Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May, 10am to 4pm
Monday 25 May, 10am to 2pm
Meet stone masons from the UK, France and the Netherlands as they carve fantastic creatures from blocks of Maison Dieu stone.
- Free drop-in event
- No need to book
- Suitable for all ages
- Activities will be inside and outside
- Refreshments available.
Activities will include:
- Hands‑on stone activities - stone carving, stone rubbing, chalk carving
- Creative workshops - create a character in clay, inspired by the Deal Man, an Iron Age chalk figurine on display at Dover Museum, clay gargoyles and mini stained‑glass windows
- Geology & heritage - geology tours, fossil finds, quern stone flour grinding and activities linked to the Cross-Channel Geopark.
- Family fun - graffiti wall, sketching and animal spotting with medieval beasts expert Dr Diane Heath. Dragon storytelling with Steve Pamphilon.
The carving will begin on Saturday morning with each stonemason working on a piece of recycled stone from the Maison Dieu. The winning pieces will be decided by a public and stonemasons’ vote announced on the final day.
Some of the stonemasons from the UK and France who are taking part include:
- Carrie Horwood, from Kent and joint organiser of the event, will be carving a dog chasing its tail inspired by examples in the Bayeux Tapestry.
- Gayle Lazda, from London, will carve a dolphin inspired by one on medieval Constable of Dover Castle, William Peveril’s shield, in the Connaught Hall’s stained-glass windows.
- Emily Guest and Alex Jubb from Stonewest in London will be jointly carving a lion with its tongue sticking out, which appears in a Royal Coat of Arms in the Stone Hall’s stained-glass windows.
- Candida Wright, from Kent, will carve St Martin, Patron Saint of Dover on horseback, as inspired by the Maison Dieu’s stained-glass windows.
- Marguerite Le Brusque, from France, will carve a Wyvern dragon inspired by the painted frieze on the Connaught Hall balcony.
- Adam Billaut, from France, will carve a fantastical animal inspired by the lion wyvern and griffin designs by William Burges.
- Thomas Kenrick, from Loughborough, is inspired by the dragon grotesque from the Maison Dieu parapet.