Gone Medieval Mythbusting Medieval Buildings
Nov 15, 2024
Join James Wright, a stonemason and historian, as he tackles medieval architecture myths, from the true purpose of leper squints to the fascinating stories behind mason's marks. He sheds light on the symbolism of pentagrams and debunks misconceptions about arrow stones. Dive into what these architectural features reveal about medieval societies, and learn how historical context reshapes our understanding. James's insights prove that the whispers of the past are often more illuminating than the legends.
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Practical Training Reveals Construction Clues
- Practical stonemasonry training gives unique insights into medieval construction and detail that archaeology alone misses.
- James Wright used scaffold evidence and surface 'gallating' to deduce building seasons and techniques.
Pentagrams Were Christian Symbols Too
- The pentagram had multiple medieval meanings including geometry, Christian protection, and graffiti adoption.
- It often represented protection and numerological values like the five wounds of Christ rather than modern occultism.
Masons' Marks Were Productivity Codes
- Medieval masons' marks are typically neat, repetitive, and not personal artistic signatures as popularly claimed.
- James Wright argues they likely tracked productivity or gang identity and were project-specific, not lifelong signatures.
