Marks in the Industrial Age, and Later

In this chapter, the emphasis changes to industrial buildings and their masons’ marks. Masons faced new challenges as large organisations arose to create the buildings associated with new means of transport, but marks were still needed to connect the masons to their output. The change from face- to bed-marking occurred on ‘polite’ architecture during the 18th century, but this was not the case for bridges or other utilitarian structures, where they continued to be visible. New designs appeared based on more angular forms for marks, and these can be found on some of the new types of work for masons, creating millstones or kerbs for roadways, as well as buildings for industries. Masons were organised as teams to work on successive sections of canals and railways, and their marks reveal the extent of their work. There was a brief revival of face-marking on churches during the 19th century; it declined in the early 20th but marks continue to be used by masons as an acknowledgement of their heritage and connection with their forebears.