We are often asked if we can send headstones to the USA. The answer is yes, but there are also alternative makers in the USA we can recommend. This headstone was made by The John Stevens Shop, Rhode Island.
Do you make headstones near me? Can I go and see a headstone in situ near me? We make and install headstones all over the UK and you may find there are some of our headstones in situ near you.
What do you charge for your headstones? How much does a headstone cost? While some clients do not want to talk about money when commissioning a headstone, for others cost is one of the first questions they ask. In this article, I explain how much you might pay for a headstone in the UK, and what factors affect the cost of a headstone.
Choosing the right epitaph for a father's or husband's headstone can seem an impossible task. Trying to capture their strength and humanity in a few words is a huge challenge. Taking your time is the best advice we can offer, but here is a list of ideas that will help.
What do you put on a mother's or wife's headstone? How can you capture the love and generosity of a woman in a few words? Here are some ideas and inspiration.
Should I include the maiden name on a headstone? This is a frequently asked question, and considering the answer has lead me to think that perhaps we should do so more often.
What is the best material for a headstone? What type of headstone lasts the longest? These are two of the most common questions I am asked. When deciding on the best headstone material, there are a number of questions you need to ask yourself.
We are so thrilled that our new book Headstones- advice and inspiration, is selling really well. We have now sent our first £1000 cheque to Maggie's, Oxford!
In this intimate video-interview with his son Laurie, Fergus shares his love for his work, especially headstones, and introduces his new book: Headstones -advice & inspiration.
Government guidelines state that our business can be open as we provide "essential services". Visitors are welcome by appointment, as long as we follow the NAMM guidelines outlined in this article.
Ordering a headstone online is not only possible but also far easier than you would imagine thanks to our new sourcebook of ideas and the use of the internet for exchanging photographs and ideas. You can still collaborate with Fergus in making a unique headstone.
In light of the Coronavirus outbreak, many of you will be unable to travel to visit the workshop. It is still perfectly possible to choose a headstone without visiting. Here I lay out how the process might work.
An alternative to the traditional handshake is the Indian "Namaste" greeting. I wanted to share this with you and I hope you will try it and share it with others. It makes you feel really connected with others.
We will shortly be publishing a new book called Headstones- Advice and Inspiration and will be selling it to raise money for Maggie's Cancer Charity in Oxford.
When people talk about commissioning a bespoke memorial, they search online for bespoke memorials and are offered a range of options by stonemasons. However, are they truly bespoke? Our memorials are completely bespoke, from start to finish and here we explain why.
Carvings of flowers often appear as a symbols on a gravestone often for their simple beauty. Here I share some of the symbolism associated with flowers and also provide inspiration and ideas.
Choosing beautiful words to put on a headstone is one of the most important stage of choosing a headstone. But what will be approved by the vicar? Here I share a list of epitaphs suggested by one of the dioceses themselves.
What is usually put on a headstone? How do I choose a headstone inscription? These are the first questions people often ask, and a good place to begin when choosing a headstone.
Our workshop is located in the village of Milton under Wychwood in the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We are only just over an hours' drive from London, and there are some wonderful pubs to visit as well as many beautiful villages, should you decide to make a trip to the workshop part of an extended visit.
Whenever possible we install (fix) our headstones using the "Monolith" method, which fully complies with British Safety Standard BS8415 which must be met by most cemeteries. This method is clearly approved by the National Association of Memorial Masons.
A recent review received by a client after we made a headstone for her husband. The review captures the ethos of our workshop and the results we strive for.
We are often asked if we are NAMM registered. NAMM (The National Association of Memorial Masons) has a register of approved fixers called the RQMF, which we are included on. We also have full public liability insurance up to £5 million.
Last night Fergus attended a reception at the Burford Garden Company where the finalists for the West Oxfordshire Business Awards were announced and we were thrilled to learn we have been selected as one of the finalists! We are very proud of our team and our work.
We were delighted to be shortlisted for a West Oxfordshire Business Award 2019, in the category of Best Micro Business. We were visited by two members of the WOBA team and we were asked to share our business ethos and vision for the Workshop.
The image of a boat has been used on headstones for centuries by many civilizations. The boat lends itself well to carving, as it can be simplified and stylised. It is a romantic symbol, a symbol of a journey but also a symbol of safety and refuge.
This summer I was involved in an exciting project at the Royal Albert Hall which we call the "Canopy of Stars", a walkway of stars dedicated to key players in the Hall's history.
Advice on dealing with the loss of a loved one, which brings me comfort. It reminds me how lucky I was to have been so loved and to have loved so deeply.
Our experience of a DIY or family led funeral. We describe how we kept our mother at home and gave her the most beautiful and personal send off possible.
The task of commissioning a headstone can be a painful process as it can be perceived as a final act of saying goodbye. This can bring up many emotions and perhaps a reluctance to face them. If you find yourself in such a place, perhaps the process outlined below can help you.
Are you struggling to find the right wording for your loved one's headstone? You should not have to do this alone. Kerry Ingham, a bereavement counsellor offers some direction and support.
This month I am proud to be a part of an exhibition at National Trust's Sutton House called "Life Death Whatever". I was asked to make a fine hand-carved headstone for the event.
Last week Stoneletters was the proud winner of a Good Funeral Award for "Best Maker of Hand Carved Memorials in an Indigenous Material". The award is a real accolade and testament to all of Fergus's hard work and devotion to his clients.
Capturing in great detail, the carving of letter D in slate. This video gives you a feel for the fluidity of the chisel with the hand, and the accuracy and attention to detail that is required to carve letters by hand.
For anyone who has had a stillborn baby or has lost a child, I have compiled a selection of comforting poems and funeral readings. In time these may also provide inspiration or ideas for an epitaph or headstone quote.
When you want to erect a new memorial or add an inscription to an existing memorial in a churcyard there is usually a fee to pay. Here is a list of the updated Church of England Fees for 2016.
I have been making headstones for fifteen years. I hope this article helps people who are thinking about a headstone. My biggest piece of advice is to take your time.
This is a brief summary of the Oxfordshire Churchyard Regulations which apply to our clients. Clients are often worried about regulations, but vicars tend to be very helpful and encourage unique, hand carved headstones.
I am often asked what wording is allowed on a headstone which is to go in a churchyard. Unfortunately, there are often no hard and fast rules. Below I shall summarise the main guidelines and offer advice based on over ten years' experience.
Last October we had a visitor, a self-taught letter cutter to our workshop for three days. He has been kind enough to share his experience with us in this blog post.
Choosing a headstone or memorial for a child must be the hardest thing to do. I have collected together some beautiful epitaphs and quotes for children as well as some examples of headstones which I hope will provide some comfort and inspiration.
A fine, unique headstone was made for the late Elizabeth Grant with a relief carving of a dove, which now sits in the beautiful Kensal Green Cemetery, London.
An exhilarating video of a week cutting in the clouds. I love large scale architectural lettering and when the sun is shining there is no better place to be than up high with a chisel!
Gravestone installation is a very important part of my work; I prefer to install all of my gravestones myself using the Monolith fixing method wherever possible. Here I explain how we fix our headstones, and I describe the pros and cons of monolith and dowel (pin) fixings.
A case study into the thought process and decision making that goes into choosing the wording of a memorial for Hugh Stubbs, by his daughter Kitty Allan.
Lettering is only a small part of a gravestone design. Almost all of my headstones incorporate a small carving of a symbol or motif. Choosing a symbol is often difficult and may be inspired by something your loved one was passionate about or simply an image from nature. Here are some symbols from my headstones which I hope will inspire you.
Choosing a memorial quote or epitaph for a headstone can be very difficult. Here is a freshly updated list of tasteful epitaphs and quotes for headstones, many of which I have carved into headstones myself.
This is my biography, the story of my path to becoming a letter carver. It began at an early age when I played with pieces of type on the floor of the Whittington Press.
Have you ever seen a truly bespoke, hand carved headstone? These headstones are nothing like those seen in the catalogues of monumental masons. This selection of headstones is to give you an insight into our work.
Lettering in stone can look stunning in a garden setting. Examples of our work include slate obelisks and garden wall plaques. Hand carved lettering in stone can also be used for sundials, bird baths, benches and water features.
Traditional headstones are seeing a slow but steady revival in our UK churches thanks in part to the internet where letter cutters are able to promote their fine work.
Portland Headstones to inspire you. Portland limestone is a natural British material which improves with weathering. These headstones give you an idea of the versatility of the stone, although the lettering needs to be large enough to read without the need to paint it, and in time as it weathers the letters need to be cut deep and large enough to remain legible. Carving letters along the edge is very effective.
People often ask me about cleaning gravestones, and the answer I usually give is not to do so unless absolutely necessary! If you are determined to clean a gravestone, I share some tips in this article.
Are cremation memorials the new headstones? Lack of space means that cremation memorials are in demand. However there is scope for interesting and creative design.
Choosing the right headstone material is crucial and it is hard to know where to begin. Do you start with the inscription, or the stone? Here I suggest 8 questions you need to ask when considering what material to use.
Choosing a headstone is a huge undertaking and should never be rushed. Do not feel hurried and pushed into deciding too soon. Here I share 4 good reasons to take your time.
A visit to Winchcombe Pottery where I worked for six years, and reflections on the path which took me to lettering and the link between letters and pots.
A wonderful afternoon spent visiting Pigotts, Eric Gill's former home: a fascinating place steeped in history. I trained under Lida Kindersley, who was married to David Kindersley. He in turn trained under Eric Gill, so my work owes much to Eric Gill's tradition.