Arthur John Waudby's designs featuring his ‘trademark’ triumphal arch must have been very well regarded by the unions and friendly societies, as evidenced by his commissioning by at least five that we know of. In this chapter his oeuvre is examined, together with the influence of Freemasonry on his designs.

In times long gone, before the advent of passports or border crossings, our stonecutters, carvers and sculptors travelled around Europe and beyond, expanding their knowledge as newer and greater cathedrals, churches and castles were built, and in search of higher pay as their expertise and skills increased. The ‘lodge’ of these masons was a building on-site, for example at the location of a new medieval cathedral, where they ate, slept and kept their tools. In bad weather they could work inside the lodge preparing stone. The earliest known rule regulating life in these lodges was laid down in 1352 by a chapter in York. These lodges, which were almost like clubhouses, are the origins of the ‘lodge’ of the Freemasons.

The special handshake of recognition and the secret signs (later adopted by Freemasonry) are believed to have originated in Scotland, the only place in these islands where the entered apprentice was to be found and where there was an absence of freestone. Skilled stonecutters were in competition with the barely qualified cowans (originally builders of drystone walls) and so the stonecutters developed a system by which they could recognize each other for employment purposes.