Medieval Masons

It seems appropriate to start this blog with a look back at past things. I don't get that much fan mail, so it is always gratefully received. This morning's letter liked an article I wrote for the BBC website ages ago on medieval masons http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/middle_ages/architecture_medmason_01.shtml. It originally accompanied a series that Janet Street Porter did on cathedrals for the BBC, but has had a long after life, including a lovely electronic facelift a few months ago. Mr P wanted to know what else he should read to learn more about masons and medieval building practices. Here are some suggestions:

Nicola Coldstream, Masons and Sculptors (1991)

Malcolm Hislop, Medieval Masons (2009).

Jean Gimpel, The Cathedral Builders (1961)

D Knoop and G P Jones, The Medieval Mason (1967)

More technical things, and things in other languages, include

J S Alexander, ‘The Introduction and Use of Masons' marks in Romanesque buildings in England’, Medieval Archaeology 51 (2007), 63-82

John Harvey, English Medieval Architects: A Biographical Dictionary (1984)

S Kostof, ed. The Architect. Chapters in the History of the Profession (1977)

L R Shelby, 'The role of the master mason in medieval English building', Speculum 39 (1964), pp. 387-403

P Colombier, Les chantiers des cathedrals: ouvriers, architectes, sculpteurs (1990)

R Recht, Les bâtisseurs des cathédrales gothiques (1989)