Organising a Headstone for a Loved One

We know this is not an easy question to ask, but it’s something that eventually comes to every family’s door. Our aim is to make the process as simple and stress-free as possible.

First of all, there’s no rush.
You don’t have to have a headstone in place for the first anniversary. Take your time, talk things through with your family, and visit a few cemeteries to get ideas of what you like, or what best represents your loved one.

Step 1: Knowing the Plot Size

When you’re ready to get a price, the first thing we’ll need to know is the size of the plot — whether it’s a single, double, or triple plot.

This refers to the area of the grave, not the number of people buried in it.

• Single plot: approx. 4ft x 9ft (can allow up to 3 burials)
• Double plot: approx. 8ft x 9ft (can allow up to 6 burials)
• Triple plot: approx. 12ft x 9ft (can allow up to 9 burials)

These sizes can vary from cemetery to cemetery, but this is the general rule.

Step 2: Lawn or Standard Grave

Next, we’ll need to know what type of grave it is:

• Lawn grave: A base and headstone placed at the head of the grave, with the rest grassed over.
• Standard grave: The full plot is concreted over, with a headstone, kerbs, and corner posts outlining the grave area.

Step 3: Choosing the Headstone

People usually start by deciding on either the colour or the shape of the headstone. Walking around cemeteries or visiting our showroom can help you see what appeals to you.

You’ll also choose what base the headstone will sit on:

• Single base: Usually 3–4ft long, 9″ wide, 9″ high
• Double base: A bottom base as above, with a slightly shorter top “sub-base” (around 2–4″ shorter, 6″ high, 7″ wide)

Step 4: Kerbs and Corner Posts

• Kerbs: Typically 8ft long, 4″ wide, 5″ high, and square-edged as standard — but round-top or rock-face finishes are also available.
• Corner posts: Standard size 6″ square by 8″ high, with options such as square, round-top, bishop’s hat, or rock-face styles.

Extras can also be added, such as:

• Seats within the kerb lines
• Plaques or ceramic pictures
• Bronze or stainless-steel crosses or flowers
• Flowerpots, lanterns, or other decorative features

Step 5: The Inscription

You can include any wording and symbols that feel right for your loved one (within reason). We’ll type up a proof showing the layout and font before anything is engraved.

Popular inscription colours include gold, silver, black, and white.

Please double-check all inscriptions to ensure correct spellings and dates.

Step 6: Cemetery Requirements

Some cemeteries, especially council-run ones, may require planning permission or have size restrictions. Church-owned cemeteries usually don’t. Don’t worry — we can help you check what applies in your case.

Step 7: Final Steps

Once everything is agreed and ordered, you can leave the rest to us.

The full process usually takes around 10 weeks from order to completion, depending on weather conditions and any special materials required.