Headstones
Reference articles are in English.
Lettering on a mid-eighteenth-century Swithland slate headstone in Stoughton, Leicestershire, signed by William Kirk. Source
Description
A headstone marks a grave and may combine lettering, relief and sculptural form. The inscription, shape and stone are developed in relation to the person remembered and the burial setting. Space can be reserved for later additions where required.
History
Headstones are one part of the wider tradition of stone memorials. Hand lettering and individual carving continue alongside standard forms, allowing a marker to be designed around a particular life and its remembrance.
Commissioning
The names, dates, wording and final layout should be approved before cutting. The agreement should include stone, finish, motifs, site requirements and responsibility for fixing. The intended burial location should be confirmed at the outset.