THE DEVICES CHAMBER
We know that the first architect of the present-day Cathedral was Master Carlín, actually named Charles Gauter, born in Rouen, France around 1378 and died in Seville perhaps in 1448 after supervising the building of cathedrals of Barcelona and Lérida. The architect decision to use only stone shipped upriver from El Puerto de Santa María in Cádiz was his.
The ashlars were moved using devices like those shown here, including an outstanding collection of sheave pulleys, some of which are dated. The most modern pieces are made of iron, while those dating from the 16th century have bronze wheels and wooden frames and the oldest ones are made entirely of Holm oak. Also notable are the cart for transporting the ashlars, the replica of 16th century tongs and devices for moving and hoisting blocks of stone.
Also on display are two ashlars - one of which has the mason's mark - a mallet, an iron wedge and an interesting prismatic roller used until recently for grinding incense, although it was also used for crushing the lime and pigments employed in mural paintings.