Over the weekend of 13 July , five members of St George Abadan Lodge No. 6058 embarked on an exciting journey to Tout Quarry for a course in stone masonry. Our goal was to craft our own Rough Ashlars from Portland Stone at the beautiful Portland Bill.
We began our day with a fascinating lesson in stone carving, led by Paul from LearningStone.org, who holds an HND in Stone Masonry. Under his expert guidance, we were ‘initiated’ into the world of operative masons, learning the techniques and skills needed to transform rough stone into something remarkable.
Originally, we had hoped to meet some local masons for a jar or two of ale after our session. However, to our delight, we were invited instead to attend the regular meeting of All Souls Lodge No. 170 in nearby Weymouth. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow Freemasons and share stories of our respective lodges.
This weekend not only allowed us to learn a new craft but also to forge new friendships. We are hopeful that we can invite the members of All Souls Lodge No. 170 to Kent in the near future.
Overall, it was a memorable and enriching experience for the “Famous Five” from St George Abadan Lodge No. 6058, and we look forward to continuing our journey in stone masonry.