Different Types of Headstones: A Guide to Memorial Styles

Choosing a headstone is an important part of creating a lasting tribute to someone you love. It is a deeply personal decision, but it also involves practical considerations such as cemetery regulations, the available space, the type of stone and the amount of inscription required.

For many families, the easiest place to begin is by looking at the different types of headstones available. Each style has its own character, symbolism and possibilities for personalisation. Understanding those differences can help you narrow down the choices and find a memorial that feels right.

Northern Headstones offers a varied collection of headstones and memorials, ranging from traditional upright designs to heart-shaped stones, book memorials, natural sandstone and full kerb surrounds.

Upright Headstones

Upright headstones are one of the most familiar forms of memorial. They usually consist of a vertical stone tablet fixed to a base, providing a clear and dignified place for names, dates, inscriptions and decorative details.

The straightforward structure of an upright headstone makes it suitable for many different designs. The top can be rounded, pointed, curved or shaped, while the face of the stone may be polished, textured or decorated with carved details.

Why Families Choose Upright Headstones

• They provide clear space for inscriptions and personal messages.
• They are available in many shapes, colours and types of stone.
• They can be designed for an individual, couple or family plot.
• They suit both traditional and more contemporary designs.
• Additional carvings, images and symbols can often be included.

Before settling on a particular shape or size, it is important to check the rules of the cemetery or churchyard. Some burial grounds specify which materials, dimensions and finishes can be used.

Lawn Memorials

A lawn memorial is generally an upright headstone fitted to a base without a full stone surround covering the grave. This style is widely used in modern cemeteries because it allows the surrounding grass to be maintained more easily.

Lawn memorials can be simple and understated or highly individual. Although the overall format is usually fairly traditional, there is still considerable choice when it comes to the shape of the stone, its colour, the lettering and any decorative carving.

This can be a suitable option for families who want a dignified memorial with plenty of room for personal wording, without choosing a full kerb set.

Book Headstones

Book headstones are shaped to resemble an open book. The design is often chosen to represent the story of a person’s life, although it may also have religious meaning or symbolise shared memories.

The two-page layout creates a natural division within the inscription. One page might contain a name and dates, while the other carries a verse, message or details of another family member. This can make book memorials particularly suitable for couples or joint tributes.

Some designs include carved page edges, tassels, flowers or other decorative details. They are commonly created from polished granite, which gives the book shape a clear and distinctive appearance.

Heart-Shaped Headstones

Heart-shaped headstones offer a simple but powerful expression of love and connection. They may feature a single heart, two interlocking hearts or a heart incorporated into a larger upright memorial.

This style can be used for individual and companion memorials. Some families choose a heart design because of its emotional meaning, while others are drawn to the softer shape and the opportunities it provides for flowers, angels, photographs or carved decoration.

The Northern Headstones range of heart memorials includes single and multiple-heart designs, with options ranging from simple polished stones to more detailed carved tributes.

Angel Memorials

Angel memorials often represent protection, peace, faith or guidance. An angel may form the main shape of the memorial, appear as a carved figure beside the inscription or be included as a smaller decorative image.

These designs can be highly detailed, so it is worth considering how the carving, inscription and shape will work together. A simpler inscription may allow the angel carving to remain the main visual feature, while a larger memorial can provide more room for both artwork and wording.

Angels are sometimes combined with hearts, roses, books or other meaningful symbols to create a more personal design.

Kerb Surround Memorials

Kerb memorials include a stone border that surrounds all or part of the grave. This creates a clearly defined space and gives the memorial a substantial, traditional appearance.

The area within the kerbs may contain decorative chippings, a cover slab, flower containers or a pathway-style feature. Depending on the chosen design, a kerb surround can be added to many different upright headstone shapes.

Reasons to Consider a Kerb Memorial

• It defines the full grave space.
• It provides additional room for decoration and personal details.
• It can reduce the amount of ongoing maintenance required.
• It suits individual, companion and family memorial designs.
• It creates a distinctive and substantial tribute.

Not every cemetery permits full kerb surrounds, and those that do may have specific requirements for their dimensions, materials and installation. Approval should therefore be confirmed before the memorial is finalised.

Cremation Memorials and Plaques

Cremation memorials are usually smaller than traditional burial headstones and may take the form of a tablet, plaque, wedge or compact upright stone. They provide space for a personal inscription and can often include a carved image, photograph or flower container.

These memorials may be placed within a dedicated cremation plot, memorial garden or cemetery section. As with burial memorials, the permitted dimensions and materials will depend on the regulations of the chosen location.

A cremation plaque can be simple and understated, but it can still be personalised through the stone colour, lettering, wording and decorative elements.

Sandstone and Natural Stone Memorials

Sandstone memorials have a warmer and more natural appearance than highly polished granite. Their colour, texture and individual markings can make each piece feel distinctive.

Traditional sandstone headstones may be shaped and carved in a similar way to other upright memorials. Boulder memorials retain more of the stone’s natural form, creating a rustic tribute that sits comfortably within rural cemeteries, churchyards and natural surroundings.

Because every piece of natural stone is slightly different, its colour and texture should be viewed as part of its character rather than as an exact, uniform finish.

Bespoke Headstones

A standard memorial shape will not be right for every family. A bespoke design provides greater freedom to create something based around the personality, interests, beliefs or life of the person being remembered.

Northern Headstones can create bespoke memorials using explanations, drawings, photographs or other imagery as a starting point. The finished design might include an unusual shape, hand-carved detail, a meaningful object or a combination of several traditional memorial styles.

Bespoke does not necessarily mean that every part of the memorial must be elaborate. A small change to the shape, inscription layout or carved detail can be enough to make a familiar design feel much more personal.

How to Choose the Right Type of Headstone

There is no single memorial style that is right for every person or family. The best choice is one that reflects the person being commemorated while also meeting the practical requirements of the burial ground.

Check the Cemetery Regulations

Ask which headstone styles, dimensions, stones and finishes are permitted. This is particularly important when considering kerb surrounds, natural boulders or more unusual bespoke shapes.

Consider the Available Space

Think about the length of the inscription, whether photographs or carvings will be included and whether room may be needed for an additional inscription in the future.

Choose a Suitable Stone

Granite is available in various colours and provides a smooth surface for lettering and detailed designs. Sandstone offers a softer, more traditional appearance, while natural boulders have their own individual shape and texture.

Think About Long-Term Care

Different materials and finishes require different levels of maintenance. The surroundings of the grave, nearby trees and local weather conditions may also influence how a memorial changes over time.

Focus on What Feels Personal

The memorial does not need to be complicated to be meaningful. A familiar shape, carefully chosen inscription or modest piece of carving can say far more than a design selected simply because it is elaborate.

Memorials Made and Installed With Care

Northern Headstones is an independent, family-run monumental masonry business. Its experienced stonemasons create traditional and individual memorials, with designs that can be personalised through their shape, stone, inscription and carved details.

The company also installs memorials on foundations over twice the size of industry guidelines, helping to provide lasting strength and stability.

Choosing a headstone can feel difficult, particularly when several family members are involved. To discuss the available styles or receive guidance on a particular design, please contact Northern Headstones. The team will help you consider the options and create a fitting tribute to your loved one.