Cobblemason

Cobblemasons are responsible for maintaining the cobblestone streets that are often found in larger towns and cities. There work is often overlooked except when they are working and blocking the flow of traffic, or when they have not gotten to a damaged section of street and carriages take an unexpected hard bounce.

Career

Qualifications

Cobblemasons go through an apprenticeship like many of the other trade professions in the world. The apprenticeship usually begins around 7 years of age. To be accepted into the Cobblemason guild, a young candidate must show that they can understand directions, do not have any physical limitations that might inhibit their work, and are able to pay the entrance fee, or agree to work off the fee overtime.

Career Progression

From the age of 7 until they are around 14, the apprentices work and learn the processes, tools and techniques of the trade. Around 14 years old, they are given a chance to to become journeymen by passing a test of knowledge and practical skills. If they fail, they remain apprentices for another year. Once a journeyman has worked for several years, his master cobblemason may recommend him for promotion to master cobblemason. This again requires a skill and knowledge test in front of other master cobblemasons.

Payment & Reimbursement

Apprentice cobblemasons are unpaid, although the master they apprentice under gives them shelter, food from his table, and clothes as needed. Journeyman cobblemasons earn a wage based on a days work, and are expected to find a place to live, and feed themselves, although sometimes a journeyman may stay within the master's house until a new apprentice is selected. Master cobblemasons are paid by the jobs they undertake, with some working directly for the local government, and others working for neighborhood associations, or even taking jobs directly from rich patrons who need their estates cobbled.

Operations

Tools

The cobblemasons use standard masonry tools - hammers, chisels, and levels.

Materials

The standard cobblestone is granite, or some other hard rock that is readily available, in addition the cobblemason uses sand and gravel to prepare and level the beds for the cobblestones.

Dangers & Hazards

The job is relatively safe, although hands are often bruised and fingers can be broken as the stones are set. Occasionally, a cobblemason may suffer a greater injury, or even death from a carriage that drives over them as they work to make the road comfortable for those in the carriages.

Type

Construction