Custom House London: Plaster analysis
report
posted on 2025-04-07, 15:23 authored by Paul CroftPaul Croft, Sumit KonarSumit Konar, Stephen PriorStephen Prior, Peter EatonPeter Eaton, Nicholas RiessNicholas RiessCONFIDENTIAL
2no. plaster samples were removed from the interior walls at the Custom House for analysis. One sample removed from the Tide Waiter’s Room in the west wing (David Laing, 1817) and the other from the large ground floor main reception area beneath the Long Room (Robert Smirke, 1825). Analysis was carried out by powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD) to understand the chemical composition of the plaster, and by optical microscopy to determine aggregate types, sizes and approximate mix ratio. The resulting diffraction patterns were cross-referenced against a database to determine the dominant and minor phases present.
