Stone

When the building we see today was constructed, it was easier to quarry (cut from the ground) and bring stone by boat from France, than it was to travel across land on poor roads with cartloads of heavy stone.

In the medieval period building projects at the Cathedral were led by the master mason (a craftsperson who works with stone). He both designed the building and directed the construction work. The master mason appointed a master craftsman to each of the areas required for the project. These skilled craftspeople moved around the country working on different building projects and developing their craft. Some were paid by the day and others were paid by ‘piece’ of work completed. Stone cutters made a mark on every stone they cut so they could prove how much they should be paid. These ‘makers marks’ later grew more complicated as masons created more and more decorated stone interiors and gained the status of artists as well as craftspeople. The stone-masons at Canterbury Cathedral still use their own masons marks today.

Quarry

A type of open-pit or mine where stone is dug from the ground.

Building projects in the medieval Cathedral followed a number of steps.

1. The foundations (base of the building below the ground) are laid. The current Cathedral building is built on earlier foundations from the Norman and Saxon buildings.
2. The master mason in charge of the new building provides templates for the stones he needs.
3. The stone is quarried and cut. Small stones might be cut on site.
4. The stones are transported to The Cathedral either by boat, or else one-by-one using an ox or horse drawn cart.
5. The stones are laid in place. Scaffolding is used to read the higher parts and stones are lifted using cranes and pulleys.
6. Arches are created using wooden scaffolding called ‘centring’ which is removed once the ‘keystone’ locks the arch in place.
7. Roof timbers are added and the roof is covered in lead.
8. Glass windows in metal frames are set in the windows.