HEADSTONES

With such a variety of headstones to choose from, we understand the selection may feel overwhelming at first.

Many of our customers find that requesting to download our brochure is a great place to start as this provides plenty of headstone styles, materials, and examples to help narrow down your memorial search.

Browsing headstones at your local cemetery and online, or simply booking an appointment to speak through your options in detail with one of our advisors and to view them in person will also help you come to a suitable decision when considering your headstone options.

When searching for a reputable memorial stonemason company there are many things to consider.

Research their monumental stonemasonry experience, accreditations, craftsmanship, quality of product, and knowledge of the specific cemetery you are purchasing a headstone for. It is also incredibly important to ensure that you feel both confident and comfortable on a personal level while working with your stonemasons to design and create your memorial.

Furthermore, you will be expected to pay a deposit when you place your order, meaning it’s vital that you have complete confidence in the memorial stonemasons ability to complete the memorial in your local memorial ground and remain in business so that you don’t end up in the unfortunate position of losing your deposit.

Choosing to go direct to an experienced and well established memorial mason rather than through an agent (such as a funeral director or other middle provider) will also allow you to communicate directly with the masons who are carving your memorial and may potentially help you avoid any additional costs that may have otherwise been involved, such as commissions or extra charges a “middle-party” may apply.

Ultimately, you will benefit from peace of mind by choosing a long established memorial stonemason with a good reputation.

We can certainly go through your options in great detail to help you reach a decision on which headstone you should choose. We can highlight the benefits of different materials, show you a variety of styles that meet your requirements, and discuss the range of colours and detailing options that are available for each particular headstone.

The best material to use depends on your choice of headstone, the lettering, carving requirements, colour, tone, texture, and location. We offer all of the popular headstone materials that you’d expect from any memorial stonemason, including granite, slate, limestone, york stone, and more.

Most cemeteries request that you wait at least 6-12 months before erecting a headstone so that the ground has time to settle following a burial.

Read: Learn More About Grave Settling

Timescales differ between cemeteries and also tend to differ between memorial type – for example, a cemetery may request a wait of 6-12 months before a headstone can be installed and erected, while they may allow a cremation memorial to be installed immediately.

If you’re unsure, our qualified and highly experienced staff can advise and guide you through this process.

Other than that, there is no set time that you should wait before placing a headstone on a grave – it is all down to you and when you feel ready. People often find it is a good idea to not rush the process, as time can help you better decide on the headstone itself as well as the inscription.

In the vast majority of cases the answer is yes. Our memorial stonemasons are very experienced and highly skilled, so we are able to meet bespoke requirements and recreate headstone designs. Simply provide us with an image and/or an idea of what you are looking for, and we will do our very best to help.

The design and creation of a headstone and inscription is a highly skilled process, so we can expect it to take some time before a headstone is complete following the order – certainly several weeks, and perhaps months. The timeframe will also depend on the current demand, so for a more accurate answer you will be best served asking for an up-to-date estimated lead time at the time of order.

Yes, you can certainly add something to an existing headstone. This could be a special design or etching, or an additional inscription or change of font. Whatever it may be, we can discuss your requirements and confirm what headstone amendments can be carried out.

The truth is, there really is no accurate average cost of a headstone. This is because each headstone is unique, and the cost will vary based on the material and headstone type. For an accurate quote, we would advise you contact a representative so that we can take the specific details you require beforehand.

One thing we can confirm upfront is our price promise – we are confident that our prices are the most competitive around and offer a discount should a customer find the same quality product elsewhere, so long as it’s supplied by a recognised and reputable memorial mason or funeral director.

Yes, you can make prior arrangements for the purchase of a headstone so that your wishes, or those of a loved one, are carried out exactly as requested. Many people choose their headstone in advance to lighten the burden that is placed on children, family members and close friends once they have passed.

Yes, all our headstones and other memorials come with an unbeatable 30-year guarantee.

Yes, we are BRAMM (British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons) approved, and a registered and fully licensed memorial mason with over 200 years industry experience having first established ourselves way back in 1821.

We can send you several proofs of what the headstone will look like before proceeding with the creation. If you don’t approve of the design, we can re-work the layout or style to meet your needs.

We can and have shipped headstones overseas many times, but you must be aware that there are of course additional costs incurred with overseas shipping, such as specialist packaging, insurance, and duty.