Dorset Vicarage
White Peak limewash adds to character of historic Dorset vicarage.
One of the most distinctive historic homes in Dorset has been given a facelift, using a centuries-old technique. The Old Vicarage at Coombe Keynes in South Dorset dates back to the 1800s. It is a rare and beautiful building, made from cob stone, brick and render, set under a thatched roof.
Restoring or redecorating such homes can be a challenge. Finding materials that capture the original character and fabric of a building is all-important. The Old Vicarage's owner, Richard Wilkin, wanted to recoat its tired exterior. He selected White Peak Finest Buxton Limewash for the job.
Limewash is one of the earliest forms of paint, used in Britain since Roman times. It provides an inexpensive coating that gives beauty and protection to render, plasterwork and masonry on internal and external walls. As it ages, limewash develops a patina unrivalled by modern paints and renders, and its greater permeability allows the building fabric to breathe.
White Peak is the finest quality limewash that has ever been available due to its unique and superfine formulation. It is produced by Buxton Lime Industries and combines traditional qualities with the benefits of modern know-how. It is finding a growing market in renovation work for traditional buildings. As Director General of the Historic Houses Association, Wilkin knew about its pedigree.
"I've always been intrigued by limewash," he says. "I like its natural and environmental aspects. My interest was sharpened when I came across White Peak at last year's Historic Houses Association exhibition and met their enthusiastic team."
The Old Vicarage had been coated with a permeable mineral paint which looked flat and tired. Wilkin was delighted to discover that White Peak could go straight over it. Furthermore, it offered the flexibility he wanted on colour. Applied without pigment, White Peak hardens to a brilliant white. It is also available in 25 ready-mixed authentic colours. These can be used neat to replicate rich and deep historic colours, or mixed with white to produce more delicate shades.
"I was given two samples of White Peak, brick and white, then experimented on getting the right shade on an area at the back of the house," Wilkin says. "It wasn't too difficult. I started with 75:25 and settled for a 50:50 blend." The final effect is a stunning rose pink, what Wilkin calls a "chalky blush".
So, how easy was it to apply? There is rather more to limewash than just slapping it on. Still, Wilkin was up to it, finishing the main work over the Easter and Whitsun weekends.
"I needed to work out the method and number of coats," he says. "You put a coat on and let it dry. Then wet it and apply another coat. It needed three coats. I burnished the top coat to create a patina effect." He found it easy to apply, "soothing" even. That's thanks in part to White Peak's quality.
Buxton Lime Industries' advanced manufacturing produces a limewash of unparalleled performance. The use of ultrafine particles in the mix means maximum coverage and a vibrant rich finish, with minimum stirring.
White Peak also has a shorter 'maturing' time and better permeability than a conventional limewash. It is consistent in physical and chemical characteristics thanks to stringent quality controlled manufacturing. It contains no toxic compounds or solvents.
"It's great to work with a natural material and I'm delighted with the outcome," says Wilkin. "It adds real character and brings the walls to life. It has a subtlety and vibrancy and authenticity and the result has been acclaimed by those who've seen it."
