Why Important
The amount and detail of decoration varies from floor to floor, corresponding to the importance of the rooms within the house; certain decorative motifs were considered suitable for the different functions of rooms, and themes would be carried through the various elements of the room.
What to look for
Decorative plaster can either be cast separately and applied to walls and ceilings or, in the case of cornices, run in-situ in wet plaster; fibrous plaster, introduced in the mid-nineteenth century, makes it possible to precast mouldings in long lengths, which are then screwed into position.
Most decorative plasterwork in Hamilton Square houses consisted of an enriched cornice, sometimes with a frieze. Although a few houses (usually Grade 1 Listed) had ceilings decorated over their whole area.
When to look
How to fix
Where the original plaster work is missing, then there may be small traces left and restoration using the traces as the model.
Simple cornices were run in-situ in Plaster of Paris. Using the original technique, using a metal template sliding along a level timber batten temporarily fixed to the wall with Plaster of Paris.
Where the original plaster work is missing, then there may be small traces left and restoration using the traces as the model.
Extra enrichments, such as egg and dart mouldings and acanthus leaves, were cast separately and fixed with wet plaster to the run cornice. Final modelling and adjustments to the pattern were carried out as the plaster dried. This enrichment can be removed as easily as it is applied and some rooms have been considerably altered at a later date, not always in a sympathetic manner.
Avoiding creating problems
Decorative plaster should not be removed from a listed building without seeking Listed Planning Approval.
Historical background
Although the elevations of houses in Hamilton Square conformed to an overall design, the plans and internal decorative finishes varied enormously, depending on how much the original owner wished to spend. If decoration has been removed and restoration is contemplated, it may be helpful to look at other houses in the same street for suitable designs.