With the recent sunny weather enticing people to get out and about, one of our many ‘walking’ readers was strolling past a stone wall in High Street. They contacted the Tarrangower Times to ask, “What’s with the markings on the stone wall outside the Maldon Masonic Centre?” Our immediate response was probably similar to yours, ‘What stone wall? What stone wall markings?’
Thank you for asking.
After much investigation (a quick phone call to Peter Thompson from the Centre), the story unfolded.
In ancient times, many stonemasons were illiterate, so each stonemason had their own a mark, much like a signature.
Some of the High Street marks engraved on the stones at the Centre continue this tradition, representing some of the historical founding members of the Maldon Masonic Centre. One such person was Robert Cleghorn Mackenzie, who played a big part in the establishment of the Maldon Hospital.
Other marks visible on the stones belong to donors who have sponsored the construction of the wall.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 1 September 2023.
