Established since 1876
NAMM member standards
Local showroom support
Guidance that helps you choose with confidence
At Stone’s the Monumental Masons, we provide granite and Italian marble memorials known for durability and natural beauty. Granite is the hardest memorial material, available in black, grey, blue and red with polished, honed or rustic finishes. Italian marble offers soft veining in grey, blue and cream tones, including Nabresina and Crown Stone, often accepted in churchyards.
Natural stone options and materials
We offer natural stone choices suited to different settings and preferences.
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Portland Stone is a creamy white limestone, sometimes containing small fossil shells. Without treatment, it naturally weathers to a softer grey, and all Portland Stone memorials are treated with a silicone solution as standard, with the cost included.
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Purbeck Stone ranges from fawn to light brown with natural markings. It usually has a smooth face with a rustic back and sides, though it can be finished smooth throughout. It may also show calcite lines, which do not affect strength, making it ideal for country churchyards.
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Other materials include Ham Stone, Welsh Slate and Westmorland Green Slate. Apart from concrete foundation slabs, all materials are natural, quarried stone and may vary in colour and texture.
As stated in our terms, they are supplied subject to natural variation. Photographs may not always reflect the exact colour. Samples of all materials are available on request to help you choose with confidence.
Memorials in churchyards and safe fixing standards
At Stone’s the Monumental Masons, we recognise that diocesan regulations and churchyard rules vary widely at the local level. Our symbol (+) indicates designs and materials that may be acceptable in many churchyards, although approval always depends on the relevant authority.
Some dioceses, including Bath and Wells, do not permit built-in flower vases, although a separate vase is usually allowed, as shown in design number six. Kerb surrounds are rarely permitted today, but where they are approved locally, we can supply suitable headstone and kerb combinations.
We also follow current Health and Safety guidance and National Association of Memorial Masons recommendations when fixing memorials. Any memorial over 25 inches or 625mm is installed using a Ground Anchor Support System to reduce future risk if it becomes unstable. Church and cemetery authorities carry out regular stability checks, and the owner is responsible for any unsafe memorials.
For this reason, we only use approved fixing methods for new installations and re-fixing after additional inscriptions or burials, sometimes requiring a new concrete base. Our Central Collapsable Anchor system uses stainless steel dowels and a marine-grade threaded ground anchor to ensure safe and durable fixing.
