Lincoln Cathedral stonemason Rachael Wragg has been named Traditional Craftsperson of the Year at the On The Tools Awards.
The awards – held in Birmingham – brought together the very best of the UK’s trade community for a night of celebration, recognition, and connection – honouring the skilled professionals and unsung heroes who keep Britain building.
Held in front of over 450 industry leaders, sponsors, and tradespeople, the awards marked the biggest night of the year for the construction industry, showcasing excellence, craftsmanship, and community spirit across all trades.
In selecting Rachael as Traditional Craftsperson of the Year, the judges said that Rachael had demonstrated
“all-round excellence, combining craftsmanship, communication, professionalism, and industry representation.”
In particular they highlighted her ability to inspire pride and confidence across the trade.
Rachael, who is known as TheGingerMason on Instagram has engaged thousands of followers on social media sharing the skills, challenges and quirks of life as a Cathedral stonemason. Her unique perspective gives viewers a glimpse at spaces that most people never get to see.
Rachael said the award was a huge honour and totally unexpected. “I’m so grateful to On the Tools for recognising traditional crafts skills as part of the wider construction industry and giving traditional crafts people the space to share our work”
Mike Graves, Associate Clerk of Works at Lincoln Cathedral said that supporting heritage skills is vital for the protection of many of the country’s most important historic buildings.
“We are so pleased to see Rachael’s work recognised at a national level. The work she carries out daily at the Cathedral is complemented by the content she produces for social media. The more people that know about the work we carry out and the buildings that we care for, the more they understand how important it is for new people to learn these skills.
“Lincoln Cathedral is fortunate to have an in-house works department of skilled and committed individuals. As the only cathedral on Historic England’s ‘At Risk’ register, we are committed to supporting heritage skills and training new generations of craftspeople to ensure that vital conservation work can continue.”
Lee Wilcox, CEO and Co-founder of On The Tools, said,
“What a night! Every single one of our finalists and winners should be proud – they represent the very best of the trade community. This industry is full of skill, graft, and heart, and our awards are about giving those people the recognition they deserve. We started On The Tools to celebrate the trade, and nights like this remind us why we do what we do. Massive thanks to everyone who came, supported, and made it another one to remember.”
You can find out more about the conservation work at Lincoln Cathedral by visiting www.lincolncathedral.com, and you can follow Rachael on Instagram at @TheGingerMason
