With over 50 years of combined experience in all aspects of stonemasonry and with involvement in numerous prestigious projects in the UK and North America, Gordon Utting and Tom Francis have come together to create Summit Stonemasons Ltd. Summit Stonemasons is an independent stonemasonry company based on the edge of the New Forest covering projects across the South of England. We specialise in bespoke, traditional craftmanship and work on a wide range of projects, including creating custom-made pieces for private homes, new-build projects and restoration, repair and conservation of larger-scale buildings and statues.
Tom and Gordon alongside a finished capital
Tom Francis
Tom completed his City and Guilds Craft and Advanced Craft training in stonemasonry at Bath College in 2008. Since then, he has worked on honing his craft and was awarded the Duke of Gloucester Award for excellence in stonemasonry in 2017. In 2019, Tom was awarded the Journeyman award, which celebrates excellence and the very highest levels of skill and expertise across a wide range of trades and crafts. Tom was the first commercial stonemason to undertake the Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship programme and completed the degree in Applied Historic Buildings Conservation and Repair in 2022 with distinction. Through the Fellowship programme, Tom gained expertise and further developed his passion for restoration and conservation of historic buildings. Tom has worked across numerous projects in his career, with notable jobs including the library at Windsor Castle, restoring chimneys at Castell Coch and rebuilding a collapsed vaulted ceiling. Tom also enjoys working on smaller scale projects and has a particular fondness for carving bespoke fireplaces.
Gordon Utting
Gordon has over 30 years of experience across all aspects of the stone industry. He completed his City and Guilds Craft and Advanced Craft training in stonemasonry in 1987–1988 and in 1996 completed a diploma in Architectural Carving with distinction. For 10 years, Gordon worked in North America where his work included the restoration of notable buildings, such as Old City Hall in Toronto, The Gothic Buildings at Princeton University and Parliamentary Buildings in Washington DC. Since returning to the UK in 2008, he has continued to specialise in restoration, conservation and carving and has worked on many high-profile projects. These include the replacement of carvings in the Italian Gardens in Hyde Park, restoration of the West Front of Salisbury Cathedral and carving of the Royal Coat of Arms for the main entrance at Westminster Magistrates Court. Gordon has honed his skills throughout his career and his excellence in stonemasonry was recognised when he was awarded the Duke of Gloucester award in 2021. Gordon has a passion for restoration and carving and also loves the creative process of working on bespoke pieces from inception to completion.
Contact us
Do you have an enquiry or a project you would like to discuss with us? Please get in touch by telephone, email or using this form.
Telephone:
Tom Francis – 07825 700127
Gordon Utting – 07449 614990
Email:
info@summitstonemasons.co.uk
Workshop address:
Nightingale Farm, West Wellow, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 6DQ
