When people think of memorial materials, granite and wood (natural burials) often steal the spotlight. But there is another material that deserves just as much recognition—slate. Often overlooked, slate is a truly fantastic option for memorials, offering a unique combination of durability, beauty, and affordability. It is also allowed in some natural burial grounds. (Always check with the church or burial ground on what is allowed before purchasing a plaque).
The Longevity of Slate
One of the greatest advantages of slate is its longevity. This natural stone is highly resistant to weathering, capable of withstanding the elements for centuries. Unlike softer stones such as sandstone or limestone, slate does not erode as quickly, ensuring that inscriptions remain legible and the memorial retains its dignity for generations. If you opt for painted letters these may need touching up from time to time.
Aesthetic Appeal
Slate possesses an understated elegance that sets it apart. Its smooth, fine-grained texture and deep, rich colours—ranging from classic grey to deep blue and even green—create a striking yet timeless look. The natural markings of the stone including unique markings, pyrite and fools gold only add to its natural appeal.
Affordability Without Compromise
While granite is often seen as the gold standard for memorials, it can be quite costly. Slate, on the other hand, offers many of the same benefits at a more affordable price. It provides a high-quality, long-lasting tribute without the hefty price tag, making it an excellent choice for those looking to balance quality and budget.
Why Slate Deserves More Recognition
Despite its many benefits, slate remains an underrated choice for memorials. It offers durability, beauty, and cost-effectiveness—qualities that make it an ideal material for honouring loved ones. Whether used for headstones, plaques, or other memorial tributes, slate is a material that stands the test of time, both in strength and sentiment.
So next time you consider a memorial, think beyond granite and wood—slate might just be the perfect, unsung hero for your tribute.
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 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.
Heart Shaped Granite Wedge and Black Granite Pet Memorial
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.
We make war memorials in a whole range of different materialsfor long-lasting and poignant tributes.
As we come up to this season of remembrance, here at UK Memorials we wanted to take the opportunity to write and reflect at this time of year. Remembrance is a national opportunity to mark the anniversary of Armistice Day and to recognise the sacrifices made by many to protect the freedom that we have today.
We understand and appreciate how challenging it can be to make decisions around the memorial of those that we have lost, so we want to make this process as easy as possible for you, while still creating something special and significant. Whether looking for a traditional plaque, wooden cross or a modern heart-shaped memorial, we create a wide range of memorials and believe it is important that they are carefully crafted for you. To help with this process, we have created this simple guide of some of the most popular memorials that we can put together alongside you, as you remember your loved ones.
Cast Memorial Plaques
Cast memorial signs have a long-lasting finish and are made using a combination of the latest technology and traditional craftsmanship methods The cast making process gives you more freedom in the designing process because you can choose from a wider variety of fonts, motifs, layouts and stylistic lettering. Once cast, your plaque will then be tended to by hand and given the final finesse that you’re looking for.
Cast bronze is a timeless classic for memorial plaques. The background of the bronze can be left natural or painted in. Patented bronze is also an option available at UK Memorials which would give your memorial plaque a finish to be proud of. The Cast Bronze Memorial Plaques can be made in a variety of shapes too (another benefit of choosing a cast sign). A popular choice for memorial plaques is the cast bronze memorial heart. A cheaper alternative is the cast aluminium memorial signs, still a traditional choice but possibly more cost-effective. Either way, both would create a wonderful piece to help mark your remembrance for a loved one. You can learn more about our cast memorials here.
Corian
Corian is a stone-like material with a clean composition, made up from clear acrylic resin, natural minerals and pigments – meaning that it is available in a variety of colours. Corian has a high-quality finish that would make a beautiful tribute to your loved one in a memorial. You can find more about our corian memorials here.
Memorial Crosses
At UK Memorials, we make a range of wooden crosses that are particularly popular around remembrance. Wooden crosses were first used to mark the graves of soldiers who had died in battle but they now serve as a remembrance sign nationally. They are handmade traditionally using Oak timber but could also be made for you in Iroko, Opepe or Sapele. The lettering can be engraved directly into the wood. Alternatively, you could choose to have a metal plaque created. Though more expensive than the wooden crosses we make, stone-like Corian also makes beautiful and distinctive memorial crosses. They tend to last longer and can be used as either a grave marker or a permanent memorial. Memorial crosses continue to be a popular choice here at UK Memorials and we’d love to make one for you and you’re loved one too. Have a look at our full range of memorial crosses.
Wooden Plaques
Here at UK Memorials, we believe that a memorial piece should be personal. That is why we create a range of unique memorial signs and plaques to help you mark your loved ones resting place or a memorable and special location.
The engraved wooden plaques are a favourite of ours, particularly the wooden hearts. Using beautiful timbers followed by specialist care and treatment, these plaques have a high quality and long-lasting finish – we take great care to make these memorials perfect for you. We can include motifs and images on these memorial signs enabling you to be expressive and creative in your designs. There is a wide range of fonts to choose from too, and any additional fixtures, fittings or mount you require can be included too. The memorial hearts are also available in a range of different materials too. Learn more about our range of wooden memorials.
Photo Memorials
Our long-lasting and high quality full-colour memorial plaques are becoming increasingly popular too. The plaques have a long-lasting resistance to colour fading as a result of the completely encapsulated aluminium plate. These types of memorial plaques are even suitable in harsher weather conditions, for example, by the coast. The photo memorials can be portrait or landscape and are typically finished with gloss or satin as to your preferences. We think these make beautiful memorials that capture moments in time with their photos and are a long-lasting piece to remember a lost loved one. Have a look at our full range of photo options here.
The acts of so many selfless individuals will never be forgotten, which is why here at UK Memorials, we want to ensure that we create memorials that reflect their courage and bravery and our respect for them. Memorials are an important part of remembering any loved one that we have lost, in the war or otherwise. War memorials act as a tangible reminder of the fragility of life and what was sacrificed, and memorials generally are a reminder of the love between family, friends and even strangers. Life connects us in ways that cannot be put into words and therefore memorials of those we have lost, connect us again in celebrations and recognitions of those we have shared life with. This Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday, we will remember them.
Please do get in touch if we can help you design a memorial. We are here to help you and will enable you to design exactly what it is that you’re looking for. More information can be found on our website and online shop, and we’d love to hear from you.
A memorial cross is a meaningful way to remember a loved one and here at UK Memorials we make a range of different memorial crosses. One of our less traditional cross options is our Corian crosses.
Since Corian is one of the lesser-known materials that we use, we thought we’d explain a bit more about what Corian is and why it could make an ideal choice for a memorial cross.
What is Corian?
Corian is a manufactured material composed of 66% natural minerals derived from a type of sedimentary rock called bauxite ore and 33% acrylic polymer (resin). Put more simply, it is a mix of natural stone dust and synthetic resin. Despite being manufactured, Corian actually looks and feels very similar to natural stone. It is cold to the touch and available in many colours and patterns to make it appear like its natural stone counterparts, such as slate, granite, and marble.
Other features of Corian include the fact that it is non-toxic, non-allergenic, and has received certifications for its environmental performance, such as the SCS (Scientific Certification Systems) certification for recycled materials. These are important features for us here at UK Memorials as our ethos is to protect the environment so when thinking about how to create our memorial crosses we strive to source environmentally-friendly materials. Our Corian crosses won’t pollute the ground or nearby water sources, vegetation, and wildlife.
Why choose Corian?
The main benefit of Corian is it’s durability. It is longer-lasting than more traditional choices for memorial crosses, such as wood, and it wont stain easily or lose its visual appearance for decades. Corian also has low moisture absorption and is resistant to humidity, freeze-thaw conditions, and environmental pollutants, meaning our crosses are suitable for all elements.
Another benefit of our Corian crosses is the fact that they are virtually maintenance-free. Unlike some other materials, Corian doesn’t need to be treated regularly and its smooth surface can be easily wiped clean if it comes into contact with dirt or soil.
Visually, our Corian crosses are completely smooth with no flaws, where other materials, such as natural stones will have natural grains and markings. Whilst some people find these imperfections interesting, for those that want a clean, flawless memorial, Corian crosses are definitely the better choice.
Our Selection of Corian Crosses
We make our Corian crosses on-site in two different styles: ‘The Standard Memorial Cross’ and ‘The Celtic Cross’. Our standard cross style is a simple and traditional cross shape, while our Celtic cross is more elaborate and decorative. Both styles can be made in a variety of colours and sizes ranging from small to large.
Our designers have access to a large range of fonts and images and will work with you to create the perfect design for your cross. Once your layout is agreed on by yourself, we laser engrave your design onto the cross and fill it with paint. For lighter coloured Corian crosses, we recommend black, brown, dark green, and blue paint, whereas white, light grey, gold, and silver letter colours are recommended for slate grey Corian.
Further Information
For more information on our Corian crosses click here or if you want to browse the rest of our memorial range, click here.
Versatile and cost-effective, Corian memorials are the modern choice for lasting tributes.
It might not be the favourite topic of conversation but planning ahead for the future is something we all must consider. This isn’t just for family income or funeral arrangement purposes. It’s about having the choice in advance for your wishes to be documented and respected so when the time comes to carry out your chosen lifetime tributes, they are followed sensitively and compassionately, honouring your choices as closely as possible.
Depending on your wishes, the costs can sometimes mount quite quickly with funeral preparations generating unforeseen expenses which could create an unexpected burden for loved ones in addition to their loss. This is one of the reasons why we offer a choice of cost-sensitive materials to help create long-lasting signs, plaques and memorials for remembering family, friends and pets.
A wider choice of materials.
Time has moved on from traditional granite or slate tombstones being the only hard-wearing, long-lasting material available. There is a much wider choice of materials today than ever before. When visiting church graveyards and crematorium gardens, you’ll find the grounds are populated with gravestones and memorial plaques made from a variety of modern materials.
From wooden crosses to engraved plaques made from brass, stainless steel or aluminium, there is a large selection of hard-wearing natural and man-made materials to help create a special place for loved ones to visit and somewhere permanent to reminisce, remember special moments and leave flowers and gifts.
One of the most popular materials in recent years for creating contemporary memorials is Corian, a versatile and durable man-made material developed in the 1960s. Corian is used in a variety of industries and its key qualities are found within its ability to withstand exposure to the elements all year round.
Despite its original purpose to provide a heat-resistant, mould-resistant, scratch-resistant worktop surface in kitchens and bathrooms, Corian has firmly established itself as an extremely functional and affordable alternative to granite. In appearance, Corian is very similar to granite and stone dust is actually used in the manufacturing process.
The unique surface of Corian resists fading, scratches and stains. It can be sculpted into many forms and engraved with words or pictures. It is suitable for indoor or outdoor use and is weatherproof against damage caused by the sun, the wind and the rain.
Another reason why Corian is particularly popular is the way this man-made material is created from sustainable and renewable sources. Corian is made from a mixture of acrylic resin, natural minerals and pigments. It has the cold-to-touch feel of real stone as well as the matt finish and substantial weight. Corian is an environmentally friendly material designed to last for many decades, without impacting on its surroundings.
With funeral, burial and crematory costs rising, Corian is a preferred choice for engraved signs, nameplates and tree markers. The finished memorial has the appearance of a traditional stone memorial but without the variation in composition, flaws or cracks.
The surface is renewable and suitable for making additions or alterations. You may wish to have favourite quotes, memorable sayings or pictures taken from illustrations or photographs, inscribed in the Corian surface.
Memorials for pets and people.
A Corian memorial is as suitable for pets as well as humans and there has been a recent increase in the number of requests for Corian plaques for woodland and garden use as well as in church graveyards and cemeteries.
Corian memorials and Corian plaques are cost-effective, durable and versatile. They are a popular choice for indoor and outdoor tributes to loved ones. You can browse examples of our work online and we would be happy to discuss designs with you to help create a thoughtful, long-lasting tribute that will withstand the weather and offer a special place to relive cherished memories.
The Longevity of Slate
The Longevity of Slate
Why Slate Deserves More Recognition
