The plaster on the interior south wall, next to the main road, has been removed by our contractors Ellis and Co. As visitors will have seen, the old plaster was crumbling and had proved impossible to patch because of the rain and road spray damp penetrating the solid wall. Record photographs were taken by Dr Nick Young of Thatcham Historical Society of the unexpected construction of flints and medieval bricks. The exterior of the OBS walls are 100% flints.
Three coats of lime plaster are to be reapplied which will allow the long trapped moisture in the wall to gradually escape. The first plaster coat was applied on 14th Jan and we are waiting for it to dry before applying the second cost. Although we expected the first coat to dry in a week or so, the damp weather and flint wall have slowed the drying time down. Heaters have been installed to help, and we expect that the second coat can be applied in the week commencing 3rd February. Hopefully the second and third plaster coats should dry faster because they are thinner.
Provisionally, depending on the weather, we expect that the OBS can be reopened to hirers during week commencing the 24th.
Mark Thomas Vice Chairman
