The Stone Masons and Conservation
Thirteen full time masons and conservators are employed to conserve the fabric of the Cathedral. They plan their work, and their skills are used to clean, maintain and conserve the stonework that dates from 1,000 years ago, so that the craftsmanship of the first builders is preserved. Only when this is impossible, the masons create their own designs, keeping the Cathedral a living creation, that continues into the present and the future.
The Original Stone
The stone for the Norman Cathedral was brought from Caen in Northern France, crossing the Channel to Sandwich from where it came up the little River Stour by barge to Fordwich, two miles from Canterbury. From there oxen hauled it into the city. Today a similar limestone, Lepine, comes from a French quarry at Poitiers. It is trucked in massive blocks, each weighing about two tons, and taken to the Stonemasons' Yard at Broad Oak, not far from Canterbury. Like the Caen stone, Lepine is a "freestone"; it can be cut in any direction.
Responsibilities
In the Yard, under the direction of the Clerk of Works, each mason has his/her own specific role: the Setting Out mason who prepares the templates, the Sawyer, the Banker Masons who cut the blocks to fit the templates, the Carver Masons who create the special features, like the acanthus leaves on a pinnacle, or a dog's head. Like the medieval masons, today's Carver Masons are encouraged to use their own artistry and imagination, and not try to copy the originals slavishly. When all is ready, the Fixer Masons, assisted by the Scaffolders, prepare the building, mix the mortar and bond the stone.
