May 21, 2025
Naturalistic foliage was a popular decorative detail in the Gothic period, and small animals, birds and people frolic amongst the leaves and flowers. Sometimes the foliage grew into something else: the leaves at Wells Cathedral grow into the head of a man with...
Apr 25, 2025
Soaring Monuments Heavy stones were brought to the site by water or cart. The masons of Laon Cathedral in France, grateful to the oxen that pulled their carts, carved oxen peeking out of the top of the towers. Scaffolding was used to reach higher parts of the...
Mar 31, 2025
A mason’s craft The medieval mason was not a monk but a highly skilled lay craftsman who combined the roles of architect, builder, craftsman, designer and engineer. Using only a set of compasses, a set square and a staff or rope marked off in halves, thirds and...
Feb 10, 2025
Tuck pointing is a highly-skilled and refined method of pointing, or re-pointing, brickwork whereby a colored mortar joint is placed to match the brick and grooved while ‘green’ or fresh, to receive a separate, and carefully placed, lime putty: silver sand ribbon. The...
Feb 10, 2025
Also known as Bird Beak Pointing, this historical finish was developed in the Tudor Period from 15th to the 16th century and was employed largely to overcome the irregularity of bricks in this period. The finish was created by using a pointing trowel, angled from the...
