Why Stone is an Excellent Material for Memorials

Posted on 3rd February 20253rd February 2025 by Kate

When it comes to choosing materials for memorials, there’s an impressive variety available, ranging from metals to plastics and wood. However, stone stands out as one of the best choices. Why? Its very versatile, it can include a wide variety of looks and styles and its exceptionally long lasting. In this blog, we’ll explore why stone memorials are a top contender and highlight the specific types of stone we recommend for memorials.

Slate Memorials

Slate is a timeless, understated material that brings elegance and character to any memorial. Each piece of slate is unique, featuring natural markings that make every memorial truly one-of-a-kind. We offer slate in several thicknesses, including 12mm, 20mm, 30mm, 50mm, and 75mm, along with popular slate wedges. It has a beautiful honed finish that’s not shiny, offering a subtle yet sophisticated look. You can choose between leaving the slate natural or having it oiled for a deeper, darker hue.

Some natural burial sites and churchyards accept slate, but we always recommend confirming with the burial ground first. We can help with any necessary paperwork to ensure a smooth process.

Slate is perfect for deep engraving, with the option of paint filling in any of our stock colours such as Memorial Gold, Silver, Black, White, and Purbeck. Our Memorial Gold and Silver paints even contain real gold leaf for a luxurious touch. Simple images can also be engraved and painted, while more intricate designs can be laser engraved, providing a stunning surface-level finish. For the ultimate personalized memorial, we can combine deep engraving with laser engraving for a detailed and unique effect.

If you’re seeking a vibrant, full-colour memorial, we also offer tough print plaques that can be inset into the slate for lasting colour. For smaller slate plaques, we can drill holes for wall mounting, or you can choose from our range of wrought iron plaque holders to display the memorial. For slate memorials placed on the ground, we recommend using slate risers to gently slope the plaque, preventing water from pooling in the engravings and prolonging the life of the paint.

Granite Memorials

Granite is another popular choice for memorials and shares many similarities with slate, such as a range of thicknesses and wedge-shaped options. It comes in a stunning array of colours, allowing for creative and meaningful combinations. Some of our favourite granite and lettering colour pairings include:

Black Granite with white or gold text
Celtic Granite with black or white text
Dark Grey Granite with gold or Purbeck stone letters
Green Granite with gold or white letters

Like slate, granite can also accommodate simple images, full-colour photo memorial plaques, and mounting options such as holes, stakes, or risers.

What sets granite apart from slate, however, is its ability to feature impact-engraved images. This process creates high-quality, detailed images that are surface engraved onto the stone, perfect for including photographs on the memorial. Additionally, granite can be honed to meet churchyard regulations that restrict polished surfaces, although this is not typically our preferred option.

Conclusion

Whether you choose slate or granite, stone is a durable, beautiful, and customisable material for memorials. Both materials offer a range of options to suit your preferences and can be personalised with engravings, colours, and images. With proper care, stone memorials provide lasting tributes to your loved ones.

Colourful Memorials: A Personal Touch for Your Loved One

Posted on 9th October 2024 by Kate

At UK Memorials, we understand that memorials are deeply personal. They serve as a lasting tribute to a cherished loved one, which is why we believe they should be as unique as the person they honour. Whether it’s a simple plaque or a more elaborate design, we offer a wide range of bespoke options to create something truly meaningful for you and your family.

While certain churches and burial grounds may have restrictions on memorial designs, there are many other locations with more flexible guidelines. Some families even choose to place a memorial in their garden to keep the memory of their loved one close. For these more personalized settings, we offer a variety of bright and beautiful memorials that can be fully customized to your wishes.

Below are some examples of our vibrant, colourful memorials. If you don’t quite find what you’re looking for, our friendly team is always on hand to help create something that perfectly reflects your vision.

Cast Bronze Memorials

Though bronze is a traditional material, it can be given a modern twist with a range of colour options including Blue, Green, Black, Brown, Maroon, Red, Purple, Gun Metal, Grey, and the classic natural Bronze finish. These subtle colours allow for a touch of personalisation while still maintaining an elegant and timeless feel.

Corian Memorials

Corian is an excellent material for memorials due to its versatility. It is available in a wide variety of colours and offers the look and feel of stone, though it’s made from a combination of stone dust and resin. This material allows for intricate details such as fine text and images, which are more challenging to achieve with traditional stone. We can even inset full-colour photographs to add a truly personal touch.

Acrylic Laminate Memorials

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option with plenty of colour choices, our acrylic laminate plaques may be ideal. Available in either 3.2mm or 1.6mm thickness, we use advanced laser technology to engrave through the top layer of acrylic, revealing the contrasting colour beneath. This results in a plaque with one colour for the background and another for the lettering—without the need for paint. These plaques are highly durable and long-lasting, making them a popular choice for garden memorials, often paired with a wrought iron spike for a free-standing display.

Anodised Aluminium Memorials

Anodised Aluminium is very similar to our Acrylic Laminate plaques except that instead of plastic these are a form of metal. These all come in 1.5mm thick and come in a range of colours. When the laser engraving is done it turns the wording and images into a silver/white colour. Again no painting is involved so another long-lasting and low-maintenance plaque.

Tough Print Memorials

For those looking for full-colour options, our Tough Print memorials are an excellent choice. These plaques allow for the inclusion of detailed photographs or vibrant designs. Built to withstand harsh conditions, they are UV-resistant, scratch-proof, and even resilient to the elements in coastal areas. The heat-treated process ensures the print is encapsulated, making the plaque highly durable. Tough Print plaques can be used on their own or in conjunction with other materials such as Corian, wood, or stone for a more custom design.#

Personalise Your Memorial with Us

We pride ourselves on offering a wide range of options to suit all tastes, preferences, and budgets. If you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, our dedicated team is always here to help guide you through the process. Together, we can create a memorial that truly honours the memory of your loved one.

Feel free to get in touch with us at UK Memorials—we’re here to make this journey as smooth and meaningful as possible.

Further Information

If you would like to speak to a member of our team be sure to get in touch.

Tel – 01769 618585

Email – Sales@uk-memorials.net

Shop online – Our Online Shop Click Here

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How To Help Nature Prepare For Winter

Posted on 4th September 20244th September 2024 by Kate

As we notice the sun setting a little earlier and the wind blow just a bit chillier we begin to get excited to see the trees change from vibrant green to deep orange and cosy nights by the fire. However, for the natural world, these changes signal the need to prepare for the challenging, cold months ahead. At UK Memorials, we believe in lending a hand to nature, helping wildlife find ways to survive the winter more easily.

Hedgehog Homes and Toad Abodes

You may not realise this but hedgehogs actually hibernate over the winter months and it is very important to their survival to find a spot that will keep them warm and safe. In the 1950s is was estimated that there was over 30 million hedgehogs in the UK whereas now they estimate it only be around 1 Million so we really want to make sure to give them a hand this winter. You can purchase a hedgehog box online or you can craft one from scratch. RSPB have an amazing video to guide you how to craft a box which you can watch by clicking here.

Once you have your box you want to fill it with a layer of dead and dry leaves. Hedgehogs prefer small leaves such as birch, oak, hawthorn or hazel. You then want to find a shady, quiet spot where it won’t be disturbed. The entrance should be out of the wind, you want to cover the entire box with woody garden cuttings and leaves but make sure to leave the ventilation pipe clear.

Toads do not hibernate through winter but they do spend a large amount of their time nestled away trying to keep warm. Creating old long stores or even and old pot on its side with lots of leaves in can create a toasty home for toads to stay warm in.

Clear out Bird Boxes

Now that the birds have raised their young they won’t need their bird boxes so now is a great time to clear and clean them out. It is recommended that you take out all the nesting material and disinfect the box. The safest time to do this is during October and November as there won’t be any birds using the boxes during this time. Clearing out the old matter and disinfecting the boxes helps to remove any ticks and fleas, along with their eggs and helps to reduce the risk of diseases such as Avian Influenza.

Feed Nature

Another wonderful thing you can do to help wildlife during the winter months is to provide food and water sources. .

Birds often struggle to find food during the colder months, so adding extra feeders can make a big difference.

Some people also leave food out for foxes, squirrels, and badgers. For squirrels, nuts, chopped apples, and carrots are ideal, while cooked meats are a favorite for foxes and badgers.

Water might be something you would not have to think to provide wildlife in nature, as we are in North Devon we see rather a lot of it through the winter months. But as the months delve into December and January when hard frost might be found, water sources freeze up. We recommend putting fresh water out or breaking holes in the ice for wildlife to drink from.

We hope you have enjoyed reading this blog. If you want to read more of our blogs click here.

If you want to learn more about what we do for the environment visit our parent companies website by clicking here.

Tel – 01769 618585

Email – sales@uk-memorials.net

Natural Burials – The Natural Choice?

Posted on 25th July 2024 by Kate

What is a Natural Burial?

Natural burials have burst onto the scene for memorial services and its quickly becoming a popular choice, but why? The following blog dives into what a Natural burial is and why more people are opting for one instead of a traditional burial.

Natural burials, also known as green burials, are an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional burial methods. This practice focuses on simplicity and sustainability, aiming to minimise the environmental impact typically associated with conventional burials.

The key features of a natural burial ground include:

Eco-Friendly Practices:

Biodegradable Materials: Natural burials utilise biodegradable coffins, shrouds, and urns made from materials such as bamboo, wicker, cardboard, or untreated wood. These materials decompose naturally, allowing the body to return to the earth.
No Embalming: The use of toxic embalming fluids is avoided, ensuring that no harmful chemicals are released into the soil.

Natural Settings:

Woodland Burial Grounds: Bodies are interred in natural settings such as meadows, woodlands, or designated natural burial sites. These areas are often protected and maintained to support local ecosystems and wildlife.
Minimal Landscaping: Grave sites are marked with natural stones, wooden plaques, or indigenous plants rather than traditional headstones, maintaining the natural appearance of the burial ground.

Why are Natural Burial Grounds becoming popular?

Caring about nature and the environment is a change that we have all seen across the country. More and more individuals are making changes in their everyday lives to improve their effects on the environment and this has filtered down into the choices people are making to their funeral plans. Choosing a natural burials helps protect the environment by reducing pollution and conserving resources. Additionally, they contribute to the creation and maintenance of green spaces.

Another reason why natural burials have become a more popular choice is it that families often have the freedom to create personalised ceremonies that reflect the beliefs and values of the deceased, without the constraints of conventional funeral practices.

Finally, they can be more affordable than traditional burials, as they avoid the costs associated with embalming, expensive caskets, and elaborate grave markers.

Here at UK memorials we sell grave markers designed specifically for Green Burials, click here to learn all about these.

Mark A Place Of Rest With A Grave Marker

Posted on 4th April 20243rd May 2024 by Kate

While grave markers have a longstanding traditional history, what was once a practicality is now something individuals, rightly so, spend a great deal of time thinking about. Lasting legacies mean so much to us as individuals, and to those we leave behind, so it’s important to use a memorial to honour a life lived. However, we know that memorials can be challenging to navigate. By signposting you towards our range of grave markers with this handy blog, we hope to provide a clear guide of how we can help you along the way.

All-In-One Plaques

Our all-in-one plaques are perhaps the most practical choice for a grave marker. We believe the all-in-one plaques are an ideal choice if you’re looking for a simple grave marker. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a way to mark the resting place of a beloved pet or a loved one’s scattered ashes, you might find the utility of these memorials is just what you’re after.

Crafted using a wrought iron spike with a metal plate for a plaque (handcrafted by our experienced blacksmith, James), these particular grave markers have proved popular since we first introduced them to our product line. While the plaques are traditionally crafted from brass, we can also craft these from anodised aluminium or acrylic laminate (both of which are available in a range of colours depending on your design preferences and ability to maintain the plaque itself).

Alternative Grave Markers

Typically when we think of grave markers, you might imagine a plaque or a cross (both of which we craft), but our range of alternative grave markers can be laid on the grass if you’re looking for something a little bit different. Our lawn memorials can be crafted using timber however, they are more commonly crafted from granite or corian. Both these materials have a reputation for being long-lasting and possessing the wow factor.

Our Corian and Granite Memorial hearts make for beautiful grave markers. They can simply be laid on the ground of a burial place and they require little to no maintenance throughout their lifetime of honouring your loved ones. Even though memorials generally serve a serious purpose, we’d encourage you to lean into our contemporary-styled memorials if you’re looking for something more modern and expressive. Our heart-shaped lawn memorials can be personalised however you’d like them, enabling you to celebrate your loved one in a way that feels right for you.

Corian is a stunning material that is made from stone dust and resin (providing the material with a stone-like feel without the natural markings found in other stone types). Stone-like-corian can be ordered in a range of different colours, again contributing to the contemporary flare of these memorials. Granite is a beautiful natural stone that comes in a range of colours. It is hard to compete with the quality of granite, and it’s standout appearance.

Traditional Memorials Crosses

A bespoke memorial cross is a poignant grave marker. Blending simplicity with elegance, these memorials are the perfect way to pay tribute to a loved one. At UK Memorials, we’re proud to offer a broad range of memorial crosses. Our memorial cross grave markers can be handcrafted from timber or stone to match your vision. You might choose to incorporate images, photos, or a personal written tribute. Whatever you need from a grave marker, our team will work alongside you to achieve your desired memorial.

Our wooden crosses might be a good choice if you’re looking for a memorial with a more natural appearance, but our stone crosses have a certain finesse that is hard to compete with. Each memorial cross grave marker can be crafted in various sizes and styles – including the popular Celtic design.

Handcrafted Grave Markers From UK Memorials

Our experience and business values are the two qualities that most distinguish us from fellow memorial specialists. Having been in the business for nearly 25 years, our award-winning team have perfected the craft of the perfect grave marker so that you can rest assured knowing that we will deliver a quality memorial that meets and exceeds your expectations. As each memorial onsite is made to order, we’d encourage you to be specific about what you’re looking for so that we can get a memorial just right for you.

As a business, we prioritise delivering the best manufacturing processes and bespoke products while embracing a sustainable ethos and championing independent businesses. We pride ourselves on achieving this without compromising on quality and on offering a range of grave markers that vary in price, utility, and design. UK Memorial has a phenomenal reputation, with hundreds of satisfied customers vouching for our personable service and unique memorials.

While we’re a UK-based company, we trade internationally, so wherever you are in the world, you too can purchase a beautiful bespoke grave marker. Again, our experience has enabled us to quality control our packing process so that your memorial arrives safely from our workshop to your door (in the unlikely event that this is not the case, our phenomenal customer service team will assist you).

It would be a privilege to work with you on a grave marker to honour your loved one, so please do get in touch with our team to find out more – or to order a bespoke grave marker with us today.

Click here for more information on our range of grave markers.

01769 618585 | sales@uk-memorials.net

Pewter Memorial Urns

Posted on 16th March 2024 by Kate

Having crafted timber ash caskets for several years, we know that keeping the ashes of loved ones can bring comfort to those grieving. When it comes to keeping ashes at home, crafting a practical yet aesthetic vessel is important. This is why we are growing our existing range of memorials by introducing an exquisite collection of Pewter Memorial Urns.

Introducing The Collection

Our range of Pewter Urns consists of more variety than you might expect. Including different shapes and sizes, making space for distinct budgets and requirements, this collection has something for many individuals looking for the perfect keepsake.

Our full-size pewter urns are designed for the ashes of an adult. Available in a traditional shape, in addition to our collection of modern pewter urns, if you’re looking for a contemporary casket then we’ll have a good fit for you. Furthermore, we craft smaller keepsake urns for a token amount of ashes. Our heart-shaped pewter urn specifically is only available in a smaller size. These would make a beautiful keepsake for a young person or a token ash collection. Both sizes of urn can be purchased in the style of a Pacific wave, Atlantic wave, and pyramid shape – alongside the traditional style.

Each urn is elevated with a brushed satin finish. The result is a subtle, matte finish with a soft sheen so the pewter is less reflective. We deliver every urn with a black velvet bag and partner them with an elegant cream and black presentation box.

Keeping Things Simple

There can be something rather poignant about keeping things simple regarding an urn. These Pewter Urns in particular loan themselves well to an air of simplicity. With a range of different shapes and sizes available in this collection, you might find yourself leaning towards something of structural beauty as opposed to using engraved messages and tributes to honour a loved one. If that’s the case, allow us to take care of the careful craftmanship of a memorial urn for you.

The Personalised Touch

While some like to keep things simple, one of our specialisms is bespoke design. Bespoke design enables each individual to have a memorial crafted that fits their vision. As urns are such personal keepsakes, we’re proud to bring the personalised touch to our Pewter Urn Collection.

Personalisation can come in several different forms (depending primarily on the size of the urn that you choose and your design preferences). We can engrave up to 4 lines of text using the latest engraving technology. This might be a short tribute, some poetry, song lyrics, or a more traditional inscription. If you’re struggling to choose the words you’d like to include, one of our previous blogs, ‘Finding The Right Words‘, might point you in the right direction. The engraving can be done in various fonts, helping you to get the right finish. Alternatively, you might like to include an engraved drawing or symbol on your pewter urn. These small embellishments can make an urn feel more personal and celebratory.

Unsure about whether we can achieve the look that you’re after? Please don’t hesitate to contact our team directly! We’re always keen to see how we can make a memorial work for you and we will do our best to work alongside you on a design that you’re truly happy with. Our experienced customer service team and designers work closely to support your vision.

The Finest Craftsmanship

Crafted by master craftspeople for unparalleled quality, this unique range of bespoke urns has timeless class. Each piece is beautifully designed and brought to life; only the finest items are dispatched from the premises so rest assured that you are guaranteed a quality memorial that will meet and exceed your expectations.

At UK Memorials, we pride ourselves on our exceptional standards. As a family-run memorial specialist, we know that the value of memorials goes beyond a monetary exchange. Pewter Urns honour the lives of your loved ones which is why we take such care within the workshop and beyond it.

In addition to being home to some of the finest craftspeople, we also pride ourselves on being an eco-conscious business. We strive to do this without compromising the quality of our service or products. You might like to know that our workshop is powered primarily by green energy (supplied by our wind turbine, biomass boiler, and solar panels). Our commitment to the environment goes one step further with our extensive rewilding programme. Our managerial team focuses on restoring the biodiversity of our local landscape. When you purchase from UK Memorials, you’re working alongside a business that invests in the future while enabling you to remember the loved ones you’re memorialising.

It would be a privilege to work alongside you, so do get in touch with our team for more information.

01769 618585 | sales@uk-memorials.net

Our Guide To Natural Memorials

Posted on 11th February 2024 by Kate

The Natural Choice

Are you considering purchasing a natural memorial? Thankfully, you’re on the right path having discovered our guide to natural memorials. Now, ‘The Natural Choice’ may insinuate that we would be short on memorials to offer you. However, just because you have chosen something sustainable, doesn’t mean that you cannot have a personal memorial. In fact, in the hands of our award-winning craftspeople, it means quite the opposite.

UK Memorials (our family-run, Devon-based, memorial specialist business) is home to a range of natural memorials that may fit your vision. Our guide to natural memorials should help you navigate some of our available options. That being said, if you can’t see what you’re looking for, drop us an email and we’ll see if we can still come alongside you by crafting an entirely bespoke memorial.

Small Wooden Memorials

If you’re looking for an understated natural memorial, our small wooden memorials may be just what you’re after. These plaques may be smaller than a traditional lawn memorial, but they are no less honouring. Despite their reduced canvas, thanks to laser engraving technology, we can still design a memorial that is worthy of the life that you are remembering.

We know that each of our customers has a personal preference when it comes to memorials. Bespoke craftsmanship is one of our specialisms, enabling us to personalise a memorial with different layouts, fonts, and images. You could even personalise the shape of a small wooden memorial, as demonstrated with some of our favourite wooden heart memorials below. Alternatively, you may choose to keep things simple. The benefit of having a bespoke memorial service is that we can make a memorial work for you, no matter what you’re looking for.

Wooden Lawn Memorials [90-95mm thick]

Our Wooden Lawn Memorials are the most popular of our natural memorials. Typically handcrafted from Iroko (although sometimes from Oak or Balau), these robust and chunky memorials are designed to last. They are 100% wood, making them an ideal choice for natural burial grounds – but their natural beauty may also be attractive to those in search of a softer memorial for their loved one.

Our Wooden Lawn Memorials have a beautiful finish that stands out for all the right reasons. They do this while blending with their natural surroundings. The experienced team of craftspeople here at UK Memorials will select a piece of quality timber that allows your design to sing from the memorial. We couldn’t speak more highly of these particular natural memorials.

Wooden Memorials with Wooden Tree Stakes

Perhaps you have considered a tree stake memorial, but you haven’t found one suitable for a natural burial ground? Even in this instance, we have got you covered.

Our wooden memorials can be partnered with a wooden tree stake, handcrafted to your exact specifications. The wooden plaque or memorial can be secured to the tree stake with a wooden dowel. This means that there is no need for screws, as screws frequently make a memorial unsuitable for woodland burials.

Wooden tree stake memorials can be inserted into the ground with ease, and are ideal if you’re looking for a subtle way to mark a resting place.

Woodland Caskets

Much like our wooden tree stakes, our bespoke wooden caskets are suitable for natural burial grounds. They are also ideal for those in search of an eco-friendly ash storage box. Secured together with dowels, as opposed to nails or screws, these special caskets wow with their natural flair. Our carpentry team will ensure that the caskets are smooth to the touch, and crafted to the highest standard.

If you’re unsure where to start with a memorial inscription, we’ll aim to help you find the perfect fit – but we always recommend that you go with your heart when designing a memorial. A memorial is a personal thing, which is why we choose to offer engraved woodland caskets. Being able to honour a loved one with an engraving of poetry or a simple tribute can transform the appearance of these precious memorials.

Alternative Memorials

It is worth noting that some burial grounds allow memorials crafted from locally sourced slate. Our experienced stonemason can work wonders with our Lakeland Green Slate (sourced from The Lake District) and Welsh Blue Slate. Both slates have a stand-out appearance that would be a fitting choice for a memorial. However, we do recommend that you check with your local burial ground before purchasing one of these alternative memorials.

Why The Natural Choice?

While our guide to natural memorials has explored some of the practicalities behind each natural memorial we craft, we are aware that for some there is a profound sense of spirituality in opting for the natural choice. Natural memorials are often partnered with the concept of returning a body or a soul to nature, which some individuals gain a sense of comfort from.

Natural burial grounds also tend to embrace the idea that natural memorials are a more eco-friendly way to honour the life of your loved one. However, sometimes an eco-friendly memorial or funeral is requested within a will. As a team, we understand the significance of the work that we do, and will always try to honour this by offering high-quality memorials in as wide a range as possible.

If a natural memorial is what you’re looking for, please get in touch with our team!
You can reach us either on 01769 618585 or via sales@uk-memorials.net

Quality Brass for a Traditional Memorial

Posted on 12th November 202312th November 2023 by Kate

Quality brass for a traditional memorial is one of those timeless traditions that many still choose to uphold today when selecting a memorial plaque for a loved one. With their history dating back as far as the thirteenth century, it isn’t surprising to us as memorial specialists that engraved brass plaques continue to be a popular choice.

The appearance of brass is the quality that strikes most of us when we think of a brass plaque. Brass has a distinguishable finish that is unique and recognisable. Suitable for interior and exterior display, a brass memorial can be utilised for years to come. It is worth us mentioning now, that some regular maintenance will be required either way.

Generally, brass memorials tend to be accompanied by traditional designs and presentations. While we can facilitate this, our speciality is crafting bespoke memorials that are crafted with your specifications in mind. This enables you to choose the finish that best suits the memorial you are looking for. Our priority is you, and crafting a memorial that brings your vision into reality; whether straying from tradition or aligning with it.

Honouring Tradition

Traditional engraved brass plaques exude a classic quality that is hard to compete with. Speaking of quality, at UK Memorials, we use top-quality CZ120 brass which has a good corrosion resistance. When a brass plaque adopts the conventional formatting, the memorial can speak for itself without any additional distraction. Depending on the intended location of your memorial, and your design preferences, honouring tradition might be just right for you. If you’re curious about memorial formatting or have found yourself wondering what to include in your memorial, our sister company, The Sign Maker, published a blog on memorial inscriptions that you may find helpful.

Honouring tradition, however, isn’t just about your choice of material. When working with UK Memorials, you’re working with an experienced team of craftspeople. We choose to honour traditional methods of craftsmanship (while still benefitting from modern technology and machinery). This enables us as a team to achieve the very best finish on a memorial for you. We know how important a memorial is to individuals, families, and communities which is why tradition and quality are two words that we used to define ourselves with.

Giving Traditional Memorials The Modern Edge

The versatility of brass loans itself well to a variety of engraving techniques. It is this quality that enables us to modernise the appearance of a brass plaque if that is something you’d be keen to explore.

From a design perspective, there are endless possibilities. Each memorial that we craft is bespoke, allowing you to get exactly what you want and need from a brass memorial plaque crafted by our team. With the support of our award-winning team, for whom nothing is too much trouble, and by using the latest engraving technology, we can give a memorial the modern edge. This can be achieved by straying from traditional formatting or by including imagery and photography within your plaque design.

Displaying A Brass Memorial Plaque

In some instances, affixing a brass plaque directly to a surface works perfectly well. For example, with a brass bench plaque or a wall-mounted memorial, requesting holes may be enough for you. However, we do offer several design alternatives for those seeking the appropriate display for their specific brass plaque.

One way that you can enhance the display of a brass plaque is with a handcrafted wooden backing board. As you can see from several examples, a backing board can elevate the appearance of the plaque. We work with numerous timbers onsite, enabling us to match the plaque with a timber that works for you. We would say that oak is the most traditional and complimentary style of timber, but we will always aim to work with you on the perfect fit.

Moulded plaque holders are an ideal choice for plant stakes, grave markers, and memorial tree stakes. Partnering an engraved brass plaque with a plaque holder is a poignant way to pay tribute to a loved one at a place of rest or commemoration. The plaque itself can follow the traditional formatting, or be led by a more modern design. This might look like choosing to include images, borders, or additional words of your choosing.

So, whether you’re seeking quality brass for a traditional memorial, or you fancy working with our team, get in touch with UK Memorials today. We’d be glad to serve you.

Can’t see what you’re looking for? Don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll see how we can best help you.

Telephone: 01769 561355 | Email: sales@uk-memorials.net | https://linktr.ee/thesignmaker

The Importance Of Memories

Posted on 1st August 202216th October 2022 by Kate

Memories are an important part of how we establish identity in ourselves and connection with others. Consequently, there is something special about being able to explore shared experiences with one another – particularly in seasons of grief. Finding a way through grief is not about forgetting those who have passed away, but about allowing ourselves to remember the essence of who they were so that their presence might remain with us. Remembering someone we loved might be painful at first, but there can be joy in remembering, and our treasured memories are perhaps the best place to start.

Immersing Ourselves in Memories

Memories give us multidimensional access to moments in our lives. I say this because the memories that we draw upon tend to be sensory – prompted, for example, by a scent, sighting or by taste. There is something less daunting about allowing ourselves to grieve through our memories, particularly when we can share these moments with other loved ones or within a community.

For example, just recently, a member of the team had the opportunity to visit RHS Rosemoor as they hosted a ‘Vintage Weekend’. There were military reenactments, old-school music and dancing, and her favourite part, a whole host of vintage vehicles. Given that her grandparents owned a blue, vintage MG sportscar in the early years of their relationship, she found herself doing some reminiscing of her own, and she wasn’t the only one!

As she wandered around the arboretum, there was a buzz on the lips of many, exclaims of ‘Do you remember when?’, or ‘I used to love those 70’s print curtains’. She described it as ‘a special weekend to witness, and a wonderful example of how when individuals are given the space to reminisce – they will do so freely’! This illustrates the value of allowing yourself to remember and reminds us why it is important to honour the memories that we have.

Exploring Memories In Day To Day Life

Immersing yourself in your memories of a loved one might look like baking their favourite cake, wearing a perfume that you know they liked, visiting somewhere you might have gone together, or perhaps just allowing yourself the space to remember. You don’t even necessarily have to be intentional about sharing your memories, it can just be as and when the moment takes you! Memories are precious for many reasons, but they can also be a healthy way to navigate your way through grief as they enable us to find a sense of self that we might lose in challenging seasons. Memories are a tangible reminder of the love that was shared between individuals, which is why they can be so impactful when experiencing loss.

Helping You To Remember

At The Sign Maker and Uk Memorials, we pride ourselves on putting our customers first. That is why we take the opportunity to openly talk about grief as we do. We know that those ordering memorials from us will be looking for a way to remember loved ones that they have lost, so we strive to explore some of those different avenues alongside you.

In addition to encouraging you to get in touch with your memories, we’d love you to take advantage of some of our bespoke memorials too – crafted in a way that allows you to design a memorial that honours those memories that we cherish. From photo memorials to memorials featuring written or visual tributes, we hope that we will have the perfect fit for you. However you’d like to remember your loved one, you can rest assured that your memories will be cherished by us and celebrated by our memorials.

Wherever this finds you, we hope that you can find joy in reminiscing on your memories. Perhaps you’d like to share them with us, or perhaps you’d like to feature them on a memorial. We honour the memories of your loved ones alongside you, and we hope that brings you some comfort today.

Memorials by The Sign Maker and Uk Memorials

Telephone: 01769 561355 | Email: sales@sign-maker.net | https://linktr.ee/thesignmaker

Honouring A Life’s Work with A Community Memorial

Posted on 7th July 20227th July 2022 by Kate

There are a variety of ways to honour the life’s work of somebody who made a big impression on a community. From small events and ceremonies to community gardens – we know that celebrating those who invest so much love into what they do is important. We also believe that memorial plaques can be a wonderful way to pay tribute to a legacy of an employee or local citizen. This is why we wanted to write a blog for you on some of the pieces we craft at Uk Memorials.

Photo Memorials

With advances in technology, photo memorials are becoming an increasingly popular choice. A photo memorial would be appropriate for a business or community memorial because they have proven themselves to be fitting tributes. Photo memorials can be crafted with a variety of materials. The full colour printed memorials are a particular favourite of ours because they are long lasting and weather resistant. You can therefore choose to display these pieces indoors or outdoors without a worry. Full colour printed memorials are generally low maintenance or maintenance free memorials, ideal for communities or businesses as you won’t have to concern yourself with who will provide upkeep of the memorial. The tribute will remain in good condition for years to come, an ideal choice.

Engraved Plaques

Engraved plaques can be crafted from virtually any material here at Uk Memorials. Whether you’re looking for a simple piece or an elegant mounted plaque, our large range of engraved pieces should enable you to find something that works for you. From value-for-money acrylic laminate plaques (available in a range of shapes, sizes and colours), to more traditional bronze plaques mounted on Oak – we are proud to craft memorials that allow businesses and communities to honour beloved employees and friends in their own unique way.

Engraved Memorials. — Engraved Memorials

In recent years, we have seen an increase of businesses planting trees to celebrate the life’s work of someone in their community. This is a beautiful idea, and a poignant way to share the impact that an individual made on the world. Using a tree stake to create this particular memorial space is an effective way to bring attention to a tree planted in loving memory of someone who worked within your business or community. At Uk Memorials, we can craft an all in one tree stake, or provide a tree stake for you to enable you to present an engraved plaque. We hope to have a perfect fit for you (if you can’t find what you’re looking for, it is always worth calling in to chat to one of our team to see what we can do for you).

Why Choose Uk Memorials for a Business or Community Memorial?

As a business ourselves, we understand how important these memorials are. The advantage of choosing Uk Memorials to craft these pieces for you is that we specialise in bespoke memorials, enabling us to craft a memorial that is truly reflective of the person that you are honouring as a business or community. Our team is also able to advise on different materials, and our design team will ensure that your memorials looks perfect. As a team, we craft with the perfect balance of love and skill, bringing you high quality memorials without losing the personal touch that you are guaranteed with us.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or queries, we would love to hear from you.

You can call us on 01769 561355, or email us at sales@sign-maker.net.

Alternatively, you can also find us on Facebook by clicking here.