Memorial Stone Shapes, Lettering and Designs

With a variety of shapes, lettering and finishes to choose from, AB Walker will help you create a bespoke memorial and ensure it meets all the rules and regulations.

Personalise a headstone or tablet

When creating a bespoke memorial, you can be faced with many choices. Upright headstones come in a variety of shapes; lettering used on memorial stones can be of different styles and fonts; and you may want to add an image to personalise further. We’ll take you through the choices and the relevant cemetery or churchyard rules and requirements so you can have the right personal memorial for your loved one.

Our guide below gives you an idea of the options available, further examples are available in our brochure.

Headstone shapes and bases

Upright headstones come in a large variety of sizes, shapes and finishes. Here are a selection of main shapes available. Many churchyards have specific regulations on the shapes they will allow – we will discuss this with you before you make your selection.

Ogee Headstone Shape

Oval Headstone Shape

Square Headstone Shape

Long Check Headstone Shape

Checked Shoulder Headstone Shape

Heart Headstone Shape

Half Ogee Headstone Shape

Peon Headstone Shape

Half Peon Headstone Shape

Base Oval Headstone Shape

Base Square Headstone Shape

Base Bow Headstone Shape

Memorials font styles

Lettering and fonts

Lettering used on a memorial stone can be hand-cut or sandblasted, painted or gilded. Which method is used will usually be determined by the type of stone selected and the cemetery or churchyard regulations. The regulations also determine the font (letter style) that can be used – those shown are the fonts that are most widely approved.

For existing memorial stones, we will always inspect the memorial to identify the style and font used, and match that as closely as possible.

Choosing the inscription wording is a very personal decision. Some people know exactly what they want to say alongside the details of their loved one; others find it hard to choose the right words. To help you in this decision here are a few inscription examples.

In all cases, once the lettering, inscription and design is agreed, we’ll send you a proof for approval prior to marking the memorial stone.

Headstone designs

In addition to an inscription, you might like to consider an additional image to complete your headstone or tablet. We can sandblast, laser, or hand carve a design that you feel best represents the person the memorial is honouring. These are just a small selection of the design options available; further examples can be found in the brochure.

Memorials form

If you are interested in finding out more about our memorial masonry services please fill in our memorial stones form or contact us on 0118 957 3650.

Memorial stone packages

If you’re comfortable with a simpler headstone or tablet, or if you are working to a special date, our memorial stone packages could be the right choice for you. With separate packages for churchyards and cemeteries, you have the reassurance of knowing that the relevant regulations will be met.

These memorial stones are held in stock so could be fitted by our BRAMM-accredited masons in 10-12 weeks at a churchyard or cemetery in Berkshire or South Oxfordshire.

Our guide to memorial stone packages can help you decide if this is the option you’d like to take.