Walter of Hereford

Walter of Hereford, occasionally referred to as Walter of Amesbury (fl. 1278-1309 ) was an English medieval master mason, active in the building projects of Edward I in England, Wales and Scotland. His most significant works were Vale Royal Abbey (Cheshire), Caernarfon Castle (Gwynedd) and Greyfriars (London).

Biography Historian John Harvey considered him to have been born in Harford, in the parish of Naunton, Gloucestershire. This church was also entirely demolished in the 16th century, but its plan has been revealed by excavation.

From around 1295, Walter was master mason of Caernarfon Castle. In 1304, he was in Edinburgh, Perth and Stirling as part of Edward's invasion of Scotland. Walter died some time between November 1308 and February 1309. John Harvey described him as "apart from James of St. George, the principal mason-architect employed by the Crown" at this time. The church of Greyfriars was also much-imitated. It had an unusual Hallenkirche form, in which the aisles were as high as the nave, which was repeated at important later medieval churches like St Thomas, Winchelsea and Hull Minster.

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