Traditional Skills
Being passionate about my craft and the traditional skills of the trade encourages me to apply them whenever possible.
Having a huge respect of the exceptional workmanship of craftsmen and women from the past and I spend a lot of time researching historical construction and the methods used.
Tools of a stone mason
Hammers, chisels and a sturdy bench are the core tools of any stone project.
Flintwork
A trade which is currently on the Red List of Endangered Crafts.
Found from the south coast to Norfolk although I primarily work with Flint in the South East of England.
Drawings
Being the son of a draughtsman and a talented artist, I picked up the skills to hand draw the plans that I use today to design the structures I build.
Plugs & Features
Using plugs and feathers to split stone, is a method that has been used for thousands of years.
Never stop learning
I find that you never stop learning and have great admiration for the craftstmen and women from days gone by.
Dressing stone
If a unique piece of stone is required for a structure, I use the traditional skills to shape the stone to the desired shape and specification.
Traditional method to split stone
Showing the method of using plugs and feathers to split stone, by striking each one in sequence. A block weighing many tons will open up.
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My YouTube short showing the process below
Dry Stone Walling Certification
Very proud to have obtained Level I and Level II DSW certification. Would not have been able to achieve this without the amazing support of the DSWA.
Working with lime
Lime mortars are a vital part of my craft. Each project will have a mortar designed specifically for it depending on materials and structure.