Richard McDowell specialises in monumental masonry and will help you through every stage of your masonry order.

When you place your order we will ask to pay a deposit with the balance of the agreed price to be paid within two weeks of fixing. You can pay for your memorial by cheque or with cash.

Charles Stephens will provide you with a written estimate that will clearly detail all aspects of your memorial order together with the costs. The estimate will include details of the size, material, lettering, any ornamentation and finishes that you have requested. It will also include the cost of a secure installation on an anchor support system, together with cemetery or churchyard fees.

Richard will liaise with the mason on your behalf ensuring that every aspect is carefully handled. Charles Stephens only contract stonemasons who are members of the National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM) who provide memorials that meet the highest standards of quality.

Cemeteries and churchyards normally have regulations governing the type of memorials they allow, including the inscription and ornamentation that are permitted. These vary from place to place and Richard will be please to advise you.

Some of the options you may need to think about include:

Material
Shape
Colour
Colour and style of lettering
Wording of the inscription

The availability of materials and the complexity of the design will have an impact on the time the memorial takes to complete. Before the stone can be placed back on the grave the earth must have time to settle, which usually takes 6 months. However, the newer sections of some cemeteries have a concrete raft at the head of the grave allowing for the memorial to be erected without having to wait for the earth to settle.