Carrington Lime Heritage Skills Training CIC Gloucestershire - Mitcheldean

Nicki H.

My first piece of advice is just book it! Whatever level or age you are this is THE place to learn. I went on the pointing course with no experience and have come away completely confident to get on with my project. Not only that, I booked straight into the plastering course as I have every confidence I will walk away from that with the same feeling. Kate makes you feel completely at ease before the course and answered all my inane questions beforehand. Ben is simply great at what he does. Breaking down complexity into simple steps, listening and being genuinely interested, creating an easy to follow process and being a real master at what he does. Actually in awe of both Ben & Kate for what they are trying to achieve and the care they have put into the training. Finally, as a 50 something woman it takes a lot for me to go on these courses as I am often the only female. Normally you feel like the odd one out, but not with Kate & Ben. Style wise they are great with everyone and I felt really comfortable being myself and asking lots of questions.So again, don’t hesitate, just book!

Sally R.

I recently attended the full lime plastering course, which was run by Ben who is a truly inspirational teacher. We were a small group which comprised of a mix of professional plasterers and complete novice homeowners (of which I was one). The course was detailed and comprehensive so that it catered to all of our needs and at no point was I made to feel that my questions were too trivial. Ben’s attitude is so positive that you never question whether you will be able to do the practical elements of the course, and indeed we all managed to produce work that we would be happy to have in our own homes, his techniques and teaching methods are so fool proof! I would thoroughly recommend this course to anyone who has an interest or need for lime plastering whatever your previous experience. Thank you Ben and Kate (I am busy looking to see if there are any other of your courses that I need) x

T B.

Attended the lime pointing course, a perfect mix of practical and theory, strong support all the way through. Kate and Ben were welcoming and knowledgeable, and that set the tone for the whole day. The group was small and split down the middle gender wise, really is for everyone. I really appreciated the scientific breakdown of the material and it's interactions. The have a go sessions were well set up, and there was plenty of reassurance that mess is normal (I made a lot). Left feeling confident enough to try in my own home and am eyeing up the plastering course next. Strong recommend.

Malplets L.

I attended the Level 1 plastering course. I was amazed at how much I learnt in just 2 days. Ben really knows his stuff and is able to answer any question thrown at him. The course really exceeded my expectations and I'd recommend it to anyone that is considering damp works or any kind of refurbishment of a period property. I'm looking forward to attending more courses with these guys.

Rupert M.

I attended CarringtonLIME’s two-day lime plastering course and absolutely enjoyed every minute of it. Ben’s passion and deep expertise were immediately obvious. In each short theory session, he explained not just how lime works, but why it behaves the way it does—demystifying much of the voodoo surrounding lime. That clarity made all the practical work fall into place.

The hands-on approach was exactly what I needed—I never felt like a passive observer, with a good 85% of the day spent actually mixing or plastering. By the end of day one, I was confidently laying a smooth scratch coat; by day two, I was tackling floating and finishing coats under Ben’s supportive guidance. Working in such a small group meant I could ask questions at any point, and watching my fellow students overcome their own challenges fostered a real sense of camaraderie.

I walked away armed with new skills: understanding how to select the right lime mix, which sand blends suit which jobs, and how easy it is to make your own lime putty. I’d read about these things beforehand, but the clear and straightforward way Ben explained everything made it all finally make sense—and so easy to follow.

Beyond the technical know-how, I gained a newfound confidence to tackle my own heritage renovation project, equipped with practical techniques and a solid understanding of lime’s unique benefits for breathable, sustainable walls.

In short, this course was worth every penny. It was intensive, yes—but in the best way possible. I not only learned to plaster with lime; I came away inspired, energised, and ready to apply these techniques straight into my work, with the added reassurance that ongoing support is available afterwards.

If you want an immersive, skill-building experience guided by a true master, CarringtonLIME is the place to go.

Robin S.

I have a 1600's oak framed cottage that needs the infill panels re-rendered externally. Having spoken to a few people it seemed that lime rendering was a black art hence the prices being quoted so felt I needed to attend a course to look to do it myself. Thankfully I came across Carrington Lime and recently attended the Lime Plastering Part 1 course and was completely blown away. I expected to be given a bucket of mix and told to get it on the wall but the course was so much more than that. Each morning we had a classroom session where Ben explained aspects of the use of lime - the history, the science, and also the benefits. In the workshop, we then worked thru the materials and making the various mixes needed for the different coats - this was made so straightforward with no black art to it at all. For info, although the course if entitled Lime Plastering, we learnt that the first two coats are the same for both internal and external applications. A completely brilliant course and I will definitely be looking at taking Part 2. Its even got me thinking about the course they run that gets you into the industry as a professional lime plasterer - must be a highly satisfying career.

Samantha R.

I attended the one-day Lime Pointing course last week and highly, highly recommend it to anyone looking to work with lime.

I started the day a reluctant DIY-er, having not dealt with much more than some paint and Polyfilla, and left feeling confident and eager to take on my first project in my house. I was genuinely surprised that I could learn that much in one day.

Ben is a great instructor and is so keen to train and educate; he shares his knowledge and experience freely and the combination of theory and hands on approach worked perfectly. Many thanks to Ben and Kate and I look forward to coming back for my next course soon!

PHILIP S.

This day course was excellent with just the right balance of instruction and hands on learning and experience. Ben & Kate run a high quality training program with a bespoke training environment. Really valuable sharing of hints and advice and practical advice. They also stock lime supplies and tools at good prices.