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Minster stonemason has his own face carved into 'grotesque'

Jack Hadaway-Weller,York Minsterand
Sarah Urwin,BBC Radio York
BBC/Jack Hadaway-Weller A person is positioned behind a large white stone sculpture depicting a bearded figure with an upward-facing gaze. The scene appears to be an outdoor workshop or stone yard, with wooden pallets, construction materials, and rough ground visible around the sculptureBBC/Jack Hadaway-Weller
York Minster stonemason John David said he was "impressed" by the piece

A stonemason who has worked at York Minster for nearly 50 years has had his likeness carved into a stone "grotesque" which will be integrated into the building.

The statue, which features the face of John David, master mason emeritus, was commissioned as part of the regular restoration and replacement of old and weathered grotesques - the gargoyle-like decorative carvings.

The grotesque took five weeks to carve and is due to be installed later this year on the south side of the building facing the York Minster Stoneyard, where David works.

"It's very, very humbling, there are so many carvings on the building, and they've survived hundreds of years," said David.

BBC/Jack Hadaway-Weller An intricately carved stone corbel features a sculpted face surrounded by elegant scrollwork and floral motifs. The craftsmanship highlights fine details, including flowing curves, textured surfaces, and decorative architectural elements. BBC/Jack Hadaway-Weller
David's dog, Poppy, is part of his grotesque

Elements which represent parts of David's life have been included in the carving, including a pair of divider calipers, a daffodil representing his Welsh heritage and the face of his labrador, Poppy.

Stonemason Martin Coward, who worked on it, said: "I was able to come up with a design, thinking about his attributes and what it would read like from a distance.

"It was something I wanted to do because I wanted to really show my appreciation for all his work that he has done on the building."

David began working at the Minster in 1980 and was part of the team who helped repair the building following a fire there in 1984.

"It was quite a traumatic night, it was surreal," said David.

"The next day people were in tears and very upset, but as craftsmen, the first thing we thought was 'let's put it back, let's rebuild it'. "

BBC/Jack Hadaway-Weller A man surrounded by carved architectural stone components stored on shelving and pallets. The workshop features timber beams, stone masonry pieces, and equipment, highlighting a traditional craftsmanship environment.BBC/Jack Hadaway-Weller
Martin Coward practised by making David's grotesque in clay before carving it in stone

The carving has been created in a medieval style to blend in with the masonry of the Minster, some of which is more than 800 years old.

"It's very much a stylised carving and it has to fit in with the rest of the Minster in terms of its appearance, a straightforward portrait would've looked odd," added Coward.

"The features are sort of exaggerated slightly, not too grotesque hopefully".

David agreed: "I just think it's a great carving and a medieval mason would appreciate that and that's what's important to me."

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