Thursday 16 February 2012

A Sarsen Stonecutter family's tale

CROOK, Martin L FREE, Ian E T , Grey Wethers The Free Family in Marlborough and the Upper Kennet Valley c 1847 1998

FIRST EDITION limited to 300 copies; sm.4to., pp.xii,103; illustrations in half-tone & colour throughout including many facsimiles of 19thC documents & advertising ephemera; 3 sketch-maps & genealogy; new in printed laminated card covers. An interesting insight into both the social history of 19th & 20th century Marlborough and the Wiltshire stone-cutting industry. We are sole distributors of this book - trade terms available. (Book ref. 15074) £12.00


The Frees moved from near Hughenden in Buckinghamshire to the Marlborough area as the sarsens were not buried but scattered on the surface. They perfected a method of splitting the stones with a hammer and chisel to make squared kerbs and building stones. The family became a major business name in Marlborough. I have ordered a copy of the book.

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