Whichever style of headstone you choose as a memorial to your departed loved one, the headstone can be made from a wide variety of materials. You could opt for granite, marble, fieldstone, sandstone, iron, bronze, slate or even wood. While the vast majority of headstones are made from stone, whatever material is chosen the term ‘headstone’ can in fact be used as a generic term for a memorial marker on a resting place – regardless of whether your loved one has been buried or cremated.
The material you choose for a headstone depends upon a number of factors including personal taste and choice of design, as some materials are better suited to being carved into intricate, detailed headstones, while others lend themselves to simpler designs. There are also some restrictions imposed by cemeteries and churchyards as to the material used.
Any headstone is built to be a lasting memorial to a much-loved person, so it is worth selecting a material that will last for generations to come. Among the most hard-wearing and durable materials for headstones are granite and marble. Granite headstones in particular will withstand many years of weathering.
Granite is not only a strong and durable stone but a beautiful one too, which comes in several colours including black, light grey, blue pearl and bahama blue. It can also be polished or honed (matte), offering a wide variety of options. Stonemasons can carve unique and high-quality designs into granite, safe in the knowledge that it will look elegant and maintain its appearance for decades to come.
Marble has a distinctive and uniquely striking appearance, its natural white colour standing out brightly on even dull weather days. This makes it a popular choice for headstones – however, it is more prone to becoming dirty over time than granite, and can be susceptible to the effects of rain in the long term. While a marble headstone remains a popular choice, it requires a slightly higher level of maintenance.
Headstones do not only have to be for burials. With the right permission, a headstone can be used as a memorial marker for the burial of cremated remains, or in some rare cases even purely as a memorial without any remains being interred. Every burial ground and cemetery has its own rules, so take a look at our guide to cemeteries and crematoriums in Hertfordshire to find a suitable site near you.
Whatever your chosen material, there are a number of different types of headstone that you can opt for. From heart gravestones and book memorials to kerbed headstones and memorials with benches, there are so many options.
These are commonly made from granite or marble and fixed onto a concrete foundation. They are the most traditional design and are often a height of around 3 feet, which allows plenty of space to include your chosen inscription, pictures and any other features you wish to be incorporated into the design.
These are memorials which include a traditional headstone but can also run the full length of a grave (subject to cemetery regulations). They allow ample space for additional personal expression as well as the inscription on the main headstone. The space across the grave can be used to plant flowers or place items of special significance.
While certain burial grounds will allow you to use other types of memorial to mark the site where cremation ashes are buried, smaller cremation memorials are an enduringly popular choice which offer ample space for pictures, inscriptions and other commemorative features. Many feature a smaller version of the traditional upright headstone.
We cover various locations across the UK, so you can find memorial headstones in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and London.
Absolutely recommend this company who were recommended to me. Cannot fault them in any way. Everything went smoothly and on time. No complaints at all. My cousin’s used a very well known company for their mother’s headstone and had trouble all the way. If you want perfection, these are the one to use.
Julie M. Google Review: 24/02/2021
We are very pleased with the service that Memorials of Distinction provided, especially at a difficult time when it was not always easy to think clearly. We appreciate your patience and help throughout. The memorial looks even better than I imagined, especially the etching. Thank you for all your help.
This was a bespoke memorial.
Mortlake Cemetery, London SW14
Judi M. Google Review: 10/03/2022
I wanted to thank Memorials of Distinction for providing a very efficient, professional and friendly service which was also extremely quick. My Mother & Father’s memorial was booked and then the lockdown occurred and even through this the Headstone was still erected the company strived to get any outstanding orders finalised before everything shut – your crew also kindly took photographs of the memorial so we could see it or though could not visit at that time and this little extra touch made a huge difference. The memorial is just as ordered and a fitting tribute to my parents.
Ann J. Sent by email: 16/06/2020
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