Marc Bourne, managing director of Heritage Decorating, explains how exciting his work can be, especially when he finds history hidden behind wallpaper and paint. He has a passion for historical homes.
Have you always enjoyed history?
I’ve always had a deep passion for local history, particularly the Tudor period. Growing up in Rye, surrounded by its extraordinary architecture and centuries of stories, it was the perfect place to explore and fuel that curiosity. As a child, I collected clay pipes and old bottles, explored empty houses, derelict buildings, hidden cellars and passageways — and even the odd cave — places many people in Rye wouldn’t even know exist.
That fascination with what lies beneath the surface never left me.
How did Heritage Decorating come about?
After returning from service in the armed forces, I embarked on a career in painting and decorating, working on houses in and around Rye. Over time, it became clear that decorating historic buildings wasn’t just a job for me — it was a way of preserving the town’s story.
Many of the buildings we work on have been altered, repaired and redecorated countless times over centuries, and it’s only when you slow down and work carefully that their past begins to reveal itself.
That approach is at the heart of Heritage Decorating. Our ethos is simple: work with care, respect the building, and never rush past something just because it’s inconvenient. We believe that old buildings should be understood, not forced into modern standards that don’t suit them. That often means taking more time, doing more research and sometimes advising clients not to cover something up — even when it would be quicker or easier to do so.
What was your latest discovery which fired you with such enthusiasm?
The recent discovery of medieval pargetry in a 13th century cottage we are currently working on is a perfect example of that philosophy in action.
Behind layers of wallpaper and later finishes, we uncovered extensive areas of early pargetry — decorative lime plaster applied and worked while still wet. This is not later imitation or decorative revival work, but genuine historic fabric, likely medieval in origin, surviving in remarkable condition.
The flowing wave-like patterns, repeated arcs, and horizontal combed bands were created using simple tools such as wooden combs or fingers. Pargetry was never purely decorative. It strengthened the surface, helped key further plaster coats, and allowed the maker to leave a personal mark. No two sections are ever identical.
What makes this discovery particularly striking is the heavy soot staining, often referred to as kippering. Before chimneys were introduced, smoke from open hearths and candlelight slowly stained walls over generations. Rather than destroying the plaster, this soot has effectively sealed and preserved it — giving us an extraordinary window into everyday medieval life. Standing in front of it, you can almost feel the presence of the people who lived there: the warmth of the fire, the flicker of candles, and the slow passing of time.
We’ve also uncovered later lime plaster, likely from the 17th century, layered over the original work. Seeing these phases side by side tells the story of how the house evolved, adapting to changing tastes and technologies while still retaining its medieval core.
Elsewhere in the same room, we opened up two window openings that had been boarded over many years ago. In the timber sill we found diamond-shaped mortices where oak bars once sat — part of an unglazed medieval window. Before glass became affordable, these bars provided security and supported internal shutters or coverings such as oiled linen or parchment. Details like this are easily lost forever if not recognised and treated with love care and attention to detail.
We’ve also found builders’ tally marks and traditional materials such as oakum — a fibrous, hair-like material used historically to pack and seal voids in buildings. At first glance it looks remarkably like human hair and certainly caused a moment of surprise when uncovered.
This kind of discovery only happens when you’re prepared to slow down, look closely and treat a building with respect. It’s why we go the extra mile — not just for the sake of the work, but because once these details are lost, they can never be replaced.
Your son Ricky works with you; does he share your enthusiasm?
Yes, Ricky now works alongside me and shares the same passion for this kind of work. For both of us, there’s something deeply satisfying about knowing we’re not just decorating rooms, but helping to protect Rye’s architectural history for future generations.
We are still only in the first room of this remarkable house, with much more yet to be uncovered. It’s an exciting project, and one that perfectly sums up why we do what we do at Heritage Decorating: caring for old buildings, respecting their imperfections and allowing their stories to be told — not buried.
Image Credits: Heritage Decorating , Heritage Decorating .