Since 1986, Abbey has been proud to letter-cut and gild the Norfolk County Council Chairman’s name at County Hall each year.
Serving East Anglia since 1986
Craftsmanship
Carried Forward
Built on traditional skills, honest guidance and a belief that every memorial deserves to be made with patience, dignity and care.
More than four decades of experience before our doors opened
A business shaped by the craft itself
Abbey Memorials began with skills learned at the bench: letter cutting, stone shaping and the patient attention to detail that monumental masonry demands. Those foundations still guide the way our team works today.
From a modest workshop to our purpose-built South Burlingham premises, the business has grown without losing the personal approach on which it was founded.
Established in 1986
A lifetime devoted to monumental masonry
Tony Matless began his career as a stonemason in 1967, learning letter cutting under the late Charlie Taylor at Woods Memorials in the city. He completed his apprenticeship and qualified as a monumental mason on 19 August 1968.
In 1986, after nineteen years in the trade, Tony founded Abbey Memorials. The business began at home, working from a shed, before growing into the purpose-built South Burlingham workshop opened in August 2007 by Tony’s former master, Charlie Taylor, on his 97th birthday.
Today, Abbey Memorials serves families and organisations throughout East Anglia. Our experienced team undertakes all aspects of monumental masonry and includes masons registered with NAMM and BRAMM.
1967Tony Matless begins his stonemasonry career and letter-cutting training.
1968Completes his apprenticeship as a qualified monumental mason.
1986Abbey Memorials is founded after nineteen years in the trade.
2007The purpose-built South Burlingham premises are formally opened.
TodayA skilled team serves families and organisations across East Anglia.
Abbey beyond the workshop
Public work & regional commissions
Our work can be found in civic buildings, public spaces and places of remembrance across Norfolk and Suffolk.
We have been commissioned to add the names of Norwich’s Lords Mayor to the wall at City Hall.
Working with Norwich City Council, we produced artistic stone markers identifying the historic routes of Norwich Lanes.
Read about Norwich LanesWe worked with Poringland Parish Council to design and make a memorial commemorating the village’s fallen.
Read about Poringland Memorial GardenWe helped create the memorial to those who tragically lost their lives in the Great Yarmouth suspension bridge collapse.
Read the BBC reportWe worked with Norfolk County Council on the renewed entrance to Great Yarmouth railway station, adding a quotation across natural-stone paving.
Read the station reportOn behalf of Norwich City Council, we marked the city’s lost watercourses in stone.
Read about the lost riverIn 2020, we worked with H. J. Paintin in Haverhill to renovate and relocate the Hundon war memorial.
Read the Suffolk News reportYou are welcome here
Visit our South Burlingham workshop
We have a wide selection of memorials on display and staff available to answer questions and guide you through the choices six days a week.
Opening hours
Monday–Friday: 7:30am–5:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am–12:30pm
Address
Abbey Memorials StoneCraft Ltd
Unit 1, MB Site
Norwich Road, South Burlingham
Norwich NR13 4EZ
Unit 1, MB Site
Norwich Road, South Burlingham
Norwich NR13 4EZ
Telephone
Email
what3words reception entrance
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