Latest news with #stonemasonry
Times
17 hours ago
- General
- Times
St Paul's trains new craftsmen to save historic buildings
The name Christopher Kempster may not be widely known, but nearly everyone in Britain will have seen his work. The craftsman, who trained with and became a close associate of Sir Christopher Wren, was the master stonemason at St Paul's. So vital was he to its building that, in records from the 1690s, his occupation was listed simply as 'St Paul's Cathedral'. Now the hunt is on for young people to follow in his footsteps. The cathedral is setting up a new centre for apprentices, warning that Britain's most important buildings are on the 'cliff edge' of losing vital skills to repair them. The Wren Centre of Excellence, launched to coincide with the 350th anniversary of the foundation of Wren's St Paul's Cathedral and named in honour of its architect, will train young people in carpentry, stonemasonry and heritage building skills.
ABC News
30-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Trainees restore Broken Hill's Pirie Building to learn heritage conservation skills
Kamilaroi man Mark Curry vowed to turn his life around six years ago and made a fresh start in Wilcannia, in far west New South Wales. Mr Curry, 42, had spent several years in and out of jail and said moving to the far west was the best decision. Last year, he attended a Heritage Training Program in Broken Hill to learn practical conservation and restoration skills on one of the city's key heritage buildings, the Pirie Building. "In those two weeks I was taught a lot of beautiful aspects of how to do [it] and partake in skills of stonemasonry and other work," he said. The program enabled him to participate in a major building transformation in Broken Hill and then return to Wilcannia and help with skilled stonemasonry work on the town's Baaka Cultural Centre. Mr Curry was one of 15 people who attended the training in Broken Hill delivered by leading stonemason trainer Keith McAllister. Although based in Adelaide, Mr McAllister's company has restored many buildings in the far west, including sandstone buildings in Wilcannia. "We worked on the Wilcannia Post Office, Council Chambers, and the Bond Store all along the [Darling] River," he said. Since establishing his registered training organisation 15 years ago, Mr McAllister said he had trained more than 2,000 participants in NSW, South Australia and Western Australia. He said he was approached by Broken Hill's heritage advisor Liz Vines to run a training program to restore the Pirie Building in Argent Street. Broken Hill was named as the first Heritage City on the National Heritage Register 10 years ago. The rich mining history is expressed in the many substantial heritage buildings like the 1891 Pirie Building, which was a key part of the early development of commercial businesses. However, it became run-down and its verandah was replaced with a cantilevered awning. "The first stage was to tackle the facades of the building … [which required] scaffolding and that was undertaking all the stone restoration work, the rendering and timber conservation of the windows and reglazing," Mr McAllister said. "Then the second stage was the massive task of replacing the 1970s verandah, which was dismantled and then replaced with an original ornate and intricate heritage traditional timber verandah." The original leadlighting above the shop windows was uncovered, repaired and restored by Broken Hill local Tony Webber. Stage one was completed in a week, and stage two in two weeks. "Although I delivered the technical know-how in the teaching program, the physical conservation and restoration works were largely undertaken by the participants. A lot of them haven't been in the industry before," he said. As the city's heritage advisor, Ms Vines had long wanted to restore the Pirie Building, but costs were prohibitive and skills in the outback unobtainable. She knew of Mr McAllister's experience and success in running effective training programs. "These building projects, particularly in regional and outback towns, cost a lot of money, and we proposed a training program to conserve the building. The use of participants' labour made it affordable," she said. Ms Vines said the project would have cost between $850,000 to $900,000, but by running a training program, it was only a third of the cost. The project received $231,000 from a National Heritage Federal Government Grant and $66,000 from the owner of the building. Participant registration fees made up the balance. Ms Vines believed this could be a format for future projects. "This was a practical and real education project with a great outcome for the City of Broken Hill, the building owner, and the participants, some of whom, like Mark [Curry], who went on to gain work in the industry," she said. The project recently won the Education and Interpretation category at the NSW National Trust Heritage Awards.
BBC News
11-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
York Minister on the lookout for next cohort of apprentices
York Minster has cut an impressive figure on the city's skyline for more than 800 years - a testament to the work of countless craftsmen and women through the now needs a new generation of apprentices to help preserve its legacy for centuries to minster is seeking a future decorator, electrician and stonemason to join the 200-strong team for up to four mason Lindsay Hogarth says successful candidates will need "personality and drive", with a "lot to cram in to four years". Third-year stonemasonry apprentice Harriet Bailey had not considered the trade as a career until she came to York as a university working in a number of admin roles she did not enjoy, she took a stonemasonry course at York College before applying to an apprenticeship at York Minster."I suppose it was a roundabout way of getting here. But I know working behind a computer wasn't for me," she said."[At this job] I get to see a finished product, I'm doing it, I see it and everyone gets to enjoy it so it feels meaningful."As well as traditional stonemasonry, the course teaches digital skills including 3D scanning and computer-aided Hogarth leads the apprentices, and estimates there is a even split of men and women on the scheme, many of whom he has seen go on to successful careers. He said: "It's quite a small world I suppose for stonemasonry because it is a little bit niche, you always get to stay in touch with people who have moved on, so you're never saying goodbye I guess."You always get to hear from them, it's a nice family."This year, Ms Bailey will see her handiwork - a carving, which has been several months in the making - installed onto York said: "It can take longer than a typical project at other jobs might take, but stonemasonry requires a lot of patience."It'll be really nice to be able to point up at it and show my mum or whoever, and know that other people will be able to appreciate it – and it'll be there for a long time, which is cool."For second-year joinery apprentice William Dixon, the idea of working on jobs in centuries-old, minster-owned properties was a daunting prospect."At first I was a bit scared and nervous because I was still learning," he explained."But now I'm getting more comfortable with the work, I'm more confident and proud of what I do."The team I work with really help me progress and enhance my skills a lot."You can be yourself and have a laugh but you learn a lot and crack on with the work. It's the best of both worlds." Mr Dixon's apprenticeship is supported by the religious charitable organisation Benefact Trust, which covers his is one of a number of apprentices funded by grants from trusts as a way to pay towards the conservation of the minster. Cate Birch, head of fundraising and development, said: "The minster is a magnificent but vast building."As part of our income stream, as well as ticket income, we rely on charitable donations and grants."That pays for the conservation and restoration of the building, the stone, the equipment, but most importantly, our workforce and our apprentices."We are very grateful to all our donors - it all makes a difference."The three apprenticeship schemes are open for applications until Hogarth said: "We're really proud to offer stonemasonry apprenticeships at York."We're proud of our craft and very excited to pass it on to future generations." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
