How One Family Has Repaired the Same Cathedral's Stonework for Six Generations
Since 1843, the Rattee family and their successors at Rattee and Kett have maintained the stonework of England's great ecclesiastical buildings, with particular devotion to the colleges and chapels of Cambridge. Six generations of masons have climbed the same scaffolding, recarved the same eroded pinnacles, and matched the same Ketton and Clipsham limestone that medieval builders chose centuries before them.
Cathedral stone repair is fundamentally conservative. The mason's first obligation is to preserve as much original fabric as possible, intervening only where structural integrity or safety demands it. A deeply weathered gargoyle may be stabilised with lime mortar rather than replaced, because every chisel mark from the original carver carries historical value no reproduction can replicate.
The limestone used in many English cathedrals comes from specific quarries in Rutland and Lincolnshire. Clipsham limestone, an oolitic stone formed from compressed marine fossils roughly one hundred seventy million years ago, weathers to a warm honey tone that defines the Cambridge skyline. Matching replacement stone requires visiting the same quarry beds.
A restoration mason's toolkit has changed remarkably little over the centuries. Chisels, mallets, and banker stones remain essential. The tungsten carbide tip has replaced hand-forged tool steel, but the striking technique, the angle of approach, and the reading of stone grain are skills transmitted bodily from master to apprentice.
Modern conservation science has introduced tools like ground-penetrating radar and photogrammetry to map deterioration before a single chisel strikes. Three-dimensional scanning can record a damaged carving's geometry to sub-millimetre accuracy, providing a digital reference that guides the mason's hand without dictating it.
Supporting heritage masonry begins with awareness. Visit a cathedral's works department during an open day, contribute to fabric funds, and choose natural stone for your own projects when possible. Each commission for quarried English limestone keeps the supply chain alive for future restorations. See their work at https://www.ratteeandkett.co.uk
