JC - I think you may well be right. palma non sine pulvere translates as no prize/glory without effort. Perhaps the dust created by a stonemason is a sign of his hard work which leads ultimately to the end result of a beautifully engraved headstone - the 'prize'. In which case, the stonemasons have got the motto wrong. Now this stonemason is situated on the same road as a grammar school where Latin is still taught. I wonder if they get students calling in to comment on this inscription? I've e-mailed my Latin teacher but suspect she's now on holiday and not logging on.I may well call on the stonemasons myself to get this cleared up once and for all - I've had a look at their website but there is no motto displayed. I've also looked at the Worshipful Company of Stonemasons website, and their motto is an English one.