'Monumental masons' - South Tyneside headstone business scoops top national award
‘So proud of our whole team. It’s great to see their skill and professionalism rewarded in such an amazing way.’
A South Tyneside monumental memorial mason company has won a prestigious industry award for one of its highly original headstone designs.
Eden Memorials is based in South Shields and has now landed the British Register of Accredited memorial Masons (BRAMM) Gold Award for 2026-27 – Memorial Design of the Year.
The firm, which has also won a £1,000 prize sponsored by BRAMM, took the honour for creating a memorial for three brothers, which now stands in Hebburn Cemetery.
The award was open to any memorial which had been installed in a cemetery or churchyard in the United kingdom within the last five years.
The winning design was marked on “its design and innovation qualities” and the judges were clearly impressed.
Eden Memorials is run by Lisa Wardingham, her husband Shaun Wardingham and a team of dedicated professionals. Shaun came up with the unique headstone design to deliver the wishes of the brothers’ mother.
The Maxwell Street based business has, literally, carved itself a solid reputation since it started trading in 2010.
They would like to give thanks for the permission they received to put the memorial up for the award.
Shaun Wardingham told the Gazette: “It’s a prestigious award. In this trade it’s the biggest accolade you can get and it’s open to the whole of the country.
“I designed the stone with a lady, who told me what she wanted and we put something together that was really quite different.
“It’s nice to have your work recognised.”
Shaun’s wife and company co-owner Lisa stressed that the award was to recognise everyone at Eden Memorials.
She added: “We are so proud to announce we have won the BRAMM national gold award in the Memorial design of the year competition.
“This is the most prestigious award in the memorial trade, open to entries from masons throughout Great Britain.
“So proud of our whole team. It’s great to see their skill and professionalism rewarded in such an amazing way.”
The mother of the brothers who are remembered by the award winning headstone has expressed her delight that Eden memorials have taken the BRAMM award.