Photographs (4) of ceiling repairs, Lydiard House, 1950s

Part of a set of black and white prints that show State Room ceilings during the course of restoration in the early 1950's.

The ceilings had been damaged over time from water leaks resulting from holes in the dilapidated roof. Much of the ceiling in the State Bedroom had collapsed altogether and in other rooms areas were damaged or missing.

Swindon Corporation, using their own Direct Labour Organisation, propped up areas most at risk, and set about reinforcing the plasterwork from above. As the first photograph here shows, workmen installed steel girders under the floors above and laid plaster to bond with the ornamental plasterwork below.

Restoration of missing areas, in the Drawing Room for example, were created by taking moulds of existing ornamentation and casting new sections. Italian craftsmen were employed to recreate the State Bedroom ceiling.