Stonemasons of Wiltshire

[romawi]

A lot of my forebears were stonemasons and lived in the Hindon area of Wiltshire, does anyone by chance have any information about this profession in the early 1800's? Their name was Biddiscombe.

[nahbois]

You can email Wiltshire and Swindon Council History site.   They do not answer Family history questions but they will give a description/insight into what a stonemason's profession consisted of
back during that time.   They are very polite and very helpful.   Sue

[Elizabeth Revel]

If you go to this page you can find 2 photos of Stonemasons yards. Not the exact locale of your forbears but not too far away. Later, but many tools and techniques were similar

http://www.francisfrith.com/search/england/wiltshire/corsham/photos/corsham_photos_21.htm

Beth

[toby webb]

Allied to this subject is the manufacture of tombstones and especially those prior to about 1800. No doubt masons who dressed stone for building purposes also produced memorials. The skill of lettering and tiny sculptures however must have been beyond many.  Is anyone aware if a study of such masons has been conducted?
Thanks. Toby.

[EVG]

I too would be very interested in that sort of information as my Gt/grandfather was a stone mason in Tiverton and I have been looking for anything to do with it for ages.
Eileen

[cobb113]

i rained as a stone masion i did a 3 year aprentaship there are several types of stone masion there are ones who are now turmed monumental masions who would make grave stones and morsaleioms then you would have the masions who would work on house or church then there were ones who would biled stone walls witch in its salf is a art not using morter to hold the stone in place

if you would like any more information please let me know 

[EVG]

Thanks for that.....very interesting.  I've no idea what type of stonework my Gt/grandfather did.

[toby webb]

I am wondering whether cobb 113 has anything to add from his professional experience to the comments already made but particularly with reference to thr square blind holes.It appears under "18 century Wiltshire headstone".

[cobb113]

I too would be very interested in that sort of information as my Gt/grandfather was a stone mason in Tiverton and I have been looking for anything to do with it for ages.
Eileen
[/quote
 
I am sorry i have not poasted in a wile but my laptop went down and i have onley just got it back up and running

any way my mothers side of the famley is from devon i am wondering whot your grand farthers sername was as my mum may know the famley hers is the wotton famley do you know them ?

regards