Masonry
Hitchin Library Frieze
This photograph is part of the frieze that hangs on the wall of Hitchin Library in Payne’s Park, though it originally used to be on the wall of Argos on Brand Street when it was Sainsbury’s.
The Archaeology of Hitchin
On the 10th of May 2008, a book about the archaeology of Hitchin is being released and there will be a launch on the lawn in front of the Hitchin Museum at 12.00pm (courtesy of The Hitchin Historical Society). It’s a ‘must have’ book about Hitchin and is somewhat of a ‘bodice ripper’ when it comes to archaeology. The authors will be signing copies of the book (they don’t bite) beforehand and will be giving a brief talk about it.
Putlog Holes
God or the Clergy didn’t build Churches, rather, Masons did and evidence of the builders of St Mary’s Church in Hitchin are everywhere inside and out. The major detectable traces are ‘Masonry Marks’ on the stone and the scaffolding holes called Putlog Holes. If freestanding scaffolding like today wasn’t used, then the usual ‘Cantilevered Scaffolding’ (Or more commonly known as Falsework) was used. These Putlog Holes above, were where the scaffolding planking passed through the entire width of the wall. (As walls were erected inside and out at the same time, unlike today). When the work was finished, the planking was either pulled out or sawn off, flush to the wall.
Set in Stone
The Vermiculated Stonework on Bucklesbury has some interesting letters and numbers incised in to them. Click on the above photograph for a larger view. The Letters W A can clearly be seen and the date 1867 (1857?) too. The combination are obviously the architect’s initials and the date of the facade of the building; the frontage being newer than the rest of the building. (Thank you to Alexander Palfreman-Brown for this previously unspotted gem)