The Medieval Mystery of the Prentice Bracket at Gloucester Cathedral

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Jonathan R. Corbett MM, Lodge of Israel No 205, writes…

At the glorious Cathedral Church of Gloucester in the West of England, schools of skilful Masons have for centuries employed their knowledge and craft to best effect, constructing a grand house of worship in varying styles and techniques, demonstrating their practicality, ingenuity, and innovation.

Built under the energetic Norman Abbot Serlo, the laying of the foundation stone of the Abbey of St Peter was, by tradition, associated with Robert, Bishop of Hereford, in 1089. An earthquake is recorded in medieval chronicles for that year, with damage occurring to the then-existing building. After eleven years of labour, the new church was dedicated in 1100.

Upon entering this majestic edifice via the South Porch, one is immediately overcome with awe and wonder at the splendour and beauty within. Behold and laud the fourteen Romanesque columns, stout and robust (many of which are etched with Masons’ marks), crowned by beautiful Norman arches above!

Cherish and revere the bountiful use of the magnificent Perpendicular Gothic – the unique fan tracery and intricate stonework of the medieval cloisters! Observe and delight in the extensive array of medieval, Victorian, and contemporary stained-glass windows, which radiate the interior with colour and illumination in hues most delicate and tranquil!

The renowned Cotswold stone, honey in colour and native to the English West Country, was, of course, the natural choice for the Cathedral’s Masons of old, engaged in their vast and sacred task. Although the use of this fossil-rich limestone in the shire began during the earlier Neolithic period; the Romans, following their conquest of Britain, extensively quarried and developed this material for construction works in their western cities of Aquae Sulis (Bath), Corinium (Cirencester), and Colonia Glevum (Gloucester).

Today’s modern team of skilled stonemasons at the Workshop of St Peter (attached to the Cathedral) continues in that same operative tradition, passionate about ensuring that the chancel is maintained for future generations. Accomplishing a broad range of tasks daily, they follow in the work of their time-honoured fellow craftsmen at the church.

The Prentice’s (or Mason’s) Bracket

Now follow the Cathedral’s vaulted South Aisle adjacent to the nave, and lo! There awaits the famous Mason’s Bracket, also known as the ‘Prentice’s Bracket, carved around seven hundred years ago. It resembles a Mason’s square and appears to feature the alarmed visage of a young apprentice with arms outstretched, as if in danger of losing his balance and falling. Below, an older master Mason holds his left arm aloft as if to signal his shock and to steady the apprentice above, or just in time to break his fall. The bracket’s handsomely carved ceiling ribs lend an angelic and heavenly grace to the scene, with the ‘prentice himself appearing to sprout a pair of much-needed wings!

We ourselves are left to wonder about the historical veracity of this event. Did it record the earthly death of an apprentice and his hoped-for angelic future? Or was the fall averted through a near-miraculous turn of events? Or should we take the sculpture as an allegorical statement of some sort? In any case, this splendidly carved piece of sculpture solidly records a vivid story, immortalised by medieval craftsmen in ancient stone.

All photography by Jonathan R. Corbett MM

Sources for this article:
https://gloucestercathedral.org.uk
H.J.L.J. Massé, The Cathedral Church of Gloucester: A Description of its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See. Second Edition. London: George Bell & Sons, 1900


This article is part of Arena Magazine Issue 61 – Summer 2026.
Arena Magazine is the official online magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.

Read more articles in Arena Issue 61 here.

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