Architect - Fielden and Mawson
Contractor - R G Carter
Brief description of work carried out –
The large ornate fibrous plaster central domed ceiling and fibrous panelled ceilings to the adjoining areas were installed towards the end of the 19th century when fibrous plaster was in its infancy. In 1989 the rear of the ceilings were inspected and they were found to be in need of urgent attention. The hessian reinforcement had rotted, weakening the fibrous plaster and putting it in a state of collapse. Cooks were called in and they proposed providing a suspension system of stainless steel components, cleaning the back of the existing fibrous plaster, applying a bonding agent and further coat of plaster reinforced with hessian and attaching this to the suspension system. This was practical for the large central domed ceiling as full access was possible from above, however the adjoining areas were just 300mm or so below a concrete soffit. These areas had to be removed, taken to a temporary workshop nearby, repaired on the bench and refixed to a suspension system erected in their absence. In the 1994 Plaisterer Trophy Competition, George Cook and Sons were awarded a certificate of Merit for carrying out this unusual task.
