18 Century Wiltshire Headstone

[toby webb]

I wonder if any reader is able to comment on the square holes on the reverse side of this headstone. They are a common feature. It seems to me that they are used to stop the stone sliding about the mason's bench whilst carving is in progress, but that is a guess.
Thanks, Toby.

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi Toby,

The Holes usually indicate that another stone or stones was attached to this Headstone and this is where it was clamped together with metal devices (usually made from lead) called 'Crampons'

Another use was that there could have been chains or railing around the burial plot, again attached to the Headstone with metal fastenings - but most of these were removed during the war and the metal was smelted down and turned into tanks.

Chris in 1066

 

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi Toby

This is an entry from a stonemasons book in Lewes:

The surviving records of Parsons and C.F.Bridgman give many specifications for the building of tombs, materials required, hours worked by the stone mason and others, plus of course the cost of the Inscription; often accompanied by a free hand drawing of the monument

A Portland Stone Tomb with York Stone Curb to be erected in Chiddingly Churchyard complete @ £12/15/-d
Fixing the above:
Winhurst 3¼days
H Townsend 3¼days,
Labour @ 5/-,   
lodgings @ 9/6d 
17 Iron Crampons,   
2½lbs Pitch,   
100 Best Bricks,   
800 Inferior Bricks,
8lbs of Lead,   
12 Bushells of Sand,   
2 Bushells  of Cement.

Chris in 1066

[toby webb]

Hi Chris.
       I have been chewing this one over for some time as you will deduce.  I am against the square holes being use in this case for crampons as the stone is not tall and there is no footstone as an anchor. Where I have seen crampons in Cornwall there was a need for extra support as the head stone was, if I remember correctly, about 6 feet tall.
      I am suggesting therefore that their purpose was to engage on pegs projecting from a machine table and so keep the stone stationary while the surface for the lettering was being ground flat. Without them the stone would not remain still. Clamps could not be used if a continuous smooth surface was required.
How does that grab you?
      I have not been able to discover any book on such masonry practices although there must surely have been something
Best wishes,Toby

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi Toby

You may be right and I have been digging in my archives to see if I could identify any equipment used: Can you see anywhere that pegs might have held the stone from them

1. Radial Polishing Machine for Finishing the surface of Marble and Slate

2. Carborundum Circular Saw for rapid cutting of Marble, Stone and Slate specially adapted for checking and rebatting.

3. Ripper Saw for cutting blocks of Marble and Stone up to approximately five tons capacity  - All pictures taken from Bridgmans Advertising Leaflet of c1946, supplied by Mrs Reid, Ashford, Kent. - daughter of Bridgman
 
Chris in 1066

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi Toby

The 3rd picture did not want to attach to the other post

Chris in 1066

[toby webb]

Hi Chris,
         What some marvellous shots.  Of most interest, in this particular instance, is the radial machine which I imagine would have been capable of rough & fine grinding or polishing. Something very similar but much older could have been  powered by water also through lineshafting.
        The tombstone I displayed  was dated July 1760. ( Moses Ackerman)
        Many thanks,Toby.

[Lydart]

Its difficult to tell from the photo, but do the holes go right through the headstone ?   If not, how deep ?   How thick is the stone ?


I must go up to our church and have a look at the back of stones !

[toby webb]

Hi Lydart,
The square holes do not go all the way through but were about 3 cms deep and perhaps 9cms thick stone. I did not measure the stones as that was not my target at the time.
Toby.