Introduction: The History.uk.com guide
to brass rubbing

What is a monumental brass?

Monumental brasses are flat metal plates designed to be lasting memorials to prominent people. They are often cut into figure shapes and beautifully engraved.

Brasses represent a significant part of UK history because they are a dated records of dress, style and popular culture.

The earliest monumental brasses were made around 1250 and the latest were installed around 1650.

There are approximately 8,000 monumental brasses in churches around the UK.

Why were they made?

A memorial brass takes up less room and is a lot harder to deface than other funerary monuments.

Additionally, a brass was a much cheaper option than a sculpted stone figure or alabaster tomb.

What is brass rubbing?

Most children have rubbed a coin using pencil and paper to obtain an exact copy. Brass rubbing employs the same method.

Paper is placed over the brass and rubbed with a wax stick. The design appears on the paper with the engraved lines remaining white.

Obtaining Permission

It is important to gain permission before making any kind of memorial brass rubbing. Some parishes make a small charge for brass rubbing which goes toward the upkeep of the church.

Remember that you will not be allowed to rub during a church service, so weekends are often difficult.

Many older brasses are now very fragile so rubbing has been restricted or stopped entirely. Please respect these restrictions and make sure our brasses are kept intact for future generations to admire.