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

Sustainably Crafted Memorials

Posted on 4th August 20234th August 2023 by Peak Online

Green funerals and sustainably crafted memorials have never been higher in demand. With many keen to lower their carbon footprint, it is unsurprising that memorials have had a greener shift too. At UK Memorials, we have always been passionate about the environment. So, we wanted to share some of the ways in which craft with a mindfulness of the environment.

Sustainable Craftsmanship

Utilising renewable energy is perhaps the biggest way that UK Memorials operates sustainably. Just six months after we moved onsite, we had a wind turbine installed. A number of years later the biomass boiler arrived. This has given us two renewable sources of energy for our workshops, offices and the Price family home! Consequently, our business is run more efficiently in terms of our energy usage. This year, we also installed solar panels – expanding our green energy structure one step further. We care about our environmental impact, and we care about the customers that we provide for. This is why we continue to make significant sustainable changes for our business.

We are keen to advocate for the idea that even the seemingly insignificant eco-conscious acts make a difference. Whether caring for the wildlife to increase biodiversity, planting up a small patch of wildflowers, or making an effort with your recycling – every little helps. These are all things that we like to implement within our business, which in turn gives you the peace of mind that you are purchasing a memorial that has been crafted with the environment in mind.

Memorials Suitable For A Natural Burial Ground

The majority of our memorials that would be suitable for a natural burial ground are crafted from wood. While this might feel like your options are limited, we specialise in bespoke memorials and will aim to get these pieces just right for you. With options when it comes to timber, style and design, there is versatility to play with even within sustainable measures. The most common timbers that we work with for sustainable memorials are Oak, Iroko and Balau.

Oak is known for its traditional class, Iroko is ideal for an outdoor memorial due to its natural oiliness and Balau has a reputation for durability. While these are three timbers that we would recommend for a sustainably crafted wooden memorial, please do enquire about any other timbers that we craft with. We’d love to find the perfect match for you and our experienced team are in a position to support you through the process.

It is also worth noting that some natural burial sites also permit small slate memorials which we also craft. Slate is becoming one of our favourite materials to work with due to is versatility and classic appearance with each piece that we craft.

Memorials Crafted From PaperStone

PaperStone is one of our newer materials, but it is one that our team have really got behind. The material itself is made up of layers of recycled paper and cardboard, before being saturated with a petroleum-free, pigmented natural resin. The resin, much to our surprise, has been extracted from the shells of cashew shells!! Once the elements have been pressed together under extreme heat, PaperStone is formed. This lightweight, sustainable material would be perfect for someone looking for a low-carbon memorial. As far as eco-friendly memorials, you’ll be challenged to find something as well-suited and unique as our sustainable memorials crafted from PaperStone.

Eco-Friendly Caskets

While sustainably crafted memorials are growing in demand, as are eco-friendly caskets – particularly for natural burials or the sustainably conscious. Our eco-friendly caskets are crafted from Oak, just as many of our other caskets are. However, the big difference is that our eco-friendly caskets don’t require metal fixings. We use wooden doweling to fix the box together. This may be a requirement of a natural burial site, or you may find it to your preference.

Nothing is too much trouble for our team. You won’t miss out just because you’re choosing an eco-friendly casket – we want to make these memorials work for you as best as we can. These caskets can be crafted in several sizes, and we can even laser engraved the box so that you don’t miss out on what a plaque might have offered you. Do get in touch with us to find out more.

If you’re at all curious about our crafting processes or our materials, please do get in touch with us. As a member of the Association Of Green Funeral Directors and a business partner of The North Devon Biosphere, we know that these conversations are important – particularly for those who are passionate about securing a sustainable memorial. We craft and operate as consciously of the environment as possible. We aim to do this without compromising on the quality that we deliver to you. Our experienced and award-winning team would love the opportunity to come alongside you to bring together an eco-friendly memorial.

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

Making Space for Grief at Christmas

Posted on 19th December 202224th May 2023 by Peak Online

In a season surrounded with seemingly endless festive cheer, making space for grief at Christmas time might feel a little strange. There are expectations of family fun and a universal prerequisite for feelings of hope and of joy. However, at UK Memorials, we appreciate that those experiencing feelings of grief (whether over a recent loss or for somebody who died many years before), may be seeking comfort throughout this particular period. We first want to say that our hearts go out to anybody seeking space for their grief this Christmas. Our thoughts are with you and we hope that this short blog post can offer a few words of advice for this season.

Ways To Make Space For Your Grief At Christmas Time

Talk About It!

In British culture especially, we tend to shy away from conversations about death or grief, but we know how important it is to talk about those that we miss having around us. When crafting memorials for people, we find that individuals want the space to be able to express how they are feeling at a time of grief – so remember to continue having those difficult conversations; even at Christmas time. You could open with a memory, reflect on your feelings of missing somebody or intentionally ask others around you how they are feeling at this time to pave way for honest conversation.

Tangible Reminders

While there is no right or wrong way to express or experience grief, sometimes having a more tangible reminder can be a way of acknowledging your grief. Something might immediately jump out as to what that might be for you, but if not – here are a few ideas.

A chosen decoration or something engraved may provide a gentle reminder of somebody special. Below you can see pictured a snowglobe that one of our team keeps out all year round, but it takes a more prominant place at Christmas as a reminder of their Nana. Certain foods or songs can also be beautiful ways of introducing your memories to Christmas time without them being upsetting. For example, we know individuals who recreate a specific pudding their parents made at Christmas to honour their lives in a subtle but tangible way.

As memorial specialists, we have also crafted numerous bespoke memorials that allows individuals, families and communties to create a tribute that celebrates a loved one. Whether for a home memorial or a final resting place, many find a memorial to be a special way of celebrating the life of a loved one.

Tangible Memories and Memorials | Making Space for Grief at Christmas by UK Memorials

Making Space In Nature

Surround yourself with life by making space in nature. If you’ve followed along with us (or our sister company, The Sign Maker) for a while now, you’ll know that we love keeping an eye on the local wildlife. We know there to be numerous benefits from spending time out in nature; from lowering stress to creating a space to remain in the present moment, finding your way outside this Christmas might give you the breathing space necesary to grieve in a way that isn’t so overwhelming.

They say ‘Robins appear when loved one’s are near’, so maybe try and spot their vibrant redbreast on a wintery walk. Perhaps you find the same sense of hope in the appearance of a rainbow that we do. It might be that you’d enjoy a wander along the beach, or a moment in a local garden. There are infinate tiny snapshots of nature to find and explore, and our hope would be that making this space is somewhat restorative to you too.

Make Space In Nature - Robin and Rainbow | Making Space for Grief at Christmas by UK Memorials

Surround Yourself With Support and Community

Experiencing grief can be challenging enough without trying to do it all alone. Grief can have a way of making us feel isolated, so knowing where you can find support and communtiy could make all the difference. One charity that we always recommend is Cruse. Cruse are the UK’s leading Bereavement charity offering a helpful website, national helpline and even counselling sessions. Their helpline will be open across various hours throughout the festive period, so if you’re looking for support from trained volunteers who can come alongside you at this time – we’d recommend looking in to the support that they offer. The good grief trust also have some great resources that you might like to make use of.

As a result of the pandemic, online communites are also more prominent than ever before. It might be that you’re not looking specifically to talk about your grief, but are instead looking for a communtiy to share this time with. For the past few years, Sarah Millican has been hosting #JoinIn – a virtual campaign for strangers to connect internationally in online spaces. Last year in particular, the feedback was that this was a friendly outreach campaign, so it might be that something like this brings you a little comfort this year.

Click Here for Bereavement Support | Click Here to #JoinIn with Sarah Millican on Christmas Day

Allow Yourself To Feel All Your Feelings

Last, but not least, remember that it is okay to feel multiple things at once. It is possible to both feel and acknowledge grief while still experiencing moments of joy. The two need not be mutually exclusive – it is okay to let a little Christmas magic in no matter what other feelings you experience across this festive season. This might bring up some challenges of it’s own (for instance, feelings of guilt or a heightened sense of grief from time to time), however it serves as a good reminder that life is both beautiful and painful all at the same time.

We’d like to wish you a very Merry Christmas from our whole team here at UK Memorials, and we hope that these little reminders prove helpful no matter the time of year. If there is anything that we can do to support you from a memorial perspective, then please do get in touch and our team will get back to you in the new year.

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

Granite Memorials and Plaques

Posted on 3rd November 202224th May 2023 by Peak Online

Each material that we craft with at UK Memorials can make a memorial stand out in its own way, but we’ve always found there to be an outstanding finish to our granite memorials and plaques. Granite has been a long-lasting popular choice for memorials (traditionally and specifically headstones due to its toughness and durability). This is why we have chosen to continue the tradition of crafting memorials from granite – but we also choose to offer granite memorials with a modern twist.

Handcrafted Granite Memorials

Granite has a stand-out, high-quality appearance (particularly when polished by our thorough and expert team). Specialising in bespoke memorials is something that we are incredibly proud of. No two memorials need to look the same, allowing some to honour the traditional layout of a memorial, and others to personalise and modernise a memorial to celebrate the loved one that they’re honouring in a way that feels right for them.

By nature, granite has a natural appearance as a result of being quarried which gives some variation in each piece of stone. Additionally, granite is available in several different colours including shades of black, blue, grey and green – allowing space for our customers a choice when designing a memorial. Our granite memorials and plaques are also available in different thicknesses, shapes (including wedges) and sizes. While we stock some sizes as standard, our talented craftsmen can work with you to achieve the final appearance that you had in mind.

Granite Memorial Wedges and Plaques | The Sign Maker — Granite Wedges

Designing A Bespoke Granite Memorial

Layout and lettering are important features of memorial design. Using a blend of traditional and modern crafting techniques, we can craft granite memorials and plaques that can be cherished for a long time to come. In terms of lettering, we can use a wide range of fonts, and recently we have seen an increase in those choosing to include images in memorials (whether they are photographs or small graphics).

Depending on the level of detail you’d like and the finish you want to achieve, we may choose to sandblast or impact engrave the final design once you have approved a proof copy from us. Impact engraving is still a relatively new technique for us, but one that we have had great success with so far turning out some revolutionary results.

At Uk Memorials, we are proud to craft with quality precision, but we are also proud to be memorial specialists who are able to keep your wishes at the forefront of our craftsmanship and service. Being a family business means that we appreciate the challenges that come with designing a memorial, but we are here to support and advise you throughout the process.

Why Granite?

Granite is a timeless classic of a material when it comes to memorials and plaques. Granite’s effortless ability to honour and celebrate the lives of loved ones has been evident since we first began crafting memorials. This material is long-lasting, versatile in terms of design, and a wonderful way to create a tangible record of a life and legacy.

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

PaperStone Memorials

Posted on 6th October 202224th May 2023 by Peak Online

Over the past number of years, there has been a considerable increase in individuals choosing a natural burial. With natural burials having a lesser negative impact on the environment, it is easy to see why a green burial may be preferable. Natural burials have also been considered a more gentle way of coming to rest, allowing the individual to ‘return to the earth’ as a means of conserving it. As a manufacturer of memorials for all, and in keeping with our own sustainable ethos, ensuring that we offer a range of memorials that would be suitable for a natural burial is something that we are passionate about. This is why when we stumbled upon PaperStone, we were glad to be able to add this material to our growing memorial range.

What Is PaperStone?

You might be wondering, what is PaperStone? Fortunately, we can explain a little more about how this material comes together. PaperStone is a unique material constructed of recycled FSC paper and cardboard layered up and bound with a petroleum-free, pigmented natural resin (the photo below illustrates what it looks like on the inside). Fun fact – the resin is extracted from the shells of cashew nuts! These layers are pressed under extreme heat thus creating PaperStone. It is smooth to the touch, lightweight and (perhaps above all), sustainable. PaperStone is supplied to us in a range of select colours, and we can work with this material to achieve a wide range of results.

PaperStone Memorials | UK Memorials | Sustainable, Eco-friendly and perfect for natural burials

When we put PaperStone to the test, we were in awe of the way that it showcased a variety of designs. From intricately detailed imagery to bold and simple designs, this versatile material is something special! These qualities should allow you to design a memorial that is just what your mind’s eye imagines. This is something that we pride ourselves on doing across each memorial that we craft. We appreciate how tough it can be to go through the process of ordering a memorial which is why we make each piece to order so that we can get your memorial just right for you. From size, shape and design – our priority is that you receive a memorial that celebrates and honours the life you are celebrating.

Benefits Of A PaperStone Memorial

PaperStone is a one-of-a-kind material, and, in our safe hands, it is the perfect sustainable choice. The product is crafted from recycled materials while also being, in itself, recyclable. In addition, we craft all of our memorials with sustainable processes including renewable energy and recyclable packaging while also caring for our local environment and reducing our carbon footprint where possible. For a memorial with a minimal impact on the environment but a quality finish, PaperStone Memorials, crafted by UK Memorials, is the perfect pick for 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.

Finding The Right Words

Posted on 23rd June 202223rd June 2022 by Kate

Finding the right words can be challenging at the best of times. I imagine that we will all have examples of moments in our life where we’ve stumbled over the right thing to say. However, we know it can be particularly difficult to find a way to express the love felt for someone special in our lives when arranging a memorial for them. This is why we wanted to create space for a conversation around writing memorial inscriptions.

Our experience in crafting memorials suggests that this is something that many individuals struggle with. If you are reading this and this holds true for you in this season, then you have come to the right place and we are glad to the have opportunity to explore different ways of writing the perfect memorial inscription.

The History Of Traditional Memorial Inscriptions

Memorials have been utilised for longer than we might imagine. The very first memorials included the person’s name, date of birth and death and short tribute. The traditional formatting enabled memorials to be a record of life which, alongside the hundreds of memorials in each location, could create a bigger picture of life as a whole.

Traditional memorial formatting still has a place in modern-day memorial inscriptions, it is just no longer a requirement for all memorial pieces. We find these types of memorials still prove popular, in the UK in particular, many still like to observe tradition at times such as these. Some choose to honour tradition completely by using traditional materials such as brass, however, we also find that we craft many traditional designs into modern materials such as Corian. Though we love that modern memorial design allows space for creativity and expression in a way that traditional memorial design does not, we still value and appreciate the respect for the original formatting of memorials.

Making A Memorial Your Own

There is no right or wrong way to design a memorial. The way we each express love is different, and the people we are honouring and celebrating are all different too, so it is wonderful to be able to design and craft memorials that cherish this uniqueness too. At UK Memorials, we craft the widest range of memorials that you can imagine. From colourful, poetic celebrations to simple, but entirely beautiful, tributes – both are pieces that we feel privileged to craft that have a place of their own.

Previously, we created a page dedicated to word-orientated tributes (which can be found on the website of our sister company – The Sign Maker). It can be helpful to see the routes that other individuals have taken to celebrate their loved ones. You may find this a practical place to start if you’re in the process of designing a memorial for a loved one, and you’re finding the process particularly challenging.

At UK Memorials, we delight in being able to design memorials that work for you. The most important thing about a memorial inscription is that it celebrates your loved one in a way that is meaningful to you, and we are here every step of the way to help you achieve that.

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.

Crafting Bespoke Memorials with Impact Engraving

Posted on 16th June 202216th June 2022 by Kate

At UK Memorials, we pride ourselves on crafting bespoke memorials that are reflective of the loved ones that our customers are honouring. As a result, we have crafted some truly unique pieces over the years – memorials that we are proud to have brought together using a blend of traditional and modern crafting methods by our top-performing craftsmen. Because of the expertise within our team, we enjoy trialling new techniques that enable our memorial tributes to meet and exceed expectations.

Being client-led pushes us to be constantly looking to better the way we approach crafting our memorials. Most recently, we found that individuals were approaching us wanting clearer imagining and refined details to push the design of their memorials to the next level. Impact engraving has proved itself to be the best way to achieve the results that are greatly sought after.

The Process Of Impact Engraving

You might be wondering what makes impact engraving different from other engraving techniques? How does impact engraving mark with great precision that standard engravers? Ultimately, it is thanks to the work of a high-speed needle that enables the impact engraver to work to such proficiency. The consistent finish of impact engraving is crafted by the needle repeatedly piercing the surface of the material. Though granite is the material that we trialled this new technique on – we hope to experiment with impact engraving across different stone types to see if it proves successful for other memorials too.

We have been using this new machine for a few months now, and we have received some great feedback about the designs crafted by impact engraving. Despite using this same technique across a number of pieces, each design has a unique appearance (check out our gallery here) as we are able to alter the needle movement’s strength and frequency. These alterations mean that our team can create character and depth with designs, particularly images, and we can craft memorials that are exquisitely detailed.

Working With Uk Memorials

Crafting a unique memorial is about more than just the design, we also believe that the craftsmanship of these pieces can make a substantial difference. We want your memorial tribute to stand out for all the right reasons – something that we hope we achieved across all of the signage that we are privileged to work on.

If you’d like to know more about the way that we craft our memorials, then please do get in touch with us. If you’ve reached our site and you’re looking for a memorial piece – rest assured that we are a safe pair of hands for a high-quality memorial that has been cared for at every stage of production. We’d love to hear from you and work alongside you on a piece that we know means much more than being just a memorial.

Pet Memorials

Posted on 19th May 202216th April 2025 by Kate

When we spend so much time with our pets, little and large, it is not surprising that they come to mean so much to us. Whether they are a faithful, loyal dog, a playful, cosy cat or a noble and trustworthy horse – each pet is special to us. It is not surprising that when they pass we want a little token to remember them by. That is why here at UK Memorials, we make a range of memorials specifically for pets. The team at UK Memorials have the joy of loving a wide range of furry friends including cats, horses, dogs and even ferrets, so we know how much these memorials mean to you. We have created this blog to navigate you through some examples of the beautiful pet memorials that you could choose from.

Engraved Pet Memorials

At UK Memorials, we can create an All-In-One Engraved Plaque and holder. These pet memorials are great value for money and are ideal for displaying in the garden. Engraved brass is a traditional choice. It has an excellent shine when maintained but this necessary upkeep isn’t for everybody. If you’re looking for a memorial plaque that is virtually maintenance-free, then aluminium or acrylic laminate may be a better option for you.

Our engraved memorial plaques are also a popular pet memorial choice here at UK Memorials. They come in a variety of materials, including Corian. Corian is a long-lasting and low- maintenance material that comes in a wide selection of colours. It is a bit like a stone substitute but it is actually man-made. It is made from stone dust and resin which provides a stone-like appearance and feel but with a more uniform finish. Slate Corian is one of the most popular colours but Marble, Anthracite and Everest are lovely colours too.

Engraved aluminium plaques are also an option. The aluminium plaques are available in several colours (black and dark bronze being our most popular). The engraving is done by laser which enables you to design a plaque with smaller text and finer details. Additionally, the stainless steel plaques that we create are tough and hard-wearing making them a popular choice. The lettering can be etched or laser engraved and photos can even be incorporated into the design.

In addition to the plaque you can add a wooden backing board and or a stake so that the plaque can be displayed easily from outside. Click here to see our Wooden Backing Boards and stakes.

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UK memorials has a wide range of engraved pet memorial plaques.

Photo Memorial Plaques

We have a great selection of full colour memorial options including:

Porcelian plaques which aremade from vitreous porcelain, the Porcelain pet memorials are ideal for being outdoors. Their ceramic pigments are fade-resistant and the plaques are easy to maintain due to their durable finish. Some pet owners like to include a few words with their memorials. With these particular pieces, we can mount them onto a piece of stone-like Corian and engrave the wording there.

Full-Colour Anodised Memorials use the latest technology to lock the memorial in an anodised layer of aluminium. You can design a memorial with images, drawings and words that you have written which can be a great way to pay a personal tribute to your pet. When paired with a wooden backing board, these memorials can be a stunning part of a pet memorial.

Finally, Tough print plaques are one of the highest quality materials you can use for full colour pet memorials. It is exceptionally hardwearing and long-lasting and has a beautiful look and finish. It works like a printed photograph and wording can be included.

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High-quality, full colour pet memorials crafted at UK Memorials.

Stone Pet Memorials

In the workshop at UK Memorials, we work with a wide range of stone materials to make beautiful pet memorials. From memorial tablets made from granite to stone plinths and slate memorials, we can create a pet memorial that works for you. Stone memorials have a beautiful, finished and bold appearance. Our stone memorials vary in shape and size leaving you the opportunity to design a pet memorial that is right for you.

One suggestion we have is the slate memorials. Slate is the material we use most for memorials. Slate can be cut which leaves you the space to design a piece that works for you. The lettering is traditionally engraved into the slate but we can use the modern technique of sandblasting to leave the letters raised on the slate instead. Both methods have a beautiful, long-lasting effect.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR STONE MEMORIALS

Wooden Pet Memorials

Wooden memorials have a unique softness that is ideal for pet memorials. They are popular because of their natural appearance and our carpenters can create a stunning piece for you. Varnished Oak and Iroko are the most popular timbers and they can seem a more appropriate choice than something formal such as brass. The lettering of your choosing is burnt into the wood using an engraving laser and then they can be left or painted in. It can be challenging to find the right words for a memorial so you may find our memorial inscriptions blog useful. As you are creating a memorial for your pet, you may like to include an image too.

The simple oak posts make wonderful and fitting memorial pieces. The top of an oak post is cut at a 45-degree angle to create a backing board for the wooden plaque to be placed on. Once completed, they are then easy to put into the ground of your garden, lawn or woodland burial site. These natural posts are in keeping with the surroundings while also providing a tribute to your much-loved pet.

However you design your wooden memorial, these pieces would make a great tribute to your much-loved pet. It would be a privilege to design and create a memorial alongside you in their memory.

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High-quality wooden pet memorials crafted at UK Memorials.

Deciding on a pet memorial can be a challenge. We aim to create pieces that are in line with what you want and need from a memorial sign. At UK Memorials, you can rest assured knowing that you will receive a high quality product matched with excellent customer service. Please do get in touch with any questions or queries you have.

Telephone – 01769 561355

Website – https://uk-memorials.net/ // https://www.sign-maker.co.uk/memorials-55-c.asp