13/05/2026
Ulverston-based master stonemason David Lamb was at the historic Newton Manor site in Gosforth today to install a beautifully crafted heraldic shield as part of our ongoing conservation works.
The fine-detail carving on the shield took around two weeks to complete, much of it by hand. It is is a flawless replica of the weathered original.
However, David revealed that the most challenging aspect of the project was not the shield itself, but the delicate decorative spandrels forming part of the stone panelling.
At only 70mm thick, the intricately carved stonework required exceptional precision - one slip of the chisel or minor knock could easily have caused irreparable damage. Like the shield, these elements have been faithfully recreated to match the originals.
David began his stonemasonry career in 1999 with a Modern Apprenticeship at Carlisle Cathedral, where he trained while studying for NVQ qualifications at York Technical College. He later became Foreman Mason at Gloucester Cathedral before moving to York Minster in 2008 as Head Banker Mason, where he combined high-level craftsmanship with mentoring and teaching foundation degree students.
Between 2013 and 2016, David worked in Ottawa, Canada, leading a team of stonemasons on the restoration of the Canadian Parliament’s West Block rehabilitation project. His work there included carving the Altar Stones for the Memorial Chamber.
He has also recently returned from Sierra Leone, where he worked on behalf of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on the restoration of a war memorial and a clocktower erected to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation.
David’s training is rooted in traditional hand-tool methods, making him particularly well suited to sympathetic conservation and restoration work, while also helping pass on specialist heritage skills to the next generation of stonemasons.
His passion for preserving traditional craftsmanship and training future masons was recently featured by the BBC:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwynr6gjz58o
Despite his experience on internationally significant projects, David says he also enjoys the simpler aspects of the trade, including repointing and working on historic buildings of all sizes.
“It’s not all about gargoyles and shields,” he said.
Stobbarts has been appointed to carry out conservation works at Newton Manor. While only the impressive Gothic porch remains of the once-grand mansion, it continues to hold significant heritage value and will be carefully conserved for future generations.
Built by the wealthy Steward family in the late nineteenth century, Newton Manor featured striking Gothic Revival details including arched openings, faux arrow slits, heraldic shields and even a turret. Though the building sadly fell into ruin, the surviving porch remains an important reminder of its former grandeur.
The conservation works include repointing deteriorated masonry, installing a new stone string course to protect the carved shield detail, and creating replacement St Bees sandstone elements, including the coat of arms and decorative spandrel panels.
The works are being carried out on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
