13th Century Thatched Cottage Restoration
Pargetry Restoration & Heritage Decoration
Working on a 13th-century thatched cottage is always an honour — but this particular project was something truly special.
Beneath layers of later plaster and decoration, we uncovered original pargetry; decorative lime plasterwork that had survived for centuries. Discoveries like this are rare, and when they happen, they must be treated with respect and sensitivity.
Revealing the History
Once exposed, it was clear the pargetry had been partially concealed over time. Rather than remove or cover it, the client was passionate about preserving this historic feature, a decision we fully supported.
We carefully:
- Stripped back surrounding modern finishes
- Cleaned and stabilised the original lime plaster
- Removed debris and loose material by hand
- Consolidated fragile areas without compromising authenticity
No aggressive methods. No shortcuts. Just patience, experience, and respect for the building.
Framing the Past
To celebrate the feature properly, we framed the original pargetry within the existing historic plaster. Using traditional materials, we carefully blended and extended the surrounding lime work to create a sympathetic border, allowing the feature to stand proud without looking artificial or newly inserted.
The result is subtle, honest, and in keeping with the age of the cottage.
Protection and Finish
Once cleaned and stabilised, the pargetry was protected using breathable, heritage-appropriate finishes. In buildings of this age, particularly thatched properties, allowing the structure to breathe is critical to its long-term health.
Every material used was selected to work with the building, not against it.
Preserving Craftsmanship That Predates Us All
Projects like this remind us why traditional decorating matters. These buildings have stood for over 700 years. Our role is not to modernise them. It is to safeguard them for the next generation.
At Heritage Decorating, we specialise in sensitive restoration, beam renovation, lime-based finishes, and heritage decoration across Sussex and Kent.
If you own a period or listed property and want work carried out with care, knowledge and attention to detail — we’d be honoured to help.
This is our 24th renovation project, and being a custodian of an ancient property carries the responsibility of care and respect of the house and its history.
Care and respect are by words for Marc’s company, with both his professionalism and his skill, his gentle kind touch on this ancient house has let it once again breath, and glow.
Much more than a decorator, his attention, his
understanding and ability to make a collaboration with us has resulted in
a spectacular success.
Luck is what you make, but lucky we are to have found and engaged his talents. You will not find any better. Also his team is big enough to get even projects of scale done on time and on budget.
Many many thanks.
We’d love to discuss your project with you
If you have a building that could do with our expert attention, we’d love to have a chat with you. For a free, no obligation, quotation simply contact us via the form or alternatively call us to discuss your project with a member of our friendly team.