some recent memorials

I have been installing a few stones recently, trying to beat the frosts! We just got back from St Andrew’s (Scotland) on Wednesday, and have installed two in Norfolk and one near Hull recently. Here are a few pictures. Three of them are York stone, and the paler one (pictured first), which is now in St Andrew’s cemetery, is a stone called ‘Moleanos’ an attractive limestone from Portugal. It’s very hard! It took us by surprise how hard it is. I had a sample sent before ordering it and it seemed very similar to Hopton Wood limestone from Derbyshire, and also a little like Nabresina limestone from Italy/Croatia. It seems harder than both when you start working it though. The design was a joint effort, working closely with the family, and my job was to make an interpretation that would work in stone.

This next stone is in Burnham Norton, North Norfolk, a good example of how keeping it simple and having generous spacing and larger letters can be very pleasing. John, or JMW Thompson as he signed himself, was editor of the daily telegraph for 10 years, and the use of a 17th century letterform was a reference to this. He was also a Yorkshireman, so the stone (material) chose itself!

This next stone is near Hull……..carved on both sides, with both raised and incised elements.

Here’s another York stone memorial, this time in Blakeney. This stone was to a botanist, who specialised in palmate leaves, among other things

While I was in Blakeney I saw another stone I put in recently……..Westmorland slate

This next stone is in a village churchyard near Swaffham……Toby was an avid reader, and lillies were a favourite flower.