CHOOSING A HEADSTONE
We recognise that choosing a memorial or headstone for your loved one is the last act of love and dedication you can do to honour them. It can be a very emotional and even difficult experience for some people. We understand this and we will gently walk you through the process.
Read on to learn some of the elements to consider when choosing a headstone.
TALK TO US
This is where we learn about you and the person you want to commemorate. We want to know about them, their life and interests, and we want to know how they would like to be remembered. These conversations help us create a memorial that is a true reflection of them as a person.
One way to look at it perhaps is to ask yourself, what would you like to see when you visit their memorial in future? What one little thing would make you smile and remember?
DESIGN
The design is a collaborative process. We make suggestions based on our conversations, but it is your ideas we are aiming to express.
After those first conversations, we will send you some preliminary sketches, usually within a few weeks of the meeting. You can always visit us and discuss any design ideas at any stage.
Once we have established a design principle we can refine and amend the design until you are perfectly happy. And as we progress, we will discuss material options.
STONE
We use native British stones almost exclusively. The UK has a beautiful selection of stones including slate, various limestones, sandstone, granite and even some stones considered as marbles.
Suitable British stones can be found throughout the country, and we can frequently find a good match for your area. Be aware that some Diocese and local authorities have stipulations about what can be used. But we can advise you on that.
With sustainability and carbon footprints becoming an increasingly important consideration, it makes sense to use our native materials.
INSCRIPTION & IMAGERY
The inscription or epitaph is the most important feature of a stone. It is important to take time to think what you want to say or express.
The basics are clearly the name and some dates; in some cases, this can be enough. There is no requirement to include dates in full, and more often, just the year of birth and death is simpler and more aesthetically pleasing.
As an epitaph, sensitive selection of the right words or motif can speak eloquently of the person being remembered. A particular line of poetry, a quote, a lyric from a song or a passage from a book may perfectly encapsulate them.
Consider perhaps an image from their life, their trade, their passions or hobbies that we can carve as an emblem. It may be a coat of arms, an element from nature, or a symbol from an equation or music.
Whatever you decide, keep in mind it will be around for a very long time, so often the simplest messages endure the longest.
PERMITS & REGULATIONS
Churchyards and cemeteries all have regulations that govern the kinds of stones that can be introduced. We collate the rules for each location and our design work is carried out always with these regulations in mind, so that we can avoid potential disappointments from the outset.
We will handle putting the designs through the application process, obtaining the permits and finding out the relevant fees to enable your headstone to be installed without impediment.
CARVING & INSTALLATION
At last, we come to the making. This is where our design is drawn on the stone, and once again you will have a chance for a final view and approval before we begin.
Everything is done by hand. The stone is masoned to shape, the design is hand-drawn onto the stone, and all the lettering and carving is done by mallet and chisel.
Once everything is complete, you will be invited to inspect the work. This can be emotional, but we are there to support you.
Installation is then carried out to the relevant standards by registered fitters, local to the area where the stone is installed.
HAND-CARVED, BESPOKE MEMORIALS AND HEADSTONES
Location
BASED IN SHROPSHIRE AND WORKING TO COMMISSION ACROSS THE UK
Phone Number
07979 470279