Tradition and History
Some Previous Highlights
The idea for a European Stone Festival came into being in 1997 when a group of stonemasons from Freiburg took part in the annual French competition Rencontres de la Pierre in Junas near Nîmes, France.
Two years later, from 25 to 27 June 1999, over 90 apprentices, stonemasons and stone carvers met at the first European Stone Festival in the picturesque south German city of Freiburg.
The festival was organized by the Friedrich-Weinbrenner-Gewerbeschule, Freiburg’s college for stonemasons and stone carvers and has built from there.
Budapest 2024
Hosting 120 stonemasons and carvers from all over the world, the festival was hosted by Budapest, and held in front of the stunning Hungarian Parliament building.
Salzburg 2023
Visitors to Salzburg on the weekend of June 03 and 04, 2023, watched stonemasons from all over Europe and the US at work, seeing how they create a piece of art full of expression and soul from seemingly lifeless stone. A festival where apprentices, journeymen, and masters gave free rein to their creativity and skills.
Trondheim 2019
In Trondheim, the festival took place in the Courtyard of the Archbishop’s Palace, next to Nidaros Cathedral – a perfect setting for the event.
In Trondheim the carvers got a chance to carve in soapstone, competing to produce a work for decorating the City Square.
Lincoln 2013
The European Stone Festival 2013, which took place from 21 to 23 June, was organized by the Lincoln Cathedral Works Department.
138 participants from 14 countries came together on the East Green lawns, situated directly behind the choir of the Cathedral.
Canterbury 2003
In 2003, from 11 to 13 July, the Cathedral Works Organisation and the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral in England organised a fantastic Stone Carving Festival in the Cathedral yard. More than 80 participants came from France, Norway, Hungary, Switzerland and Germany.
Freiburg 1999
Freiburg held the very first of our festivals, with a successful beginning to an event which was already destined to become an annual one.
The 2025 Theme
The theme for 2025 has been selected by the WRSA, the organisers of the festival, and is binding for all participants.
For 2025 the theme is Myths and Legends
The stone provided will be Silverbed Limestone from the Creeton Quarry in Lincolnshire. The dimensions will be 30 x 30 x 20 cm.
Each participant will have two days (approx. 16 working hours) to complete their carving, and each piece must be ready for auction at the end of the event.
They must also prepare either sketches or a model of their design before the festival, in order to give the visitors a better insight into how a piece of work is realised.
Remember to bring your own tools to the festival!
If you would like to take part in this year’s event, go to the registration page and complete the form.
We look forward to welcoming you and hope you enjoy the European Stone Festival 2025 in Halifax.
The 2025 Host Organisation
The West Riding Stonecarving Association is located at the base of the Shaw Lodge Chimney stack in the historic 1840 former mill building.
Traditional Carving, No Shortcuts
What We Do
We aim to keep alive the art of traditional stone carving, and bring it to the general public.
We teach an 8-week foundation course for beginners, and always welcome new members.
We also provide one-day and weekend courses for those who want to try their hand.
Membership
Membership of the Association includes unlimited use of the workshop and access to further in-house courses, talks, visits and events. Courses run from time to time include clay maquette making, moulding, flora and fauna carving, lettering and gilding.
Our Community
The Association is a welcoming and friendly bunch, made up of men and women from all walks of life.
Members come from across the spectrum of local (and not so local) society, and – between them – cover a wide range of ages, from those in their early 20s through to a few who remember their 80s as being a little less raucous than their crazy 70s, while still partying like they’ve just turned 30.
Courses
Our foundation course offers 8 weeks of guided learning. You will become competent at basic relief carving and complete a spandrel and rose carving.
It enables learners to safely use the workshop and develop their skills so they can later pursue their own carvings.
Short Courses
Our tutors run occasional weekday and weekend carving courses.
You can learn the basics of stonecarving, and will take home a completed piece at the end of your course
In the Local Community
We also work within the community, most recently providing two new memorials for Lister Lane Cemetery, commemorating the mass burials of both children and adults.
Tea, Coffee & Biscuits
Once through the doors everyone belongs. It’s a place for chat, tea, biscuits, the odd bit of stone carving, more chat and definitely more tea.
It’s our “stone-carving family”. A social space for members to come and relax – sometimes folk will drop in, have a cuppa and a chat, and then go again with a cheery goodbye.
Stonecarving in the Community
Stone, dummies, chisels, tea and biscuits
We have our own workshop here in Halifax, where members can pop in whenever we’re open and work on their own projects, whether a piece for a family member, gifts for others or works we complete for local charitable organisations.
We might have mentioned the tea and biscuits – stone carvers basically run on those.
Come on down
It’ll be a lot of fun, the Minster is lovely and so are the new friends you’re yet to make.
The workshop in Halifax is open to visitors on a regular basis, see our website for details.