News
The future is …… orange, green, blue…
One of the more noticeable aspects of the refurbished buildings of Cardigan town, under the Townscape Heritage initiative (THI) grant scheme, is the vibrant colours. A lot of people are initially surprised, to see such bright and varied colours on historic buildings. Great care has been taken to make every building a slightly different colour from the other refurbished buildings, and thus each is unique.
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The truth is that in the past buildings were colourful. Many British paint manufacturers have undertaken extensive historical research in order to authentically replicate historic colours used on buildings in the past. Chemists have visited numerous historical buildings and stately homes, all over the UK, and scraped off layers of paint from original woodwork and walls; some of which date back hundreds of years. These were analysed under the microscope in order to manufacture modern substitutes. It is true we no longer use lead or arsenic to make these colours, but in all other respects the modern equivalents look right.
Companies like Farrow and Ball, The Green Paint Company, Buxton Lime Wash and Ty Mawr Lime in Wales, have made great efforts to get both the colour and ingredients look just right for use on historic buildings.
“It is interesting that evidence of the original colours used on old buildings can still be seen,” said Gary Cooper the project Surveyor running Cardigan THI. “Sometimes just a small particle of lime wash is still visible under the eaves of the property, or under a layer of cement render, as was the case with the bicycle shop on the corner of North Road and Pendre recently restored (see photos right).
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New Image Bike Shop, from Pendre
New Image Bike Shop, from North Rd.
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Green Street cottages
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When we restored our offices in Green Street (see photo left) we came across white, yellow and oxblood red in layers of lime wash on each of the three buildings. We took the decision to reflect this history by lime washing them in all three colours again – the results are spectacular and speak for themselves. |
We have since used red lime wash on Morgan & Richardson’s office in St Mary Street (see photos below) and cream lime wash on the domestic dwelling next door. Pale yellow lime wash was used on the rear of Morgan and Richardson’s because that is the colour we found there – we simply put it back again.
Morgan & Richardson - viewed from three sides
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| Rear 
| Doorway at side
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Frontage 
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Music Shop
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A strong blue has been used on the music shop further up St Mary Street (see photos left) and a beautiful pale blue on ‘Mariners’ on the corner of Quay Street and Lower Mwldan." (see photo right) |
Mariners'
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Close attention to detail is just one of the successes and attractions of the award-winning Cardigan Townscape Heritage scheme!
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