The stonemasons keeping Lincoln Cathedral alive

Lincoln Cathedral is considered one of the UK's most beautiful places of worship. Reportedly the tallest building in the world for 238 years, work started on the structure in the 11th Century.

The methods of quarrying and shaping the stone at the cathedral may have evolved since those times, but today's masons use modern technology to keep the stone structures and carvings looking as fresh as when they were first put in place.

Picks, mauls, saws and axes have now been replaced with power tools that run on compressed air. Fire-sharpened metal chisels make way for tungsten steel and nylon mallets are used instead of wooden ones.

But one thing has not changed: the dedication and skill of the craftsmen and women in preserving and adding to the great structure.

Mason Robert Girvan and Stone Carver Paul Ellis explain the journey of the stone from the quarry to becoming part of the cathedral.

Video Journalist: John Galliver. Producer: Claudia Redmond

Stop/Start is a new series of video features for the BBC News website which follows both new trends that are beginning and old traditions that are coming to an end.