Inscriptions and Lettering

Lettering

Here is a selection of lettering styles (fonts) more commonly used when inscribing memorials, when choosing a colour to go with your choice of material it is worth bearing in mind that light colours do not stand out on light materials, and of course the same applies for the dark colours on dark materials, in essence you require a good contrast.

Fig 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 are cut into the stone and painted or gilded as required.

Fig 5 is hand cut only, which gives you the more traditional V cut shape. This example is cut into Slate, on light materials these letters can be painted in order to show clarity.

Fig. 5

Fig 6 “Everlasting” the background area to the letters is removed leaving the letters raised within a panel, they are virtually maintenance free.

Fig. 6

Fig 7 Raised lead, these letters stand proud on the surface of the stone, this method is most commonly used on granite and very hard stones. They are not stuck on. Firstly holes are drilled into the stone behind the letters, the lead is then beaten on to the stone and as it is soft, a proportion of it is pushed into the drill holes, this in turn acts as an anchor to hold the letters in place, the remaining surface lead is then trimmed to shape as required, this can then be painted or gilded.

Fig.7

Fig 10 Drill and lead, the method is similar to above, save that the letter is cut into the stone first, then the letters are drilled into, the lead is beaten into the letters, the excess is removed to leave a flush finish to the stones surface. Very commonly used on marble and limestone of a consistent structure, softer stones are usually composite filled (cement) to alleviate damage that would be caused by beating the lead into it. This method is not suitable for granite.

Fig. 10

Fig 8 plainly shows that gilding on light coloured granite does not give the contrast required.

Fig. 8

Some inscription ideas:

IN EVER LOVING MEMORY OF
A DEAR HUSBAND, FATHER, GRANDFATHER
GRENVILLE. D. BONCE
1931-2008

TREASURED MEMORIES OF
OUR DEAR MOTHER
ESEME WARD
WHO PASSED AWAY
AGED 85 YEARS

ALTERNATIVE INTRODUCTIONS

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF

IN REMEMBRANCE OF

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

CHERISHED MEMORIES

A SELECTION OF TEXT

AT REST

RESTING

SLEEPING

REST IN PEACE

ABIDE WITH ME

SIMPLY THE BEST

IN GOD’S KEEPING

THY WILL BE DONE

PEACE PERFECT PEACE

FOREVER IN OUR THOUGHTS

NOT LOST, BUT GONE BEFORE

LOVES LAST GIFT REMEMBRANCE

HE LIVES FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS

GONE FROM US BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

SO DEARLY LOVED, SO SADLY MISSED

TOO DEARLY LOVED TO BE FORGOTTEN

RESTING WHERE NO SHADOWS FALL

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD I SHALL NOT WANT

REST AFTER WEARINESS, PEACE AFTER PAIN

ONLY GOODNIGHT BELOVED NOT FAREWELL

UNTIL THE DAY BREAK AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY

TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WE LOVE IS NOT TO DIE

GOD HAS YOU IN HIS KEEPING, WE HAVE YOU IN OUR HEARTS

IN OUR MINDS A CONSTANT THOUGHT, IN OUR HEARTS A SILENT SORROW

TO THE WORLD HE/SHE WAS JUST A PART, TO ME HE/SHE WAS THE WHOLE WORLD

HIS/HER LIFE A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY, HIS/HER ABSENCE A SILENT GRIEF

FATHER IN THY GRACIOUS KEEPING, LEAVE WE NOW OUR LOVED ONE SLEEPING

THOUGH HER/HIS SMILE HAS GONE FOR EVER AND HER/HIS HAND WE CANNOT TOUCH WE SHALL NEVER LOSE SWEET MEMORIES OF THE ONE WE LOVED SO MUCH

GOD FOUND THE PATH WAS GROWING ROUGH,THE HILL TOO STEEP TO CLIMB SO HE/SHE GENTLY CLOSED HIS/HER EYELIDS, AND WHISPERED ‘ PEACE BE THINE’

LOVED ONE, THOU ART NE’ER FORGOTTEN, TIS SWEET TO BREATHE THY NAME, IN LIFE I LOVED YOU DEARLY, IN DEATH I DO THE SAME