St Bride's

2013 - Saint Bride's Avenue, London, EC4, UK

The Portland stone capitals were in need of repair. Katherine masoned and carved many replacement parts to the circular and pillaster capitals, including acanthus leaf tips and abacus sections. 

Fittingly called St Bride's its towering spire is the inspiration for the modern day tiered wedding cake.

The church has had a turbulent past, the London plague killed 238 of its parishoners and was burnt to the ground in the great fire of London. It is said to be one of London's oldest churches. Redesigned in 1666 by Britains historical architect Sir Christopher Wren, who also designed St Paul's Cathedral. St Bride's is the second highest of Wren's churches overlooking the taller St Paul's.

Whilst standing on St Bride's scaffolding Katherine enjoyed the view of St Paul's Cathedral reminiscing on her St Paul's Corinthian capital she carved in 2003.  

Katherine was also able to step back in time at St Bride's finding preserved oyster shells in the stone mortar joints used by the old stone masons to support the stones whilst the mortar set.

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After achieving a distinction in architectural stone carving at Weymouth College Katherine further honed her skills on a two year carving apprenticeship at York Minster. She also studied stone masonry which is the foundation to architectural carving.

Since 1997 she has worked consistently in this field working on many major and minor restoration projects on grade 1 and 2 listed buildings in the UK and abroad.

See her architectural church furnishings and stone masonry for similar work.

She also carves and repairs statues as well as heraldic statues.

Prestigious commissions

2003 - St Paul's Cathedral, London, UK.

Half a Corinthian capital on the south west bell tower, including carved leaves to the pilaster capitals and decorative relief panel carvings.

2000 -2001 Wellington Arch, Apsley Way, Hyde Park Corner, London, W1

Carved volutes and acanthus leaf tips to the ornate capitals. Architectural pineapple, lion's masks, modillions and egg and darts to the building's architectural cornice.

1997–1999 York Minster’s Cathedral, UK.