Mason’s Marks

Archaeology

Looking closely at the stonework of old buildings, it is possible to find symbols carved into individual stones. These are known as mason’s marks. There are a very wide range, but they are usually made up of straight lines because curves would be more difficult to carve. Whilst they could show the pride of the mason in his work, it is more likely that their primary use was as a form of accounting for payment – piece work.

In medieval times a mason was a very skilled craftsman. A mason had to undertake an apprenticeship under a master mason. When they were considered to have sufficient skill, they would be admitted to the Guild and they would adopt a ‘sign’ or ‘mark’ which they would carve onto future pieces of work to identify it as their work. Some records are sufficiently detailed to allow linkage between a mark and a named individual. It might also be that a basic symbol was handed down from one generation to another, with just a small change, usually an addition, being made to the symbol by the new master mason. The life of a mason was semi-nomadic, working on one building until it was complete then moving on to seek employment at another. Even when a mason found a new building, life was still not simple. When a mason arrived at a new building his work would first be tested by the Master Mason of the site. If acceptable he would probably be given simple tasks initially, where his mark would be used in a form of quality control. Once accepted, his mark would be used to claim payment for work done. If you would like to see more about the life and work of masons visit  http://www.medievalists.net/2010/10/02/medieval-masons-tools-the-level-and-the-plumb-rule/

Post 14(a) Star on stone round door (N vault) Post 14(a) Mason Mark (2)

During the archaeological dig in the former East Kirk a number of stones were found to have mason’s marks on them. In this post two similar ones, depicting a 5-pointed star are shown. Who the person was is not known, but it is not one which has been recorded around Aberdeen. The mark can be seen in Arbroath Abbey, St Monans Church and Dalgetty Castle. We will put up another post in a few days showing two other mason marks which can be found in other local buildings.

The photographs are copyright Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums Collections and are used with permission.

Captain Penny Memorial

History

There are many significant individuals buried in the Kirkyard. From time to time we intend showing some of these and telling a little of the story of the person commemorated.

Facebook Post 13 Memorial to Captain William PennyThis picture shows the memorial to Captain William Penny. He was born into a whaling family in 1809 and had started working for his father by the age of 12 and continued in the trade for 47 years. He died in Aberdeen aged 82 years. He was something of a pioneer, being an early enthusiast for the use of steam rather than sail. His crew were less keen and threatened to tar and feather him!

The memorial records ‘Arctic explorer who assisted in the Franklin expeditions of 1850 and 1851’. In addition to being a whaler, Penny was an explorer of the seas off the Canadian Arctic Territories, where the Penny Strait is name after him. He is said to be the first explorer to see the open Polar Sea (Arctic Ocean) to the north of the Penny Straits. Sir John Franklin was another arctic explorer who had attempted to penetrate Lancaster Sound in 1845 in search of the ‘North-West Passage’, but never returned. The Admiralty organised a search for Franklin. It was Penny who, in 1851, found traces of Franklin’s winter quarters on 1845-6 on Beechey Island. The mortal remains of Franklin have never been found, although he seems to have died in June 1847. There is more information about Captain Penny in the Aberdeen Maritime Museum.

Problems with wet rot

Progress

For many years there were problems with rain and snow getting under the slates on the roof of the former East Kirk of St Nicholas. Historically, the roof had a very low pitch – 18 – and when it was given a slate roof after the fire of 1874, it would have required large overlap of slates to ensure no ingress in driving rain or snow. Over the years this led to a number of problems which had to be sorted out during Phase 1 of the restoration work.

North East Ceiling Corbel 14 March 2010In this post the focus is on one particular area on the north side of the building. The ceiling in the former Kirk has decorative plaster works, with corbels and bosses along the walls. The first photograph shows these structures. The wood inside the boss nearest the camera was, unknown to us, being damaged by wet rot caused by water running down the inside of the wall behind the lath and plaster.

 

Rotten & Damaged East End of Corbel BossDuring the Phase 1 works, the wood gave way and one morning it was found through the gallery floor as shown in the second photograph. It is fortunate that this happened overnight and that no-one was underneath. We will post about the actions we had to take later in the year.

With the new roof in place the walls are now perfectly dry, but are being monitored on a weekly basis.

The value of bone

Archaeology

Bone has been used from prehistory for carving both useful and decorative items because it is readily available and easy to work with, yet durable when finished. However, bone does not survive in acid soils, so finding carved bone objects in an archaeological dig is exciting. Quite a number of carved bone items were found during the archaeological dig below the former East Kirk, which included some utilitarian items such as part of a comb. Other items were more interesting.

Post 11 Carved bone object - possible bible marker

The first illustration is a drawing, taken from the original in order to show the detail of the carving on both sides. The item has been broken at the bottom so exactly how long it was, or what it was used for, is uncertain. Given the context of a church, one possibility is that it was the ‘weighted end’ of a ribbon book mark, perhaps for marking a passage in a Bible.

Post 11 Bone gaming piece

The second item, however, is not exactly what would be expected in a church – a gaming piece! Indeed this was not the only distinctly secular item found – for example a number of small dice (about 3 or 4 mm only) was also found below what was in later years the kitchen. The rest is left to the imagination!!

During the archaeological excavation a large number of artefacts were uncovered. These require detailed study, evaluation and conservation. This costs money, but unless it is done there is a danger that they will be lost through deterioration. It is proposed to share some of the other artefacts through these posts over time.

The photographs are copyright Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums Collections and are used with permission.

An old wall

History

Post 10(a) The north-east side of the apse with babies burials

Towards the end of the dig in 2006, the archaeologists uncovered a curved wall at the west end of the dig site. Because it was underneath the ‘viewing window’ and the floor had to be taken up to allow this part of the excavation to take place it was left until late on in the dig. What emerged was a semi-circular stone wall about three feet high and 4 feet thick. It was the apse at the east end of a building, previously unknown and predating the Drum’s Aisle of the Kirk of St Nicholas (the latter probably dates from about 1140). Not only was most of the wall there, but also some of the mortar floor inside the building. The first photograph shows the main section of the apse looking from the north-east. The photograph below is taken from the west and shows and the floor (with the curved apse wall round the right hand side). The gap in the wall and floor was caused by a much later burial. Very close to the base of the wall were about 20 infant burials.

Post 10(b)The early apse top round via right to bottom enclosing the floor

There is uncertainty about the age of the wall and floor. Whilst apses had been used in buildings from Roman times, their use in Scotland was uncommon. One suggestion is that it dates from about 1100 AD. However, building experts indicate that the wall could not have been built without damaging the babies’ burials – and they were not disturbed. This and a carbon date on one of the babies suggests an earlier date. Either way, this is the oldest wall and oldest floor presently visible in Aberdeen. When the Mither Kirk Project is complete, this area will be conserved and available for people to view as part of the proposed heritage centre.

The photographs are copyright Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums Collections and are used with permission.

Easter Day

History

Post 9 (b) Central apse window, Jesus and Mary on Easter Day morning East Kirk Jan 2014 DSCN0164

The crucifixion of Jesus took place on a Friday. When he died it was too late to prepare the body of Jesus for burial, so it was placed temporarily in a new burial cave. Only on the Sunday morning, after the Jewish Sabbath, did the first opportunity arise for the women to visit and prepare the body for proper burial. The right hand light of the central window in the former East Kirk depicts one of the events of that morning. We see Mary Magdalene, an early arrival, met by a man and ‘supposing him to be the gardener’   It is Jesus!  He is not dead: he is victor  over death.   This is central to Christian faith and means that we can all say ‘Happy Easter’.

 

Good Friday

History

Post 9 (a) Central Apse window - crucifixion, East Kirk, Jan 2014 DSCN0162 The events of the day called Good Friday, and of the following Sunday, Easter Day, are central to the Christian message, so it is no surprise that many stained glass windows (and other objects) at a focal point in churches seek to portray them.  In the apse at the east end of St Nicholas’ there are three windows – the nativity scene which was shared at Christmas is in one of these.  The central window was created by Marjorie Kemp of Edinburgh in 1936 in memory of Dr James Cooper, a former minister.  At the centre is a depiction of Christ crucified.  This part of the window is shown in today’s image. The picture also shows Mary, the mother of Jesus, and John, one of his disciples, who followed Jesus to the cross, standing on each side with eyes cast down and sorrow on their faces. In three days we will share another part of the same window.

Dr William Guild Memorial

Post 8 Guild Memorial, Kirkyard Jan 2014 DSCN0156

Dr William Guild, born about 1586 was the sole surviving son of Matthew Guild, a wealthy Aberdeen armourer and member of the Hammerman Trade. He studied at the newly founded Marischal College and was ordained to Kinedward parish in 1608. He was appointed one of the ministers of St Nicholas in 1631 and two years later purchased the chapel and monastery of the Trinitarian friars to be a meeting place for the seven Incorporated Trades and a hospital or home for decayed tradesmen. In recognition of his generosity Dr Guild was appointed their first Patron – an office which continues to be held by a minister of the Gospel. The name, Trinity Hall, used also for subsequent buildings in Union Street and in Holburn Street, commemorates its origins. He himself is commemorated by the modern-day Guild Street. In the seventeenth century various public bodies, including the Trades, had seats or ‘lofts’ in the Kirk on which were displayed their insignia. A 20th century panel adorns the loft front of the Incorporated Trades and there the principal office bearers sit when they come to be ‘kirked’, according to long-standing custom, on the 2nd Sunday of November. His large and impressive memorial, shown in the photograph, was erected by his widow and is located in the Kirkyard on the wall just to the north of the gateway from Back Wynd. The original Latin inscription panel was replaced in 1883, in red granite, by the Incorporated Trades.

Old wood in St Mary’s Chapel

History

Post 7 Oak boss in St Mary's Chapel

St Mary’s Chapel has a fine example of a stone vaulted ceiling – one of the best in the North-East of Scotland. Key to holding vaulting in place is the boss which is placed at the apex of each set of ribs making up the vaulting. In 1898, St Mary’s Chapel was restored by a team including Dr Kelly (who is perhaps more famous for ‘Kelly’s Cats’ on UnionBridge). At some stage in the past the ceiling had been plastered and covered in a whitewash. It was decided that this would be removed to expose the stonework of the vaulting. The team were very surprised to find that the boss in the apse vaulting was actually made of oak not stone and that it still had its original colouring present. The photograph shows this boss as it is today. The colour was ‘retouched’ by the Victorian restorers so we can see what it was like when new. However, it remains the original, approaching 600 year-old, wood which continues to support the whole structure! The symbol used is a common abbreviation for the name of St Mary and similar symbols are still used today.

Visit www.openspacetrust.org.uk for more information or to support our work.

The second scallop shell found

Archaeology

The photograph is copyright Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums Collections and are used with permission.

About 2 months after the first scallop shell had been found a second one was found in a burial. The photograph, courtesy of the Aberdeen City Council Archaeology Unit, shows that this scallop shell was located over the left thigh. It was customary to sew the shell to a leather satchel hanging from the waist over the left leg, so this man was buried wearing the leather satchel bearing the scallop shell. The leather has not survived the centuries, but the shell has. That he was buried wearing this also indicates the importance which people placed on these pilgrimage tokens.