Funding boost for two stonemason apprentices at Worcester Cathedral

Worcester Cathedral is celebrating an award of £20,000 from the Associated Worshipful Companies of The Mercers’, Masons’, Cooks’ and Broderers’.

The award for two restoration projects – one to the county war memorial and one to the Old Bishop’s Palace boundary wall – supporting the career progression of its newly qualified stonemasons.

Early career stonemasons at Worcester Cathedral get funding boost

Debbie Branford and Alfie Rollett received distinctions in their Standard 2 Stonemasonry qualifications earlier this year and now need to continue their learning in order to progress their careers. This grant will enable them to take ownership of two specific pieces of restoration work, as part of their Level 3 training.

The County War Memorial’s steps, which have become worn and unsafe due to frost damage, will be given some much-needed TLC, ensuring all is in good order in time for this year’s Remembrance commemorations. The repairs will be made with Portland limestone to match the original stonework.

The second emergency repair is to the north precinct wall between the Old Palace and the Heart of Worcestershire College. A section of the wall, which forms part of a now-lost Tudor building, has succumbed to a tree growing out of it and become dangerous. The Old Palace was the original Worcester Bishop’s Palace dating in part back to the 11th century.  It became the deanery in the 19th century.

The masons will fully draw, record, dismantle and rebuild using as many of the original sandstone blocks as possible, replace new stonework where necessary and repoint using conservation techniques.

Clerk of Works at Worcester Cathedral, Kate Andrew, said:

“My team are excited and very grateful for the award of funds by the Members of the Masons’ Company and Associated Companies to support the repair of the First World War memorial and assist with work on the Old Palace boundary wall.

“We offer a special and unique environment to work and the training we provide produces stone masons of high-quality calibre and great ability, that go on to work on cathedrals and historic buildings, benefitting the built environment nationally.

“Our project is focused on enabling the Cathedral to continue to provide training and opportunities in stonemasonry to this high standard, at a time of significant financial pressures.
 
“Each element of restoration will be part of Alfie and Debbie’s CWF Level 3 core training and they will gain evidence for their core skills needed, including liaising with professional bodies, making templates, and cutting out stone, ordering stone, fixing stone and using various conservation techniques. They will work under the supervision of the Master Mason and Senior Mason, who will be training them on site.” 

Members of the Associated Companies will visit the Cathedral to view the completed works in September, when a special stone commemorating their support will be unveiled.

Kate Pryke, Deputy Chair, Masons Company Charitable Trust, said:

“It was a unanimous decision to award the grant to Worcester Cathedral for these two restoration projects which will form part of their stone mason apprentices’ CWF Level 3 core training, under the supervision of their Master Mason and Senior Mason.

Photos show Alfie and Debbie and Worcester Cathedral’s Clerk of Works, Kate Andrew
Credit: Worcester Cathedral