Memorial Masonry

Memorials usually erected in cemeteries or churchyards
need to be of a material that:

• will withstand the weather,
• can take a lasting carved inscription
  (and maybe more later on)
• is suitable for shaping and ornamentation.

Time has shown that natural stone (i.e. stone, slate, marble and granite) has all these qualities.

Choosing a memorial

Because a memorial is a lasting monument and a tribute to a person's life, perhaps a final gift to someone dearly loved, it is important to choose it carefully.

General: Cemeteries and churchyards generally have regulations governing the kinds of memorials, and sometimes also the inscriptions and ornamentation, they will allow. These vary from place to place and so need to be checked before any choice is made.

Smith Yeatman has over 100 years of experience dealing with cemeteries and therefore can advise you as top what the rules are.

Cremation: There are often special areas for the burial of cremated remains. Some just have a central memorial commemorating all those buried nearby. In others, headstones or plaques can be erected on the individual plots. Again, Smith Yeatman will have full details.

Obtaining Permission

Before a memorial may be erected in a churchyard or cemetery written permission has to be obtained from its management. Smith Yeatman will see to this for you.

Types of Memorials

There are several types of traditional memorials including:

• Lawn Memorials
• Traditional Memorials
• Churchyard Memorials
• Cremation / Children’s Memorials
• Vases