Miles and miles of concrete and cement 'plaster'

Attention switched to the main family room, but this soon turned out to be a much bigger job than first though. Before I started, it looked like this...

You can see the tide mark in the first picture. The question is, what is the source of the damp? When it rains the paper on the walls gets physically wet. It isn't coming from above as the rooms upstairs are dry. Is it really coming from below? There isn't a source of condensation.

So, the plaster removal began. The internal wall had a cement plaster that came off the wall easily. The outside wall around the window had a concrete render that was welded to the stonework. It was particularly evil along the base of the wall, which had 2 inches thick solid concrete from the floor up about 1 foot. The SDS+ drill came into its own and saved a huge amount of time. By hand, it would have taken days.

Another interesting discovery, as can be seen in the above pic. The window used to come down another 2 feet and there used to be a door immediately to the right. You can see the newer stone and brick work. If this place did indeed use to be a bakery, you can imagine that this was a shopfront with a large display window and door beside. The other side of the window is the original stone.

Taking out the plaster in the passage that connects the two wings led to a problematic area of unsupported wall. The inadequate lintel fell out and now the wall is held up by some very small sticks. Something else to add to the list of things to fix. The door and frame has been removed at this point.

In this picture, you can see the sticks supporting the gable end. There was a piece of metal under these, but it fell out when the wood block it was attached too also fell.

I took off the plaster in the hallway. Near the floor it just fell away but further up it was still really good quality. Adhering well to the wall and solid. I figured it all had to come off though. Surprisingly hard work considering it was just lime here.

Looking up the stairs (which will eventually be removed)

This wall also had a skirt of solid concrete (this time backed by slate). It was again welded to the stone and I had to give up. You can see in the pic below where the chisel had chipped the concrete. Hard work!

I need to finish off this last corner then clear out the kitchen cabinets. Once done, it will be a shift to upstairs. More plaster removal and taking out walls.

The roof downstairs is the original lathe and plaster and I am in two minds about whether to leave it. It is mostly intact and I like the idea of an original roof. however, it may all fall down soon after so it may be better to replace it now. Alternatively, I can remove the lime and get it replastered in lime which should probably last another couple of hundred years.

Decisions decisions.