May 29 Ceiling Update

Preservation, The Great Hall Ceiling Preservation Project

This week, Madison and Hoyt from Richard Marks Restorations, Inc. continued removing plaster from the sections between joists in the Great Hall of Drayton Hall. They found a third kind of adhesive that was injected in the plaster in an attempt to extend its useful lifespan. We don’t know what this material is or when it was applied. The samples that were collected have been labeled and will join many others in our collection. We’ve begun sharing such samples with colleagues so that we can all learn more about the plaster ceiling and work together to evaluate the performance of the various methods that were used to preserve it.

Samples of adhesive from the Great Hall Ceiling Preservation Project

On June 1st, the ceiling project enters a new phase of more intensive disassembly. Visitors will see more activity in the house, which will continue to remain open for tours.

May 28, 2026