Bespoke carving in the heart of the Cotswolds
LETTER CARVING BASED IN CHELTENHAM & Cirencester
Traditional hand-carved designs
BESPOKE HEADSTONES AND ADDED INSCRIPTIONS
Commissioning a headstone to honour and remember a loved one can be an emotional experience and requires careful thought and time to reflect upon their character. James is able to work closely and considerately with family to design a truly unique and fitting memorial. This might include poetry, or other meaningful texts, as well as more formal elements such as heraldry or religious symbols. Sometimes a headstone requires an added inscription for an additional family member. James is able to match the lettering of existing wording to create a complimentary finish.
Heritage skills
Personalised Plaques
A hand carved stone plaque can commemorate a range of different events – from the opening of a building to a special visit, as well as much loved quotes or poetry to adorn a garden setting. Plaques also make interesting additions to indoor settings and can include imagery as well as text. James enjoys the process of combining both to create eye catching features which spark conversation and curiosity.
SLATE –
Cumbrian blue/black and green slate are both particularly beautiful. They are very hard, fine grained stones that gives excellent durability and can be very finely carved.
Welsh blue/black and heather slate are both very clean fine grained stone and wonderful to carve.
Cornish slate has very similar qualities to the Welsh, but with a more pearly appearance.
LIMESTONE-
Purbeck thornback is from the jurassic coast. Visually textured as lots of shells in. It’s quite unique and beautiful as a consequence. Very hard and fine grained, suitable to be very finely carved.
Purbeck Pond Freestone is a cream traditional looking stone. More porus than the thornback and will take on Lichen and Moss. A very clean stone and fine grained. This sits in between thornback and portland for longevity.
Aurisena is often described as white Nabresina. This has taken over from Hopton wood from Derbyshire, which doesn’t lend itself to headstones nowadays. It’s a light cream coloured stone with few brown flecks. Like Purbeck thornback, it’s a hard fine grained stone.
Porland from the south coast which is very similar visually to Pond Free, it also ages in a similar way. Porland needs bolder carvings as not quite as fine grained.
SANDSTONE-
Yorkstone is the most widely used. A warm colour in appearance. Like porland it’ll age in a similar way and needs bolder carvings.
St bees is a buff sandstone. It’s one of the closest colour matches to cotswold limestone that isn’t particularly suitable for headstones.
There are many different regional lime and sandstones, which can be sourced. Some of which are more suitable than others for numerous reasons.
Welsh blue/black and heather slate are both very clean fine grained stone and wonderful to carve.
Cornish slate has very similar qualities to the Welsh, but with a more pearly appearance.
LIMESTONE-
Purbeck thornback is from the jurassic coast. Visually textured as lots of shells in. It’s quite unique and beautiful as a consequence. Very hard and fine grained, suitable to be very finely carved.
Purbeck Pond Freestone is a cream traditional looking stone. More porus than the thornback and will take on Lichen and Moss. A very clean stone and fine grained. This sits in between thornback and portland for longevity.
Aurisena is often described as white Nabresina. This has taken over from Hopton wood from Derbyshire, which doesn’t lend itself to headstones nowadays. It’s a light cream coloured stone with few brown flecks. Like Purbeck thornback, it’s a hard fine grained stone.
Porland from the south coast which is very similar visually to Pond Free, it also ages in a similar way. Porland needs bolder carvings as not quite as fine grained.
SANDSTONE-
Yorkstone is the most widely used. A warm colour in appearance. Like porland it’ll age in a similar way and needs bolder carvings.
St bees is a buff sandstone. It’s one of the closest colour matches to cotswold limestone that isn’t particularly suitable for headstones.
There are many different regional lime and sandstones, which can be sourced. Some of which are more suitable than others for numerous reasons.
Celebrate Craftsmanship Through Timeless Lettering
Get in touch today to discuss your project and discover how traditional hand-carved lettering can bring lasting beauty and meaning to any setting.
Get in touch today on 07715 391487 to discuss your requirements.