Founders Hall Job.
8 August, 2025 – 7:25 pmI love my visits to London, especially given one of my jobs is to carve the name of the retiring master of the Founders Hall. https://www.foundersco.org.uk/
This year I am 4 months late due to recovering from my broken ankle.
I travelled up to London on the train and got off at Mansion House to make the short walk to St Bartholomews and 1 Cloth Fair, where Founders Hall now resides.
I got a bit lost, but found my way via Goldsmiths Hall, there was the most amazing Lion and swag carving above the door.
Upon my arrival, I set to work drawing the name onto the limestone plaque, the names are getting closer to the floor, making it trickier each year.
I measure from the previous names, these lower ones have got gradually larger to allow for perspective when the viewer is standing up. Once I have roughly worked out the spacing, I draw the lines in harder using my square.
Next I get up and go downstairs to the hall to draw out the name on the gilded plaque, this gives me an opportunity to stretch, but more importantly, I can get the first coat of paint on the name.
Next up it’s back up to the reception area to make a start on the carving. I sit crossed legged and then as I am working swap my folded legs over so as not to seize up.
In this instance, I redrew the HUGHES as I wasn’t happy with the spacing. Because of the shapes and rules around the letter sizes, it’s important to get the spacing right. These letters are only 14mm tall and I can only look straight at the letters if I lie down on the floor.
Halfway through carving the name, I went back downstairs to apply the second coat of paint on the gilded plaque.
Thank you to the Eloise, Clerks assistant for taking these lovely photos of me.
That’s it until next March.
I love the fact that I am part of the history of the City of London, not only because I am a Yeoman Mason of the historic Livery of Masons, but also that I work for one of the oldest livery companies, The Founders.
