Author Archives: tomwiggins

What I Think About When I Think About Stone

Posted on November 11, 2013 by tomwiggins

Training to be a stonemason offers several lessons in disappointment.  I’ve kept telling myself that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially at this early stage.  There’s no way around it.  Mistakes must be made – it’s part of the … Continue reading →

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Words of Encouragement From a Fellow Stone Masonry Trainee

Posted on October 6, 2013 by tomwiggins

Sam White slid these words of encouragement across the classroom table during Friday morning’s theory lesson.   I’ll file this one under “Stone Banter”.  

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Stones That Talk, Stones That Sing.

Posted on October 1, 2013 by tomwiggins

Stones have been around for a while.  So have words.  One perhaps a little longer than the other.  The point is: they both exist and have had enough time to introduce themselves.  It’s not surprising then that, at some point … Continue reading →

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Stone: From Rough Block to Flat Surface

Posted on September 29, 2013 by tomwiggins

I’ve been having some problems with Colleen. Sam (of A Noble Craft fame) walked over as we were clearing away our things at the end of Friday’s practical session. He considered her for a second and shook his head. “I’ll … Continue reading →

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The Mason – a poem

Posted on September 22, 2013 by tomwiggins

On another day, I might have imagined the hum of half a dozen masons, huddled with plans and sandwiches on stools in the corner. One man would know the build by heart,would rest in its vertices and dream in Perpendicular. … Continue reading →

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Gloucester Cathedral Stone Masonry Workshop

Posted on September 15, 2013 by tomwiggins

It came as a very happy coincidence that after only two days into my two year Stone Masonry course at The City of Bath College, Gloucester Cathedral should open up their Stone Masonry workshop to the general public.  I’m lucky … Continue reading →

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