I remember working on the West Front of the Abbey when the part next to the Cathedral was first renovated.
Traditional methods were used, old-style lath and lime plaster with hair, which played havoc on your hands. It was winter and it was colder in the building than outside, the plaster took ages to set and dry even with heaters. The Flint walls were up to 1 metre or more, thick.
How it was heated when finished I don’t know, but it must have cost a fortune.
Then when they started the rest some years later, I worked on those as well…glutton for punishment!
Les Hopton
30th April 2016
