On old Central London curb stones (between the pavement and the road),
there numerous old engravings. These are particularly prevalent in the
City and the West End. I am assuming these originate from the 18th
century. These engravings can take many forms - including crosses,
circles, squares and other simples shapes. They tend to be 2-3 inches
in size. What is the origin of these markings? Who did them and what
was their intention?

Mason marks. My house has them too. Unfortunately, tracing the
particular mason would likely be difficult as they were guild
recognised and largely undocumented.

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Thanks for the comment guzzi. I'm not convinced they are mason
marks... Sometimes there are several different markings on the same
curbstone. Why would that be?

Mmmm, interesting. Perhaps as you moot they are something else but if
they are mason?s marks, they could be masons marks, ie they have
passed through several hands either in their making or later
remodelling. Most marks are surprisingly simple though, as you
describe. One might think there would be confusion with several using
the same mark but they were locally guild recognised. The ancient
marks on my house would appear elsewhere, but not in the same region.

Hopefully someone else can add to this one way or the other :-)

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Also thinking about it - curb stones are so simple and they don?t
change through time so multiple marks on the same stone due to
different masons doesn?t make sense.  Also the markings themselves
were probably more difficult to do than the simple rectangular curb
stone itself ? so also doesnt really make sense.  If it were a
complex/craftsman like piece of stone work I could understand this.

I?ve bumped into three lamp posts, two wheely bins and tripped over a
wee wally dug since you asked the question -- eyes down looking at
kerb stones. I?ll do the same in London next time I?m down (up).

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Hi Guzzi,

Was that on your way TO the Pub, or on your way home?

Phil

Hi Phil

Neither -- purely in the pursuit of exploration and discovery. Mere
coincidence there were hostelries near the kerbs.

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