A Guide to Choosing the Right Memorial Stone

A headstone or memorial stone is a fitting way to honour your loved one, ensuring their name and memory are commemorated for generations to come. This process starts with selecting the right stone, but with so many different materials to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to begin.

So what is the best stone for a headstone? The team here at Artisan Memorials has written this guide to help.

How to choose the right stone for a headstone

There is no universally recommended material for a headstone; instead, you’ll have to consider a number of factors before making your choice, such as:

• Ageing: A headstone ageing isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s a completely natural process that can enhance the character of the stone and help it to blend in beautifully with the surrounding environment. If you’d prefer a headstone that stays the same over time, slate will maintain a consistent look, whereas sandstone and limestone develop a warm, natural patina as the years pass.
  

• Type of memorial: It’s important to consider the size and style of your chosen memorial when selecting a stone; if you’re looking for a plaque or a smaller memorial, you’ll need something more robust, such as slate or Nabresina.
  

• Cost: The price of a headstone can vary depending on what type of stone is used, so it’s best to carefully consider your budget before making a decision.
  

• Personal taste: Your choice should come down to personal preference and what you think best represents the deceased; would you prefer a lighter, more traditional stone or a darker stone that’s a little more contemporary?
  

• Location: Some churchyards and cemeteries impose strict rules and stipulate that all headstones are of a certain colour or made of a specific material, which may limit your options. Here at Artisan Memorials, we make a point of familiarising ourselves with the regulations of each diocese we work in.
  

• Engraving: If you’re after a particularly intricate design or a long inscription, you should also consider how engravable the stone is and whether it’s suitable for your chosen design. Here at Artisan Memorials, our expert stonemason has years of experience and will V-carve each headstone to ensure deep, precise lettering
  

• Durability: For a headstone to last for years to come, it must be made from a robust material that can withstand the elements. When you work with Artisan Memorials, durability doesn’t have to be a concern, as all of our stone is sourced from the highest quality quarries and can stand the test of time.
• Sustainability: If you’d like to minimise the environmental impact of your headstone, you should choose responsibly sourced British stone, rather than something that has been imported from India or the Far East.

It’s important to note that, no matter what type of stone you choose, when you work with Artisan Memorials, we’ll ensure that every inscription is crafted with precision and care. Unlike other companies who use techniques such as sandblasting, our experienced stonemason deeply V-carves all lettering; this ensures that the inscription isn’t affected by the ageing process and will continue to remain completely legible for years to come. 

Slate

Slate is a durable, beautiful choice for any headstone, providing an incredibly smooth, finely-grained surface that allows for the most intricate engravings. It’s available in a variety of darker shades – such as greys, blues, greens and purples – to ensure a timeless appearance that can be personalised based on your preferences. Although slate can be a bit more expensive, it’s exceptionally durable and won’t age or weather, maintaining a lasting look that stays the same over time.

Slate headstones are incredibly weather resistant and have a lower water absorption rate than other options – a factor that you may consider if the headstone in question will be located in a very shaded or damp environment. Slate is also extremely robust and strong and is available at either two or three inches thick, making it an ideal choice for those who favour a slightly thinner headstone. Here at Artisan Memorials, we supply a variety of slate options, all quarried from either North Wales or Cumbria.

Sandstone

With its warm, earthy tones and timeless appearance, sandstone has been used for centuries in cemeteries up and down the country.

Although sandstone will age, it does so in a very natural way. Over time, a rich, dark patina develops that looks organic and blends well with the surrounding environment. 

With its grainy texture, sandstone lends itself well to simpler inscriptions and sans-serif lettering, but our experienced stonemason can talk you through the process and help you choose the right design. We supply York stone, a type of sandstone that has been mined from quarries in Yorkshire since the Middle Ages. 

Portland stone

Quarried at the Isle of Portland in Dorset, Portland limestone is known for its creamy-white appearance, uniform pattern and finely-grained texture that allows for intricate inscriptions. Used in the construction of many notable landmarks, such as St Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and many Commonwealth war memorials, Portland stone is incredibly durable and ensures a timeless, sophisticated look for any headstone. 

Portland stone isn’t as hard as Nabresina or slate and is a little more porous, so you can expect it to age slightly quicker. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as the growth of lichen and the stone’s natural patina gives it a distinctive look that’s full of character.

Nabresina

Responsibly imported from Italy, Nabresina is a type of premium limestone that’s full of character thanks to the shells and fossils scattered throughout. With its off-white, greyish colour, a Nabresina headstone offers a striking, elegant appearance and is a more affordable alternative to slate.

Thanks to its smooth, finely-grained texture, Nabresina cuts beautifully and, in the hands of the right stonemason, is ideal for sharp, intricate inscriptions. While Nabresina does age, it does so gracefully and at a slower rate than sandstone and Portland stone. Over time, it may attract lichen and develop an elegant patina; however, if you’d prefer it to maintain its original look, a Nabresina headstone can be easily cleaned by gently washing it with a sponge once or twice a year.

Given how hard and dense this stone is, it’s one of the most durable headstone options available and is perfect for cover slabs or kerb set memorials.

Purbeck stone

Purbeck stone is a beautifully patterned, beige stone quarried in Swanage on the Jurassic Coast. Thanks to its aged, rustic appearance, it fits in perfectly in older churchyards and, given its scarcity, Purbeck stone is the perfect choice for those wanting something a little more unique. A Purbeck stone headstone features a rugged, textured back and sides which contrast nicely with a smooth front that allows for intricate, beautiful carving.

Irish blue limestone

Quarried in Kilkenny, a Celtic limestone headstone is a meaningful way to honour those with Irish ancestry. This beautiful stone has a blue-grey hue and shares many of the same qualities as Nabresina, however, it goes lighter in colour as it ages. Irish blue limestone is renowned for its durability and timeless beauty and will ensure a lasting tribute for your loved one.

Granite

If you’re working to a budget, you may wish to opt for a granite headstone. Granite is incredibly durable and, similarly to slate, it won’t age, resulting in a consistent appearance as the years pass. However, as granite is incredibly dense and hard, it simply isn’t possible to carve into this stone; instead, all inscriptions must be sandblasted, which creates flatter, shallower and less detailed lettering. Without the deep recesses that V-carving provides, sandblasted inscriptions require paint to be legible. This can result in the need to repaint every so often to ensure the inscription remains legible. 

Here at Artisan Memorials, we craft bespoke headstones for customers across the UK. All of the stone we use is responsibly sourced and of the highest quality, so you can be sure of a durable headstone that will honour your loved one for years to come. If you’d like to discuss your needs in more detail, our compassionate team is always happy to help – simply contact us today.