What does a memorial mason do with their day?
Written by: Richard Whale
Published: 17th June 2026
We are often asked questions about our memorial masonry team and what they do with their day. Here, our Senior Memorial Mason, Richard, tells us more.
8.00am– I start work at our workshop on Knepp Estate. As it’s Monday, I load the van with the work I need to do this morning. I leave it unloaded over weekends. I keep the workshop well-organised to minimise unnecessary lifting and movement of the memorials, this is a key part of mitigating the risks associated with my role.
By 8.30am the van is loaded. I have three jobs to do at Hills Cemetery in Horsham. Two of them are installations and one is the removal of a headstone to allow a second burial in the existing grave. I try to do as much work as I can in one place to minimise the carbon footprint of driving so I planned the installations at Hills to coincide with the removal of the other headstone, which has a fixed timescale for completion.
Each job has its own challenges. Different types of memorials need to be fixed using different methods and, even on one site, ground conditions can vary. Each memorial has to must be installed in the best way considering its size and shape and using best-practice guidance from our trade body, the National Association of Memorial Masons.
Removing an existing memorial can be tricky, especially if it was installed many years ago or by a different company. It’s not always possible to tell how something has been put in place until you get started. I must take all necessary care, but the memorial does have to removed for the burial to take place.
As with every job I carry out, I work carefully and professionally. I am always conscious that this is the final resting place not only of the person whose memorial I am working on, but many others too.
At 11.00am I return to our workshop to carry out an assessment of what stock needs ordering and catch up with our letter cutter, Paul. He has been lettering a very large memorial, and it’s nearly finished. I need to know when it will be completed so I can ensure I have a colleague to help me install it. I place an order for landing frames and concrete bases with our regular suppliers. They are integral tools of the job and it’s important that I have a good stock of them.
After this, I need to go to Holy Innocents, Southwater to renovate a memorial on site. I have already appraised what work needs to be done, so I know how long it will take to clean it and then repaint the inscription. This work needs to be done at some time this week as the family is having an ashes interment at the weekend and asked for it to be completed beforehand. We like to meet these kinds of timescales when possible. I’m doing this today because like to take advantage of the first ‘good weather day’ that I can; it may not be nice enough to do the work later in the week. I have other work in this area so, again, I am combining it.
After two hours’ work on this memorial, it’s 1.30pm and time for me to have a bite to eat. My dog, Marley, comes to work with me and acts as ‘Mason’s Assistant’. Depending on where we are, we may have a game of fetch but I’m always conscious of my surroundings- there needs to be enough space away from a burial place to do this. He is just as happy to have a short walk.
I return to the J.Gumbrill office in North Parade, Horsham at 2.00pm. I work closely with Annissa, Monumental Masonry Administrator. Today, it’s mostly paperwork. I give her my copies of the orders for the work I’ve done today so she can advise the customers that work has been completed. She gives me orders for new jobs where the customers have given consent to proceed. This is also a chance for her to let me know about anything coming up that I should be aware of- for example, she has had a conversation with a Parish Council about restoring a War Memorial and so I will need to arrange on-site meetings as this progresses.
Today was a day spent mostly around Horsham, I am heading further afield tomorrow so I ensure she knows where I will be which helps her when she’s talking about timescales with customers and others.
Shortly after 2.30pm I leave and have another churchyard to visit. This one is St Margaret’s, Warnham and I’m again looking at an existing memorial. This is the appraisal stage, where I examine what work needs to be undertaken. I also take photos so Annissa can see the memorial. It takes me a little while to find, which is not unusual, so I make a rough sketch of the location to remind me for when it’s confirmed that I need to return.
Once I have finished, it’s 3.30pm and time to return to the workshop. The last part of my day is often similar. I load the van with what I will need the next day, clean and tidy the workshop, and look at other preparatory work I can do. For example, headstone bases are sent to us as separate components but benefit from being secured together in advance, so I may do this type of work.
At 5.00pm I lock up, and Marley and I head home.
Thanks for your time, Richard.
