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a sculptor (after 1231); carpenters, Radulf (dead by
1254), Elyas (dead by 1266), Eylwin (1275, 1277), Elyas (1275, 1290),
William (c. 1278), William de Bedeford (1290), Henry (dead by 1288),
Warin (dead by 1290), and Simon (1290). The last named may be identified
with the Master Simon de Canterbury, carpenter, who resided in London
from 1299 to his death in 1341.4
The early masons included Eudo (1233), Anselm (1254), Luke
(dead by 1261), Alwred (died c. 1250), Robert (1288), Nicholas (1290),
and Master Michael, of Northgate Ward (1275, 1290). This Master Michael
was clearly a man of importance, for to him alone is the prefix "Magister"
awarded. It is tempting to identify him with that Master Michael of
Canterbury who made the Cheapdale Eleanor Cross for Edward I between
1291 and 1293, and in 1292 began St. Stephen's Chapel in the Palace of
Westminster. This may well explain the close resemlances which have been
observed between the tomb of Archbishop Peckham (†1292) at Canterbury,
and that of Edmund Crouchback (†1296) in Westminster Abbey, as well as
to the extant fragments of the Cheapside Cross.5
The list of "tradesmen" (Homines de Mestier)
of 1334 does not include the important craftsmen, who ranked as esquires
(Armigeri) but gives the name of the resident carpenter, Elyas,
and mentions the Master Plumber and the (eternal) plumber's mate. The
accounts of 1338, 1340 and 1341 refer to John Gildene, mason, who
appears to have been a local builder in a fair way of business, since
he |
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built
a new chamber at Eastry as well as working in the Cathedral.
In the second half of the fourteenth century occur several
important items, particularly in connection with the earthquake of the
21st May, 1382, which seriously damaged the Infirmary Chapel and the
east walk of the old cloisters. The repairs mentioned in the account of
1383 did not last long, for in the twenty years priorate of Thomas
Chillenden (1391-1411) the Cloisters were entirely rebuilt and vaulted
in stone.6 Probably the earthquake led to the stoppage of
work on the new nave, which had been in progress since 1378.7
This, too, was taken in hand by Chillenden and carried to a triumphant
conclusion; in the account for 1396/7 we see in brief the activity of a
single year. The working staff comprised 20 freemasons (latomi) 3
setters (leggeres), and 4 labourers to assist them, all hired by
the year at a total cost of £167 0s. 8d. This allowed for three unpaid
holidays of a week each at Christmas, Easter, and Whitsun, as well as
certain unpaid feast days. The current rates of pay would be
approximately 3s. per week for freemasons, 2s. 6d. for setters, and 2s.
for labourers, which would work out at rather less than 45 weeks' work
in the year, or a total of some 30 unpaid festivals in addition to the
three weeks' holidays. The masons were less fortunate than those
employed on the King's works, where approximately half the 40 to 50
feast days in the year were paid |