IT is a craft that has been mastered ever since the early days of humanity.

Some of England's finest stonemasons descended on Winchester Cathedral for the city's first stonemasonry festival.

Over the weekend the stonemasons took part in a stone carving competition, where their work was auctioned.

One of the highlights was Cathedral’s own masons, Will Davies, carving a new statue for one of its highest points with a twist; its facial features are those of the Dean James Atwell who retires this week.

A spokesman for Winchester Cathedral said: “The festival was well received, we have had more than 18 people participating in the festival from areas across the country including two of our own stonemasons and we have had lots of visitors who have been thoroughly intrigued.

“It is not something you normally see, you do not see the stonemasons doing their work and this is an opportunity for people to see them in action and how skilled they are and how a piece of stone from a block can find its way to being a piece of architecture on a cathedral or church or any historical building.”