Holy Trinity Church Sunderland Plaster Survey

The Churches Conservation Trust are concerned about the condition of the plasterwork within the church after some small plaster falls.

Womersleys Ltd working for Ornate interiors where asked to investigate the extent of damage to the plasterwork and suggest repair work that is nescessary.

The Church has undergone change in the past including a new roof which has put additional strain on the timbers supporting the plasterwork ceilings below but these timbers are not braced strapped or properly connected together and therefore are not properly  supporting the plaster below, especially the entabalature above the colonnades that define the aisles, where stone columns support the roof structure above.

Investigating the problems and suggesting a costed shcedule of repairs is essential as a step in to  helping conserve this nationally important Grade I listed church. The Church was built in 1718-1719 and Holy Trinity served the growing merchant classes around the port area of Old Sunderland. It had both the dual role of a church and later extended upwards at the front to create space for civic administration and a new west gallery. This created the need to raise the roof in 1803.

The church is built in a Baroque style and had an internal sanctuary added beyond the alter 15 years after the church was built. Internally the church is lit by large windows. The nave is divided from the aisles by two colonnades of tall slender stone columns with plastered bases above timber faced pedestals. The columns support Corinthian capitals and carry entablatures with egg and dart below the frieze and a modillion cornice above. This entablature is carried on around the tops of the walls within the main body of the church.

In 1842 Side galleries where added within the aisles but these removed in 1935 during major restoration works. The ceiling was repaired after Second World War damage.

As with many grand churches dwindling congregations saw the church close in 1988.

 

Repair To Interior Walls  

 The report found that the majority of the damaged plaster both original lime plaster, latter gypsum plasters and cement renders have failed because of the prolonged water penetration into the walls caused by blocked, damaged and inadequate gutters and drainpipes. Other areas of plasterwork in the church have failed because of the accumulation of debris within them, broken and decayed wads and failing timber supports above. The supporting structures for the  lime plaster that has been run in situ and the fibrous elements need complete repair and reinstatement.

The report contains many diagrams, like the one below, which outline the suggested areas in need of repair , the cause of the damage and a schedule of repairs.

  South Nave Wall

 

Paint Finishes 

Nearly all the paint finishes in the church are either vinyl silk or matt acrylic based emulsions. This means that even when water has stopped penetrating the building because of the remedial works already carried out by the church, lower levels of dampness in the walls will not be able to escape through a plastic based paint.

The report also suggets that any repainting of whole walls should be carried out with pure mineral paints such as Beeck Quartz Paint but where existing emulsions remain, patching new dry plaster and repainting existing adjacent rubbed down old paint should be carried out with breathable Aglaia natural emulsions. 

Go back

2018
Day 6: Promoting Tourism through Conserving Heritage Conference Final day in Ethiopia Conservation Management Plans and Goodbye Day 4 Lime Training in Ethiopia Day 5 Lime Training in Ethiopia Day 3 Training in Ethiopia Day 2 of Lime Training in Ethiopia Empress Mentewab's Kuskuam Complex Lime Training in the Royal Compound at Gonder Day 1 of Running Lime Training in Ethiopia Conservation at Guzara Palace Earth mortars and Northern Ethiopia Inspirational Wattle and Daub in Ethiopia Providing Lime Training Out of the Rain An introduction to Silicate Paints Natural Pozzolana described by Vitruvius in the Roman Era Faux Marbling and Traditional Paints Training test Spenfield House Decoration Inspires Training Day Training at the Jewellery Quarter Birmingham Lime render finish coats for innovative design Paint Stripping Samples for Wythenshaw Hall A refresher day on Hot Limes for Mono Masonry Cast Roman Cement from 1840 on a building in Liverpool The colour is great and lots of very positive comments Fiona's Sheep formed from Womersleys Stone Repair Traditional Stand Oil Paint on new garden gate Tithe Barn now finished after Womersleys supply foamed glass insulated floor Ryedale Plasterers honing their skills & techniques Stone and Brick Repairs We would love to see you at Harrogate free tickets are available here Womersleys Insulating Lime Render Plaster and Moisture Buffering New Wattle and Daub supplied by Womersleys Ordsall Chord is coming to a successful finish Oil Paints and Distempers used to create an Illusion The iron rich limestone and aggregates of south east Sicily Marbeleizing with Natural Oil Paints Lime Mortars have always had to with stand extreme weather and seas The Cathedral Church of Saint Nicolo presents a fine Baroque façade The beautiful Noto limestone cladding Noto's Baroque Buildings Beautifully weathered lime render Lime stucco repairs to capitals Brick and Stone Formwork Exposed behind Lime Stucco Render Historic Lime Kiln at Shap Lime Stucco Work by Giovanni Bagutti Plaster, Daub and Render Survey at Old Hall Farm Repairing clay daub and lime plaster on panels of riven lath and insulating externally with insulated lime renders Use of mobile elevated platforms in Theatres Creating Formwork and Constructing an Arch An introduction to Lead Work Training Day Working with volunteers on the Chesterfield Canal Helping the Canal and River Trust Volunteers Training Course Sicily Building Kiln Training Course Sicily: Chuch of San Nicola Womersleys training course Sicily It really is as beautiful as they say Traditional buidling techniques Garden Corner Tower circa 1650, Agra Living Heritage Real Market Places Fine polished lime plaster ensured opulent splendour Indian Mortar Mill India Gate Lotus Flower forming 17th Century Column Bases Seventeenth Century Chrysanthemum Detail The Lotus Flower and the Indian Flag 17th Century Lime Stucco on brick Seventeenth Century Indian Frescoed Lime Stucco RIBA accredited CPD paint seminars Ceiling Survey Reveals a Glimpse of Former Decorative Glory Clay Infill found in Exeter's Grand Royal Clarence Hotel Foamit Sub Base for Great Tythe Barn
2016
Get your free tickets for the National Home Building Show Understanding Marple Lime Kilns It would be good to see you Sensitive refurb planned for Forge Cottage Last of Five Days at Grand Designs promoting Womersleys Stabilising a boundary wall with Hydraulic Hot Lime Mortar Its nice to be appreciated Training with Help the Heroes Volunteers The historical development of a simple wall Trialling hot lime mortar Lime Mortar Training Yesterday at Womersley's Breathable and natural paints for Lighthouse Aglaia emulsions used at St Leonard's Latest build by Guy and Straw Works Ltd Advice on Breathable Insulation for a Windmill More Lime Wash for West Wycombe Park Our latest article in the Listed Heritage Magazine Toft Gate Lime Kiln in Nidderdale The whole is greater than the sum of its parts What a pleasure to be booked in to resurvey the Apollo Tim's Nidderdale Dream Womersleys helping with Conservation Skills Training Programme Lovely Chamfers Working with our German Paint Partners The Ceiling Centre Tells a Story Historic Mortar Analysis for North Bar, Beverley New Foamed Glass Sub Base for Beamish Park Gardens Refurbishment Plasterwork survey at Oakwell Hall Completed Please call in to see us if you are at the Great Yorkshire Show Renovation in the Prettiest Village in the County Offering Paint Advice at Holy Trinity Church, Hull Developing Thornton's Conservation Area Assessment to Guide Develeopment Talbot Yard Malton Wins Award Insulating an Old Building with the Internal Warmshell System The Hairy Builder (Biker) Promo Traditional and Natural Paints featured in LPOC magazine Results of Plaster Survey at Wythenshaw Hall following fire damage New pre mixed Ironstone mortars introduced Results of Plaster Analysis at Castle Dairy Kendal Womersleys continue to supply lime mortars to Pontefract Castle Plaster Survey at Wythenshaw Hall following fire damage Holy Trinity Church Sunderland Plaster Survey Investigations in to the condition of the plaster on the walls at the Exchequer Building, Palace Green Library, Durham Plaster Analysis at Castle Dairy Kendal Free Illustrated Case Studies detailing Insulated Floors for Old Buildings