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Guide to St Mary's Church

The Crypt

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A view of the Crypt - now a prayer and reading room

The crypt was originally used as a chantry chapel, subsequently as a charnel house (or 'bone hole'), then as an engine house for the blowing of the organ, and now as a quiet room for prayer and reading.

The stone vault shows traces of over 200 masons' marks representing the work of 12 masons. Mason's marks are small graffiti (in the case of St Mary's usually not more than about an inch in height) serving as signatures for the masons, most of whom would be illiterate.

As sons followed fathers in their craft it was traditional for them to adopt their father's mark, maybe with some small personal variations.

 
Last modified: 27 September, 2004