Analysis of Historic Lime and Gypsum Plaster Floors—Part One

Abstract

The survival and continued use of historic lime and gypsum plaster flooring is commonplace in certain parts of the United Kingdom, and yet it remains almost unknown in other parts of the country. The potential for loss and damage to such floors, whether through ignorance or indifference, is great; and this has prompted a study of this traditional form of construction in order to engender greater interest and promote more appropriate forms of repair or reinstatement. The first part of this paper describes the history and use of lime and gypsum plaster flooring, comments briefly on the related use of earth and modified earth floors, and describes the composition of traditional plaster flooring through documentary sources.