Selecting a Memorial Mason

You may wish to use a company recommended by a friend or relative, or you may need to look around. Whichever you do, it is generally advisable to use one which specialises in memorial masonry.

They should understand stone and so be able to give you reliable advice as to whether the stone you are choosing is suitable for the type of memorial you require - and for the area in which it is to be fixed. Weather, pollution and surrounding vegetation can have an effect on this.

Members of the National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM) are bound by strict Codes of Business and Working Practice and, should a dispute unfortunately arise, by the findings of a free and objective Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

Members must have public & products liability insurance of no less than £5 million, employee liability insurance of no less than £10 million and must also give a guarantee of the stability of their memorial.

Many masons will have been accredited by NAMM to use the Code of Working Practice fixing safe memorials. Ask your memorial mason for proof of this. What you may choose

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. A NAMM memorial mason will be able to assist.

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, the reputable memorial mason should 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. Your NAMM memorial mason will see to this for you.

Further Information

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