Observations On The Antiquity Of Masons And Masonry In England.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE ANTIQUITY OF MASONS AND MASONRY IN ENGLAND .

Mditioncd MS . British Museum 6760 / 1 . PREFACE Tlie following manuscrip t now for the

first time published , "in extenso , " is taken from Avhat is termed the " Essex Collection , " Avhich constitutes No . 6760 , 6773 , and 6776 , Additional MSS , British Museum . These MSS . together

with about 40 other Vols , on architecture , Avere given to the Museum by the Rev . Thomas Kerrick , of Cambridge , in 1828 .

"W atts says of Essex " James Essex , F . S . A ., a man of astonishing knoAvledge hi Gothic architecture , AA as born at Cambridge 1723 , Died 1784 . " He published several Avorks on architecture ,

He is mentionad more than once in Horace "Wal pole ' s Letters . The MS . may be placed , therefore , about 1770 . A . E A . WOODFOED .

Tlie antiquity of stone buildings in England having been the subject of much enquiry of late , some observations on the state and antiquity of Masonry and the Materials used here at different periods , may be acceptable to those AVIIO amuse themselves AA ith enquiries on this subject ,

i'lio anti quity of brick buildings has indeed been traced as far back as the close of 'lie fourteenth century by the late Dr . Littleton , * and it is no longer doubted whether the Saxons used Stone in their buildings , but AAdrether they or the Normans made bricks , though they are supposed to use them when they could

easily procure them , is yet doubted : and AAdiether the Britons used either of those materials before they submitted to the Eomans , is a question undetermined at present , but it is not sufficient to enquire when either of these materials AA ere used , AA e should likeAvise examine in what

manner they Avere used in different periods , by that Ave shall discover the various species of Masonry Avhich have been used in different ages , and if our enquiry Avas extended as far as it might be , Ave should not only be able to ascertain Avith more certainty the ages of many ancient buildings which are

supposed much older than they really are , but modern builders may perhaps collect some hints , Avhich may be useful on sonie occasions , in the practice of their profession .

Masonry * and architecture have sometimes been considered as the same art , but among the ancients they Avere not so , for Vitruvius t plainl y distinguishes them from one another when he complains of the ignorance of the architects of his time ,

many of ivhom ( he says ) Avere ignorant of the rides of Masonry as Avell as architecture , but in those days Masonry Avas not so well understood as it AA'as in after ages ; the principles of that art were not brought to any great degree of perfection till many

years after the establishment of Christianity Avhen Constantine , AVIIO had a taste for the sciences and fine arts j enacted IaAvs in favour of those AAdio professed them , and encouraged young men of genius and learning to study architectureby granting

, to them and their parents an exemption from all burthensome offices , and assigning to those AA ho Avere experienced hi the art suitable salerys to teach it publicly . Architecture and Masonry began then to be considered as tho samefor the

qualifica-, tions of a Master Mason , A \ r ere those AA hich the antients required in an architect . With these Societies began that style of building AAdiich our ancient historians call Romance opera Avhich continued until the