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Author
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Topic: Master Castle Masons
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Moscow
Member
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posted 01-07-2001 09:40 AM
  
Does anyone here know of any good master castle masons in North America? I've only found one, and he'll be retiring soon...Thanks, Moscow |
Elena
Member
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posted 03-07-2001 06:01 PM
moscow,
you should ask Phillip davis.he is like the exspert on building castles of any sort. my best wishes to u and your castle building. so long.
your friend,
sk8erchick527407 |
Philip Davis
unregistered
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posted 03-08-2001 01:16 AM
No I'm not. If I have any expertise it is in my knowledge of the obscure medieval castles of England and Wales. With regard to master mason in North America Duncan may be able to help and I'm sure that if he can help he will post here in the next day or so. However, I would say the medieval master mason like James of St George was not a mason but an architect. So you may actually be looking for an architect with experience of working in stone as structual material. These are likely to few and far between and expensive. Stone carving mason are likely to be much more common but you might have difficulty finding one willing to do something very different from the usual.Of course the best person to ask about finding a mason would be the mason you've already found. ------------------
And the astronomyours beheldyne the constellacions of hys bryth by thare castle, and foundyn that he sholde bene wyse and curteyse, good of consaill
Secreta Secretorum Visit Castellarium Philippis |
duncan
Senior Member
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posted 03-08-2001 05:42 AM
Master Masons are easy to find here as they will for the most part be listed with a union or if retired some one will know of them.
But a mason with experence in castle building is not and a Master at that craft, as i see it, depends if they moved here from another country.
Savoy didn't list any that he or his masons knew of here so the chances are very slim if their is even one.
I'd be interested in knowing of a Master Castle Mason my self. |
Philip Davis
unregistered
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posted 03-08-2001 06:58 AM
I can only repeat that I think you're really looking for an architect with experience/knowledge of working with stone as a structural material. I would stop using the term master mason since this will just lead you up blind alleys and look for architects. One avenue you might explore is contacting English Heritage, who have knowledge of skilled restorers, probably including architects, in the UK who might, in turn, might have knowledge of such in North America. Otherwise the various and varied historic building trusts and interest groups in North America may have information. Have This Old House ever tackled a stone house? Of course if you are really just looking for a stone mason the right architect will know of these. |
Peter
Member
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posted 03-08-2001 11:21 AM
I don't know if anyone saw it .. but there was one working history programmes on BBC TV late in 2000.
This was the moving and setting upright of an Egyptian 'Needle'.
They tried this in Egypt with some slight success. Mainly because they had a set time to do it in.
The 'stone mason' involved came from the States. Not to be put down, when he returned home he quarried and cut his own larger needle. In his own quarry.
He then carried out the trial again .. and succeded. Setting this pretty big object upright.
So there are craftsman who work stone in the States. But, as pointed out .. it would really cost you. |
duncan
Senior Member
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posted 03-08-2001 12:04 PM
If there are craftsmen here in the States was never in question but a craftsmen who had worked stone to build a true castle seemed to be the gist of the topic.
Our men and women craftsmen are some of the finest in the world.
My thought was our masons may not have the experence that others in countrys that are rich in castles have.
I still feel that Elena was paying Philip a complement for helping her on her project and chose this thread to do it in.[This message has been edited by duncan (edited 03-09-2001).] |
Philip Davis
unregistered
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posted 03-08-2001 02:50 PM
I think the point I was trying to make Peter is not that North America lacks masons of quality but they don't have much experience of building with stone. Even brick, which is the everyday building material in the UK, is a relatively rarely used material in America. Now it has to be said that relatively few new buildings in the UK are built with stone as the main structure (Though it may still be required in some areas like the Peak District) but because there are quite a few stone buildings (including quite a lot of late 19C houses in Yorkshire) in the UK most architects here will have had some experience of restoration in stone buildings and knowledge of stone as a building material. In America, it seems to me, stone buildings are very rare and that stone if encounted is only encounted either as a foundation material or a wall facing and not as a load bearing wall. I wonder if the local building codes even consider it in some areas. Now I have to say I've no direct experience of American buildings and most of what I'm saying is derived from watching US TV shows like This Old House so I'm happy to corrected. |
duncan
Senior Member
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posted 03-09-2001 08:20 AM
Not to correct but to add to what you have already stated Philip. It seems for the most part the States stopped useing stone and brick for load bearing walls some where in the 20s or 30s. In alot of small towns you can find walls of 2 and 3 foot thickness in some of the older buildings that are still standing.
Corbiestepped gables, beam sockets, roof plates, and many other architectural items used in castles can also be found including the crenelation of the older concete/block grain silows {bins} with some of these even made to resemble towers. [This message has been edited by duncan (edited 03-09-2001).] |
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