Cemetery Monuments Erdington

Cemetery Monuments Services

A company founded in 1898 for the supply of quality monuments manufactured in the finest materials to the highest standard. Requirements which we still have pride in adhering to today.

So what do we offer;

About Us

As a family owned memorial stone masons firm in Erdington, we have over a century of experience, 119 years in fact!  Our memorial masonry service has been passed down through the generations, making sure our techniques, innovations and comprehensive code of ethics have been retained throughout our long history. All of our work is produced on-site in our own custom workshops.

Our History

We were founded just before the turn of the 20th century and have an enormous wealth of masonry experience behind us as a result. The profundity of memorial masonry is something we’ve always taken with the utmost sincerity, we understand what headstones represent and understand that their longevity is extremely important.

How much are cemetery headstones?

The cost of headstones varies greatly depending on stone selection, memorial specifications and any other custom additions that you may have in mind. The average cost of an upright headstone is £800 – £1200. Complex memorials may be more, it just depends on your designs. We can help you with your ideas and design headstones that suit your vision.

How long do Headstones for graves take to make?

The time it takes to craft a headstone varies greatly depending on any custom specifications. Some can be completed in a week if necessary, but more advanced statues or larger memorials can take up to 4 – 6 weeks.

How long do Headstones for graves take to make?

Repairing headstones is an art unto itself. Stone has be cleaned using an intensive process which removes dirt and build ups of moss and lichen. Natural brightness is restored through this process. Chips and cracks are harder to repair and on occasion, the headstone will have be lifted from its foundation. Invisible repairs are possible, though, and often, we can return a headstone to its original condition.

How are cemetery monuments made?

Early tombstones were made from slate which is still a popular choice today. Beautiful pieces of slate can be retained in their natural form and enscripted for a minimalist but beautiful and elegant headstone. Granite, however, is the most common stone for headstone creation though marble is also popular as these stones are hardwearing and weather-proof. The stones are quarried from quarries worldwide before being cut into shape and then polished using a series of intensive techniques. Epitaphs, or scriptures, are then cut into the stone.

How much are cemetery headstones?

Not all memorials are the same, the cost is determined by material chosen, design, finish and lettering style and content. As a manufacturer we can offer memorials to meet all tastes and requirements, like for like we are very competitive. We will not however get into a price war as we are not prepared to manufacture a memorial to a price at the expense of quality. Please contact us on 0121 444 1840 and we will be more than happy to provide an accurate quotation.

How long do Headstones for graves take to make?

All memorials must be submitted to the relevant authority for approval. This can be as quick as by return of post or in some instances several weeks. Being a manufacturer with a large stock of raw materials we are in a position to be able to supply memorials far quicker than our competitors who are generally factors for outside companies.

How do you efficiently clean a memorial headstone?

The cleaning of memorials should be determined by the material it is made from. Marble and the softer stones should be cleaned by machining down to a new level off stone, which along with cleaning the material would also deal the pores and in doing so retard deterioration. The common use of excessive aside or cleaning substances actually destroys the stone. All repairing or re-fixing work we carry out to the National Association of Memorial Masons code of working practice.

How are cemetery monuments made?

Firstly, we obtain the material from quarries or mills around the world. When choosing Harry L Marks you can be assured that your memorial will be supplied by out own craftsmen with many years of experience. 

We have our own 4 metre saw which can cut the raw slabs up to a thickness of 200mm. It can then be shaped and polished on our Jinny Lind. Once prepared it will go into one of our lettering shops for hand carving of the inscription, alternatively it could be inscribed on our state of the art computer assisted lettering machine. Any ornament would generally be hand etched onto the memorial at this time. After lettering the memorial would be prepared for installation in the cemetery.