Plasterworking in the Cotswolds
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The photograph of the shared workshop at Pinbury, Gloucestershire shows numerous examples of plaster friezes stacked against the wall. These were all designed and made by Gimson. He sometimes modelled designs in clay and Bankart described the process by which some repeating designs were built up in situ:
‘Leaves etc were modelled in 3 or 4 convenient sizes and cast in quantities, pattern roughly drawn out on the surface with a piece of chalk or charcoal tied on the end of a long stick. Leaves etc stuck up with plaster of Paris and lime putty and stem work afterwards modelled in between with small metal tools.’
After 1902 Gimson had an open shed below his drawing office in Sapperton where he would spend the occasional afternoon working at his plaster designs. He enjoyed spending time doing practical work as a change from the drawing board. Both Norman Jewson, his architectural assistant, and Gimson’s wife Emily assisted him in the work. Jewson became proficient at the craft and carried on the plasterworking tradition through the 20th century.