Guardians of Heritage: Philip Gaches and the Craft of Plasterwork

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Philip A. Gaches is among the UK’s most respected master plasterers—a third-generation craftsman whose hands have shaped the ceilings of country houses, royal palaces, and historic landmarks. With more than 40 years of experience, two published books, and an international teaching record, Gaches plays a leading role in preserving and passing on the skills that define Britain’s architectural heritage.

Preserving Knowledge: Publications with Authority

Gaches is the author of two highly regarded instructional books, both grounded in first-hand experience and designed to support conservation professionals and enthusiasts alike.

1. Plastering: A Practical Guide to Traditional and Decorative Techniques (2025)

Available from Crowood Press →

“This book will appeal to both experienced plasterers and enthusiastic amateurs… It offers clear guidance on how to work with lime, create decorative elements, and restore period interiors with integrity.”

Spanning 112 pages and 166 images, the book is a comprehensive guide to internal lime plastering, fibrous work, and traditional ceiling design, with techniques applicable to listed buildings and heritage restoration projects.

2. Early British Plasterwork

Available direct from Gaches Plastering →

“This is the only ‘how-to’ guide for creating decorative plaster ceilings from the Tudor, Elizabethan and Jacobean periods... In 109 pages including 48 images, Philip takes you through a series of easy steps to create a masterpiece.”

Focused on early English decorative styles, the book serves as both a historical study and a practical manual—rare in its specificity and grounded in the traditional hand-run techniques Gaches continues to use today.

Case Studies: Historic Buildings Restored

Castle Howard, Yorkshire

In one of his most widely praised projects, Gaches led the installation of a new hand-formed in-situ cornice and decorative frieze in lime plaster. The project revived a historic space with modern fidelity to Georgian design, earning praise from conservation specialists and architects alike.

Trafalgar Park, Wiltshire

Gaches restored the Regency ceiling of the East Drawing Room—described by English Heritage as "the finest in England." The project involved conservation and replication of delicate ornamental plaster, using traditional tools and lime-based materials.

Old Merchant’s House, Great Yarmouth

Here, Gaches conserved a rare early English ceiling, protecting fragile 17th-century decorative elements while reinforcing structural soundness using non-invasive traditional methods.

International Teaching: Kabul, Yangon & More

Beyond the UK, Gaches has shared conservation plasterwork techniques in Myanmar (Yangon) and Afghanistan (Kabul), helping local artisans and conservation teams preserve heritage buildings using appropriate, historically grounded skills.

A Voice from the Workshop

Gaches’s writing is technical but deeply human—focusing on the tactile, intuitive side of craft. In Early British Plasterwork, he notes:

“There’s a simplicity and honesty to Elizabethan plasterwork. It was executed with the most basic tools… the designs were the plasterer’s own, and every ceiling was unique.”

This love of hands-on process is matched by a belief in mentoring: Gaches teaches widely and now trains his sons, William and Jude, through a formal apprenticeship—ensuring the future of the craft remains in steady hands.

Recognition and Advocacy

• Master Plasterer with the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers

• Founding member of the New Guild for the Traditional Plastering Craft

• Member of the Art Workers' Guild

• Trusted by Historic England, SPAB, and the National Trust for sensitive restoration work

• Profiled in trade publications such as Lath & Plaster and Historic House

Why His Work Matters

Philip Gaches is not just preserving ceilings—he is preserving craft lineages and architectural integrity. His books ensure the knowledge survives, while his projects ensure the buildings survive—beautiful, structurally sound, and true to their time.

For anyone serious about building conservation, Plastering and Early British Plasterwork are essential reading—and Gaches’s body of work a benchmark for how traditional skills can meet modern conservation demands.