Practical advice on memorial design, permissions and workmanship
Burslem undertakes new memorials, inscriptions and restoration work across Surrey.
Before advising on a memorial, we first need to know where it will stand. Churchyards, council cemeteries and other burial grounds can apply different requirements to stone, dimensions, finishes, lettering and ornament.
This means that for a Surrey commission, the first practical step is to establish what applies at the intended location.
You do not need to have selected a stone or written the full inscription before contacting us.
It is useful to begin with:
From this information, we can identify what needs to be checked and explain the next stage.
Burslem works across Surrey from its workshop and showroom in Frant.
Photographs, paperwork, and draft wording can be reviewed remotely. A showroom visit may then be helpful when comparing actual stone, finishes, lettering methods or carved details.
Once the design and inscription are agreed, our team manages the workshop work, application process, and installation.
Church of England churchyards in Surrey may fall under different diocesan arrangements depending on their location.
The Diocese of Guildford publishes churchyard regulations governing matters such as burials, gardens of remembrance and memorials. East Surrey also includes parishes within the Diocese of Southwark, where local churchyard provisions or diocesan regulations may apply.
Approval may be straightforward when a memorial falls within the applicable rules. A different process may be required when the proposed memorial sits outside the normal provisions.
Council cemeteries are managed at district or borough level and have their own regulations. These may allow a broader range of stone, finishes and memorial styles, but the individual cemetery rules still need to be checked.
We can advise on the relevant requirements and manage the application paperwork where required.
Burslem provides:
Once the burial ground requirements are understood, the material and lettering can be considered properly. Burslem works with memorial-quality granite, limestone, sandstone, and slate.
The material affects appearance, weathering, inscription method, and future maintenance.
The appropriate method depends on the stone and the result required. Hand cutting may suit softer stone, individual carving or work that needs to relate to an older inscription. Sandblasting is commonly used on granite. CNC machinery can be used for lettering, profiles, and carved details.
We can also help with repair, restoration, cleaning, and additional inscriptions when another person is to be commemorated on an existing memorial.
Our workshop and showroom are in Frant, East Sussex. We regularly undertake work across Surrey, but do not present the showroom as a Surrey branch.
No. The relevant diocese, parish and existing churchyard provisions may all affect what can be approved. The requirements should be checked for the particular churchyard before the design and material are finalised.
Council cemeteries and crematoria in Surrey are run by the relevant district or borough council rather than Surrey County Council. Each cemetery may therefore have its own application process and memorial regulations.
Yes. We normally prepare the permit documentation, liaise with the relevant authority and deal with the applicable fee as part of the process. The final decision remains with the church, cemetery or other approving body.
An existing memorial can be assessed for an additional inscription, cleaning or restoration. The available approach will depend on its construction, material, condition and location.
Call: 01892 750120
E-mail: enquiries@burslem.co.uk
You can also arrange a visit to the showroom to see samples in person.
