Masons' Marks in Essex | British History Online

An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Essex, Volume 4, South east. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1923.

'Masons' Marks in Essex', in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Essex, Volume 4, South east, (London, 1923) pp. 181-182. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/essex/vol4/pp181-182 [accessed 19 April 2024]

MASONS' MARKS IN ESSEX.

The Masons' marks shown below come from various parts of the County. They are often found on 12th-century masonry but none have been observed in Essex on work earlier than the 14th century, and these are not numerous. They are common in 15th-century work and are cut on the surfaces of responds, piers, soffits, and often on the moulded faces themselves. An interesting group at High Easter includes a master mark (fig. 4) on practically all of the stones of the N. arcade, accompanied by a variety of secondary marks (fig. 5), perhaps those of the working masons. The more complicated marks—such as figs. 9, 11, 16, 29, etc. —are possibly only developments of earlier marks, each successor to the use of a mark adding a line or two to distinguish it from that of his predecessor.



No. of Illustration.	Name of Church.	Part of Structure on which found.	Date of Part of Structure on which found.
1	Little Horkesley	Tower Arch and N. splay of W. windowin Aisle	c. 1340.
2	Fordham	Chancel arch and arcade voussoirs	Mid 14th-century.
3	Asheldham	Arch of N. doorway in Nave	14th-century.
4	High Easter	N. arcade of Nave (principal mark)	c. 1400.
5	" "	" " (other marks)	"
6	Barking (St. Margaret's)	Chancel. S. arcade E. arch	Early 15th-century.
7	" "	" " W. arch	" "
8	" "	" " W. respond	" "
9	Chelmsford (Cathedral)	S. Chapel. W. arch into S. Aisle	15th-century.
	Maldon (All Saints')	Chancel. S. arcade	"
Colchester (St. Peter's)	Arcades	"
	Witham	N. arch of Chancel	Late 15th-century.
10	Barking (St. Margaret's)	Nave. S. arcade	15th-century.
11	Great Dunmow	Nave. N. wall, E. window	"
12	Barking (St. Margaret's)	Nave. S. arcade	"
13	Maldon (All Saints')	Chancel. N. wall arcade	Late 15th-century.
	Rochford	Doorway to Rood-loft and Tower Stair-turret	15th-century.
	Pitsea	E. Doorway to Tower	Early 16th-century.
14	Rochford	Doorway to Rood-loft and Tower Stair-turret	15th-century.
	S. Benfleet	S. arcade	"
	Canewdon	S. doorway	Early 16th-century.
	Corringham	N. arcade	" "
	Paglesham	S. doorway	" "
	Rettendon	Nave. N. arcade	Late 15th-century.
15	Runwell	Tower arch	" "
16	West Ham	W. respond and on voussoirs of S. arcade	c. 1400.
17	Chelmsford (Cathedral)	Chancel. S. arcade	c. 1420–30.
	Runwell	Tower arch	Late 15th-century.
	Paglesham	N. doorway	Early 16th-century.
18	Rettendon	Nave. N. arcade	Late 15th-century.
	S. Ockendon	N. arcade	15th-century.
	Paglesham	Tower arch and W. doorway	Early 16th-century.
19	S. Ockendon	N. arcade	15th-century.
20	Rettendon	Door to Vestry, N. wall of Chancel	Late 15th-century.
21	"	Archway to N. Chapel	" "
22	"	Nave. N. arcade	" "
23	Terling	Nave. S. arcade	15th-century.
	Witham	Outer order of S. arcade of Chancel	Late 15th-century.
24	Great Coggeshall	All arcades	15th-century.
25	Rochford	Nave arcades	"
26	Dedham	Arcade piers, doors and window jambs	c. 1500.
27	Witham	W. arch of S. Chapel and W. arch of N. Chapel	Late 15th-century.
28	Paglesham	Tower arch, N. and S. doorways	Early 16th-century.
29	Little Totham	Tower Arch	16th-century.
30	Witham	Voussoirs of S. arcade of Chancel	Late 15th-century.

J. W. BLOE.