Ennerdale Cottage - Full Cottage Plastered

Ennerdale Cottage is a traditional stone property located in the heart of the Ennerdale Valley within the National Park. The project involved the full replastering of the cottage using a lime and hemp plaster system selected to suit the building’s age, construction, and rural setting.

All internal walls were replastered using a hot lime and hemp mix, with hemp incorporated both for its insulating properties and as natural fibre reinforcement within the plaster. The system was applied in two base coats, providing a breathable and sympathetic build-up appropriate for a traditional stone cottage.

A final skim coat was applied using a hot lime and sand mix, finished by hand using traditional techniques. The plaster was worked to follow the natural contours of the walls, maintaining the character and irregularity typical of historic cottages rather than creating flat, modern surfaces. Walls were sponged and devil-floated in preparation for the top coat, then finished with appropriate trowels to achieve a soft, traditional surface.

At the client’s request, sections of original internal stonework were carefully retained and integrated as feature areas, preserving the character and history of the building. Particular care was taken when plastering around the spiral staircase, ensuring continuity of finish while respecting the form of the structure.

All lime and hemp mixes were prepared on site. The work was carried out using traditional lime materials and methods appropriate to the age, construction, and setting of the cottage, with care taken to preserve its historic character.