FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
THE LIST BELOW GIVES ANSWERS TO THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long does it take?
Every project is unique. Much depends on the initial conversations and how long it takes to arrive at the brief.
The material chosen and its availability from the quarry, the amount of carving and the length of the inscription also have a bearing on the time needed to complete the stone, as does our general availability at the time. We will advise an estimated lead-time in our first meeting, and then update that as we progress.
As a rule of thumb, you can expect it to take a minimum of 4 months from initial conversation.
When should I start organising a headstone or memorial?
Some people feel they have to get the headstone done quickly; don’t feel pressured, you need to take time. We had a client who came to us after 25 years passed since the death of their father, others take just a couple of years.
Giving yourself time allows you to slowly focus in on the most important way to remember a loved one. There are practical considerations too. A headstone needs at least 12 months before installation to allow the ground to settle.
How much does it cost?
Again, cost is dependent on the same factors as timing. Every stone is unique, and the materials themselves are of variable costs. Slate & marble being the most expensive, sandstone being the cheapest. All our stones are hand-carved and genuinely unique. This is reflected in the price.
We will give you an estimate once we have an idea of the kind of project we’re discussing. As a guide though prices typically start at around £3,000.
Do I have to use black stones?
No, you certainly don’t. The monumental industry has standardised the use of black and grey granite for decades now. This is because it is cheap and it is durable. But they buy pre-prepared stones in bulk from overseas and use standardised, mass-manufacturing techniques to make the headstones you see throughout Britain’s churches and cemeteries. The result is repetitive and not at all the unique or genuinely bespoke experience that you get from working with us.
It should be noted in fact that Churchyard regulations are now actively discouraging the use of highly polished stones.
Are there any additional fees involved in creating a memorial?
There is a Parochial fee for a monument to be introduced into a churchyard, and Council Authorities too have fees for a cemetery.
We will advise you of those fees at the time. But as an example, the current fee for a headstone to be introduced into a churchyard is £166, per the Church of England Parochial Fees table.
Does a memorial need to be a headstone?
No, it doesn’t, and we increasingly find people are wanting to create focal points within their own lives and spaces that they can be with, sit around, or simply hold to remember a loved one. We have made sun-dials, bird-baths or exquisite handheld touchstones – little portable monuments to a very dear relative.
We will work with you to create the perfect means of remembering a special life.
HAND-CARVED, BESPOKE MEMORIALS AND HEADSTONES
Location
BASED IN SHROPSHIRE AND WORKING TO COMMISSION ACROSS THE UK
Phone Number
07979 470279