The wood on many of the old timber houses was white, or very pale unlike most timber framed buildings we see which are black. This was very noticable when I visited the Guildhall in Lavenham. I then learn't something I was unawhere of that the original finish to the timber in the early days was a coat of lime wash to preserve the wood. It was only later that people either stained or painted it. I live in easy distance from Speke Hall Liverpool and this is very noticeable there, the layers of paint over time is now showing signs of peeling. It does not look very good and seems a pity that so many excellent clear preservative are now available that they are not used in many cases, no doubt the NT try to keep to the original as much as possible, but if every one did this most villages and towns would lose a lot of character.

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