Lose track of time
Rachael Wragg, the stonemason
Most visitors to Lincoln Cathedral find themselves looking up: at the intricate rose windows, Gothic pinnacles and famous grinning imp. Resident stonemason Rachael Wragg, though, has a different perspective, perched on high amid the gargoyles, with spectacular views all the way to the Wolds in the distance. Suspended between earth and sky, above the sounds of the city, time passes differently. “It’s very calming,” she explains. “All your concentration is on the task at hand, and nothing else seems to matter.”
Rachael only began learning her trade at 29, after a fine art degree and a decade drifting between retail jobs. When she saw the cathedral were looking for apprentices, something resonated – and sure enough, she won a place. “I’d never even worn a…
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The Simple Things (Digital) - 1 Issue, April 2022