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Due to an increased workload and commitments we are unfortunately unable to offer lime and cob workshops during 2008 but we will look forward to running workshop days during 2009.
Please come back later in the year for reports on previous years and dates for 2009.
About Our Practical One-Day Workshops
Over the past six years our workshops have attracted a range of people including homeowners, professional builders, architects, surveyors and those who wish to self-build.
The aim of the workshops is to give course members knowledge and understanding of cob building, cob repairs and uses of lime in building. This will enable people to either undertake work themselves or to instruct contractors with confidence.
The cob and lime days are a mix of practical instruction and hands-on experience. We cover aspects of build and repair, for example, mixing cob, making blocks and building with mass cob as well as repair techniques. The lime days are taken up with, slaking lime, mixing mortar and limewash. We also cover pointing, plastering and rendering.
Practical Cob Day Programme
| 9.30 |
The workshop begins at the Clinton Hall, Merton
Introductory talk and slides. Any questions? Coffee
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| 10.30 |
Workshop continues at the site of new build cob house
Suitable soils. What soil type is required for successful cob building and how to find out?
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| 11.15 |
Mixing cob with straw. Making cob blocks. Building a mass cob structure.
Mixing sieved cob for floors.
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| 12.45 |
Lunch and time to raise questions and talk about individual projects and repairs.
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| 14.00 |
Workshop continues at Great Potheridge just outside of Merton. Great Potheridge is an historic house with cob barns in need of repair.
Repair techniques. Use of stainless steal fixings, stitching and tools required.
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| 15.15 16.00 |
Appropriate renders, plasters and finishes |
Practical Lime Day Programme
| 9.30 |
The workshop begins at the Clinton Hall, Merton
Introductory talk and slides. Any questions? Coffee
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| 10.30 |
The workshop continues at Pinkhill Farm, just outside of Merton. The farm has a range of old stone barns.
Choosing the correct sand, types of lime and hair for mortar
Health & Safety, correct storage and shelf life of lime putty mortar and NHL
Slaking lime and mixing mortars
Pointing
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| 12.45 |
Lunch and time to raise questions and talk about individual projects and repairs. |
| 14.00 |
Rendering techniques, hand harling and plastering
Protection and curing
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| 15.15 16.15 |
Mixing limewash and limewashing |
For further information regarding our courses or to make a booking please contact us either by e-mail or telephone on 01805 603587
Price £70 including VAT and lunch
We supply all tools, equipment and materials.
Most of the day is spent outside so please wear suitable clothing and footwear.
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course members pointing old stone barn.

Jerry leading a group as they begin to mix cob.

Tamping cob on a wall.

Mixing haired lime mortar.

Helping course member to lime plaster.
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Comments Regarding our Courses
The course was a really enjoyable day and youre guaranteed to learn some of the mysterys of cob and lime.
Al Strawson from Crediton, Devon
A great day! I learnt so much in sucj a short amount of time. They really give you hands on experience in all the core aspects of lime mixing and rendering and cob repairing, mixing and building. A worth while course which will help me in my future projects.
Nigel Winfield from Leicestershire
The cob course was both engaging and fascinating. Jerry & Jan shared their expertise on this subject, in an open and welcoming manor by using the hands on method of educating us in this ancient craft. By the end of the morning we were all able to experience the joy of looking at a real cob wall, which we had built with windows, from cob we had mixed ourselves. As if that wasnt enough, the local pasties, flans, strawberries and clotted cream replenished our flagging energy levels. Thanks for a truly memorable day!
Karen Sheehan from Dawlish, Devon
The cob day was a great experience. I thought that the combination of the theoretical instruction, slides and discussion of real world cob home damage and repair along with sold practical instruction really made the class a very valuable experience. I appreciated the depth of knowledge displayed by Jerry while fielding questions both from old cob building owners and those interested in new cob builds. Having an instructor with so many years of experience in caring for historic cob structures was a real blessing. I cant say enough good things about my day experience.
Joe Skeesick from USA
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