Learn more about traditional clay, lime, and ornamental gypsum plasters and their use internationally on historic vernacular and polite buildings, sitting in context with the early 17th-century plain and ornamental lime plastering within the Yorkshire and Lancashire Pennines. On Sunday morning on the 16th of March, there will be an excellent PowerPoint presentation at Dean Clough's Crossley gallery. This will be followed by a chance to see craftsmen using gauged lime plasters onto lath within the same exhibition space to recreate some historically inspired designs. (Anyone who wishes to have a go themselves will be most welcome.)

Learn how reed laths found from Egypt to Finland were used as plaster-carrying backgrounds, with international examples and some from South Yorkshire, and how wattle was used in Ethiopia and 16th-century England. Listen to how the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans utilised plasters, how England and Wales saw the emergence of decorative plaster in the late 16th century and about the baroque plasterwork of Sicily in the later 17th century.

On Sunday, March 16th, you can come for a full introduction to lime plastering and a practical demonstration workshop. The workshop will show you how to recreate a section of mid-17th-century ornate wall plaster. Haired lime plaster gauged with Plaster of Paris will be used onto a lathed background, and the application of hand-shaped stucco and the fixing of cast decorative elements will be demonstrated.

The half-day, which includes pastries and hot drinks on arrival and a light lunch before you go, will be held in the Crossley Gallery at Dean Clough between 9 am and 12.30 pm and will cost only £45 per person, a special price to support the YVBSG conference which is on the day before in Halifax. (Free parking is available at the venue.) Unfortunately, places are limited to 30 people.

If you would like to come, please email mark@mwomersleys.co.uk or text Mark on 07802 549634, and he will send you a prepayment invoice and book you on this fascinating ½ day workshop.

Mark has worked with historic buildings and lime plasters for the last 30 years and will provide a fascinating and entertaining morning in Halifax.

30 Gillygate, Pontefract, circa 1630

Speke Hall, near liverpool, c.1612

Plas Gunter, Abergavenny c.1634