mason-marks-txt-1

Served to identify the mason who prepared the block:
BELLAPAIS ABBEY,
MASON MARKS

Mason marks (*) are abundant only in the common-room. However, some may be found in the chapter-house and in other locations when lighting conditions are favourable. Many have been eroded away. There are marks which are common to both the chapterhouse and the common-room, and repeated on the cloister walls.

Several of the blocks which support the upper tank of the lavabo are "signed" with a mark comprising two equilateral triangles superposed to form a star.

This design is also found inside the refectory door on the left, and again, low down on the outside wall of the chapterhouse, protected from total erosion by a buttress.

Mason marks on the south wall of the church porch

(*) It will be noticed that many of the ashlar blocks of which the abbey is built have distinctive marks incised into one surface.

These marks, which frequently represent a simple geometric shape, served to identify the mason who prepared the block, and may also have assisted in calculating the masons' wages.

Mason marks are of particular interest to students of medieval buildings since the appearance of identical marks in different parts of a site can indicate that those parts were erected more or less contemporaneously. Whilst it would be unwise to draw positive conclusions from such observations, they can be regarded as helpful pointers.

They can also give some clue to the number of masons employed for a particular task. From a wider point of view, it could be possible to link various sites according to mason marks, trace the movement of lodges of masons, and gain some insight into the transmission of carving styles.

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	Served to identify the mason who prepared the block: BELLAPAIS ABBEY, MASON MARKS
Mason marks (*) are abundant only in the common-room. However, some may be found in the chapter-house and in other locations when lighting conditions are favourable. Many have been eroded away. There are marks which are common to both the chapterhouse and the common-room, and repeated on the cloister walls.
		Several of the blocks which support the upper tank of the lavabo are "signed" with a mark comprising two equilateral triangles superposed to form a star. This design is also found inside the refectory door on the left, and again, low down on the outside wall of the chapterhouse, protected from total erosion by a buttress. Mason marks on the south wall of the church porch (*) It will be noticed that many of the ashlar blocks of which the abbey is built have distinctive marks incised into one surface. These marks, which frequently represent a simple geometric shape, served to identify the mason who prepared the block, and may also have assisted in calculating the masons' wages.

Mason marks are of particular interest to students of medieval buildings since the appearance of identical marks in different parts of a site can indicate that those parts were erected more or less contemporaneously. Whilst it would be unwise to draw positive conclusions from such observations, they can be regarded as helpful pointers. They can also give some clue to the number of masons employed for a particular task. From a wider point of view, it could be possible to link various sites according to mason marks, trace the movement of lodges of masons, and gain some insight into the transmission of carving styles. \| close window \| detailed map \|