couldn't find much to make me recommend them.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd be interested to know just why English Heritage chose to link up with a firm dedicated to covering the nation's walls with acrylic emulsion. They don't seem to say just how much their 'generous' donation to EH is every time you buy a can.

 

[Anonymous]

I suppose EH has to make money somehow! And the mass paint market may be more lucrative than flogging limewash.

So much expertise at EH is being lost as many jump ship...

 

[Anonymous]

Frankly I think it is scandalous.
Most people know precious little about what paints to use on old plasters and now they will buy a paint that is linked to EH and assume that they are doing the right thing!
This also begs the question as to how much the top brass at EH really care!
Disgusted of Devon.

 

[Anonymous]

Ah - that'll be your traditional stabilising solution, used since the dawn of man, and your heritage vinyl emulsion.

 

[Anonymous]

Mike - you could e-mail the top brass and ask...

 

[Anonymous]

I too, am appalled at EH. Seems as though whenever something sells too well threatening the moguls, or the weakest link needs a boost, big guns have to put their weight behind, trying to boost sales.

Just hope that the 'smaller' specialist companies can afford to develop their marketing strategy to further educate the public.

(Aga is doing the same with related companies.)

I shall carry on along the road to 'Jericho' with my paint finishes.

Jocelyn

 

[Anonymous]

This is from the EH website:

"Identifying a gap in the market for truly authenticated historical paint colours, English Heritage has joined forces with Little Greene to produce an inspirational palette of 60 verified shades.

"With renowned paint historian Patrick Baty acting as consultant, Little Greene and English Heritage carried out a meticulous research project: starting with thousands of archive paint samples, the range was painstakingly edited down to 60 definitive colours which capture the essence of England’s past from Georgian times to the 1950s. As further proof of authenticity, each colour retains its original name and bears a description of its provenance."

I think it's interesting that they admit they started with "...thousands of archive paint samples..." i.e. before the days of mass production every decorator mixed up his own paint so there never were any definitive 'authentic' colours. They've 'painstakingly' chosen 60 colours they think will sell and added them to alkyd and acrylic binders and called them 'authentic'.

Who do we know at EH who might be sympathetic towards some carefully directed lobbying?

I'm minded to approach the Advertising Standards Authority. Anyone fancy contributing some arguements?

 

[Anonymous]

“As further proof of authenticity, each colour retains its original name…”

“Lemon Tree, Light Wicker, Oak Apple, Daylight, Tash, Pillar, Rectory White, Welcome, Al Fresco, Batsman, China Clay, Adventurer, Harmony, Julie's Dream, Pot Red, Simplicity, Tuscany, Courtyard, Grey Stone, Juniper, Ash, Light Challinor, Weekend, and Spark's Grey.”

So which of these names are ‘original’?

 

[Anonymous]

Sir Neil Cossons? Dr Simon Thurley?

Start with Dr T. He was nasty recently to friends of mine, and they deserve an apology! Bet they don't get one...

simon.thurley AT english-heritage.org.uk

Miss out the gaps and put @ instead of AT of course!

Chief Executive of EH.

Are they trying to muscle in on the success of the F and B paint range in association with the National Trust? At least you can get the colours in distemper, and some of them in limewash...

Do I recall the 'experts' on Restored to Glory moaning about the fact the people in a recent prog used F and B rather than lime or distemper?

I rather suspect this is for the American market, and it's what EH is reduced to doing in order to keep going. Government funding has been cut yet again. The money is, I gather, now being diverted to the SPORT part of the Dept of Culture, Media and Sport. It's cos of the Olympics, you see. Although some historic buildings are being cited as attractions for visitors, many other interesting and eminently re-usable buildings, along with a great deal of wildlife in the Lea Valley, will be bulldozed for the stuff they need to build.

I wonder what next we can look forward to EH flogging? I know they do have things in the gifte shoppes attached to historic attractions, but this is branching out rather.

 

[Anonymous]

http://www.realpaints.com

 

[Anonymous]

Who is


Patrick Baty?

 

[Anonymous]

that looks like an abandoned web site - most links dont work.

the one that does is below. lists albert hall etc as projects


papers-paints

 

[Anonymous]

I'm with Biff on this one - the more fuss that can be made the better. Frankly though, I am amazed that EH has been stupid enough to get involved in this. Surely somebody there is bright enough to realise the sniping this will incurr?
It would be quite fun to phone them up and ask if they would recommend this stuff for use on an historic building! Mike.

 

[Anonymous]

Very sadly, I fear that The Real Paint and Varnish Company is no longer trading following Peter's untimely death. We had an order with him for some linseed paint, but received a letter a couple of weeks ago enclosing the cheque we'd sent, explaining that they felt they couldn't continue.
Which is all terribly sad, really, and a real loss not to only to us lunatics here but to the country as a whole.
Is there anyone in the UK now making proper oil paints, or is the Scandinavian stuff the only answer? At this rate I'll end up making my own, I fear...

 

[Anonymous]

I had a feeling that the Real Paint Co wouldn't carry on, although Peter wasn't alone in the venture he was the driving force and the expertise. This is indeed very sad news. Peter's mature traditional pit lime was excellent stuff too, and his telephone rants about historic buildings and the stupidity of those who should know better I will miss. I add that I ranted back equally as vociferously!

I think his last post here was the night before he died - about using walnut oil in paint. A far cry from EH's efforts!

 

[Anonymous]

EH is very careful with the words its uses. Look carefully and you will find no claims about authentic paints, just "truly authenticated historical paint COLOURS".

Patrick Baty really is an 'authority' on paint colours, but I don't know how clued up he is about traditional paints. I think he just mixes the colours. His shade cards are things of wonder, with real paint on them. He wrote the chapter on paints in Dan Cruickshank's wonderful book "Life in the Georgian City"