A Somerset stonemason has recently returned from a three-week visit to China, where he has been assisting Chinese masons in the carving of intricate designs onto Portland Limestone.

Peter Hayman, from Taunton, was drafted in by a company working on the restoration of a Georgian mansion in London, billed as the capital’s second-largest private residence, next only in size to Buckingham Palace.

The design team working on the project had shipped some 40 tonnes of Portland stone out to China for the Chinese stone carvers to work on the ornate carving sections.

However, the nature of the limestone gave the team a few problems and it was decided to seek input from a specialist mason who was familiar working with Portland Stone.

They contacted 56-year-old Peter, a member of the National Association of Memorial Masons, after seeing his website and examples of his award-winning work.

In addition, the fact he is a Portland-born stonemason and well used to the quirks of the stone suited their requirements perfectly, and they asked if he would be willing to fly out to China to provide some support.

“It was too good an opportunity to miss and I was very interested to see how the Chinese worked,” he said.

“I enjoyed the experience very much, the way they carve was fascinating to watch. They mainly used hand held grinders and drills, and worked the stone on the floor, whereas we would generally use a mallet and chisel standing at a bench.

“They are more used to working on hard materials which their methods of production were well suited to.

"The Portland stone, however, was a new experience for them because by comparison it is a much softer stone.

"My role wasn’t to teach or change their way of working, but to use my experience of the material to help adapt their methods of production and finishing techniques.

“I enjoyed the challenge and the experience and would certainly do it again.”

Closer to home, Peter has recently demonstrating his expertise on a restoration project for the war memorial in the village of Baltonsborough, near Glastonbury.

Village resident Colin McNamee, who has been looking after the war memorial garden on a voluntary basis on behalf of the local branch of The Royal British Legion for the last 21 years, raised almost £5,000 from villagers and local organisations for a three-phase cleaning and refurbishment programme.

Colin said: “The fund-raising activity, called ‘Lest we Forget’, was undertaken with the full agreement and support of Baltonsborough Parish Council who own the site. They have been particularly supportive.”

The work included redressing one face of the Portland Stone war memorial plinth, then hand carving and filling in the original inscription together with the names and rank of the six servicemen from the village who lost their lives in World War I.

“I know a little bit about stone and I know they have excellent stonemasons in China, so the fact Peter was out there made me very interested,” said Colin.

“He was one of only two people able and prepared to meet the detailed specification I had put together for the work. When I met Peter, his experience with Portland Stone made it clear he was the right person.

“He did an excellent job, met all the requirements and his work was excellent. Everyone in the village was delighted.

"Peter was sensitive to the nature of the work involved and kept to his agreed schedule. It was a pleasure working with him.”

Work on the memorial was completed in time for the village to hold its Remembrance Day services.