Mustn't be rude...

[Gervase]

...about the good, God-fearing folk of Denbighshire, but I'm sorely tempted.
The vicar of St Mary's Parish Church, Rhuddlan, is having a hissy-fit because the Heritage Lottery Fund won't give him £98,000 to cure chronic damp unless he agrees to have the church limewashed as recommended by Cadw - and as all churches used to be. "It wouldn't be in keeping," he bleats. Pillock.
Details here.

 

[MdB]

Link

 

[Jon Maine]

Perhaps someone should suggest he could plaster it and get to use a devil float :twisted:

Anyway as stated Gervase he is a Pillock, very restrained of you I thought. Why shouldn't we be rude?

 

[Nemesis]

It;s actually a bit of a contentious issue in conservation circles is this one, and I wouldn't say he's a pillock really. It's possibly a bit of a shock to the system, having seen the church in the stone for many years, to think of it being white. He's possibly, as are the people of the parish, not used to the whims of conservationists. I think a site visit and some serious discussion may be the way forward, as suggested.

The vicar and parishioners are concerned about the long term maintenance costs of limewashing the church.

Another limewashed church in Llandrillo Yn Rhos had started to flake off and has dark stains on some of its walls.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2008/05/20/rhuddlan-church-could-lose-out-on-100-000-55578-20934176/

 

[Ian Bond]

Who says limewash has to be white?

Have these people got no imagination? How about a nice plum?

http://www.lime.org.uk/products/p3183.asp

 

[Flyfisher]

It's possibly a bit of a shock to the system, having seen the church in the stone for many years, to think of it being white.

I'm sure they are concerned about the additional maintenance costs - how often will the limewash need to be given a new coating?

 

[Nemesis]

It is all a very difficult one - and as I said, there's some dispute in conservation circles about the re-rendering and re-liming of some churches.

Costs of maintaining churches are borne by the congregation. In these times of dwindling congregations, some churches are just about clinging on, and so many have closed forever. I do feel this is a major, major conservation issue for the 21st century.

Yet we appreciate that in some cases lime is a good coating to aid prolonging the life of a building.

 

[lordmulberry]

Very interesting discussion. Our local church, All Saints in Wokingham, had the stonework as revealed by the Victorians covered in lime render and lime-washed to a cream colour. All this was carried out on the recommendation of EH, I think. Repairs were necessary because stones were being dislodged and the mortar crumbling.

One of the new problems (law of unforeseen consequences) is that parts of the lime render have visible green algae on it due to the fact that the render stays damp for long periods over the winter.

It also took some getting used to after seeing the underlying stonework for many decades.

 

[plumbers mate]

Churches which had been gaudy and brightly decorated inside were whitewashed over either by roundheads or victorians and this is now being stripped off in many churches revealing the decoration below - some places (I seem to recall) received complaints when the whitewash was removed.
Fashion and familiarity are always big problems.

 

[Penners]

Pillock.

Excuse me - that's the Reverend Pillock to you, sonny Jim.

 

[shelli]

Churches which had been gaudy and brightly decorated inside were whitewashed over either by roundheads or victorians

That would have to hurt!!

Sorry - it's Friday and I can feel a weekend of sailing coming on !

 

[Jon Maine]

Pillock.

Excuse me - that's the Reverend Pillock to you, sonny Jim.

Surely it could be Pastor Pillock or Father Pillock?

 

[andrew gayton]

It's possibly a bit of a shock to the system, having seen the church in the stone for many years, to think of it being white.

I'm sure they are concerned about the additional maintenance costs - how often will the limewash need to be given a new coating?

4 years on and the external walls of my house are fine (and this is on flintwork, not the best surface for limewash to adhere)

don't even think about using anything else on framed or chalk structures.

or gypsum based plasters internally.