Bath Workshop stonemason Samantha Peacock received an award at the Duke of Gloucester Awards 2023 which took place 6 December 2023 at the Mercers’ Hall in the City of London.
The Duke of Gloucester Awards are awarded by His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester and the Worshipful Company of Masons to individual masons or small teams of masons to recognize and acknowledge significant achievement in the craft of stonemasonry.
Samantha received ‘Commended’ within the second category of the Duke of Gloucester Awards 2023 awarded to individual masons or teams of masons who have shown high craft skills in one or more mason specialisms and have over ten years’ experience.
Samantha gained an NVQ Level 3 in stone masonry from Bath college in 2010 followed by an NVQ Level 3 in Heritage Skills. She has also gained a Masters’ Degree in the Archaeology of Buildings. Subsequently Samantha was awarded the William Morris Craft Fellowship in 2012. Her extensive portfolio submission included work on Wells Cathedral medieval clock pedestals, the conservation of Wells Cathedral West Front figures along with examples of tracery and glazing repairs.
Tom Flemons’, Director, and Bath Workshop Manager, who nominated Samatha for Duke of Gloucester Awards 2023 is delighted:
“I first met Samantha when I was on the judging panel for the SPAB William Morris Craft Fellowship in 2012. Her enthusiasm and passion for the craft shone through and was one of the qualities that made it an easy choice to select her. Fast forward to 2023, Sam has been working for Cliveden Conservation for over a year and achieving impressive results. Her work to the West Front of Wells Cathedral was outstanding. Working in collaboration with the cathedral architect Sam strove to keep as much of the original fabric as possible and executed tight masonry and carving which matched seamlessly with the adjacent original fabric. I am thrilled she has won this prestigious award which is testimony to her excellent tool skills and eye for detail.”