This lath and plaster is really horrible stuff - the extra long screws I used were about 6" long and went straight into the brickwork (used a long masony drill bit first then put in an expanding rawl plug) so they are now completely rigid. However, I have done exactly as you've suggested and it's certainly done the job - the fixings are not going anywhere! I think with this being an outside wall, this situation is unusual and I hope I will not have this problem with the rest of the walls!! I would have put up a baton as a last resort but luckly didn't have to this time I don't think they're ugly but they don't look great even when painted. I filled my previous holes and sanded them down and repainted! To bookermel unfortunately the stud timber has disappeared due to the age of the property and I can assure you it is definately lath and plaster straight over brickwork!! Hence my previous problems. Ok everybody thanks for taking the time to respond. If you are having problems finding two strong fixings you could fix a batten of timber accross the whole lenght remembering to make each fixing into the brick using rawlplugs and then fix your curtian rail to this using wood screws. you may need to buy a longer screw then has been provided to allow for the dept of the plaster in and older property. The hole for the rawl plug should be slightly deeper then the lenght of the rawlplug to allow the screw to go right through the rawlplug to ensure proper grip into the brick. To fix firmly drill a hole with a masonary bit (5.5mm approx) and insert a rawl plug making sure that the rawl plug is into the brick not just the plaster!. If it is an outside wall it is unlikly to be lath and plaster rather hair and lime plaster straight onto the brick. If I have understood your post you say ther is brick behind the plaster that you are fixing to if that is the case you need to fix into the brick not the plaster. The base of the plaster will be a split lath and there is a 90 chance of screwing into it.
![screwing into lathe and plaster walls screwing into lathe and plaster walls](https://live.staticflickr.com/3449/3356474429_4b75860a88.jpg)
It is almost impossible to fix successfully to lath and plaster you have to locate the upright ( stud) timber and fix into that. If the plaster is in good to excellent condition you can literally screw it anywhere.