A grave may be purchased at any time but it’s generally purchased by the funeral director on behalf of the family following bereavement.
You may want to make your own arrangements at the time of the funeral, and you can do this by contacting us direct. We will be happy to advise you.
If you’re purchasing from outside the borough area you will be charged at a rate two and a half times the fees.
If you would like to view the section of the cemetery where the burial is to take place before the funeral, we will arrange for a member of staff to meet with you on the site.
Purchased grave
A purchased grave is where the right of burial can be bought for a period of 75 years.
The owner of the right of burial can decide who will be buried in the grave and memorials are allowed in line with our cemetery regulations.
Unpurchased grave
An unpurchased grave, sometimes known as a public or common grave, is where the right to burial cannot be bought and we have total control of the grave.
These graves can be bought within three years of the last burial. The council will decide who will be buried in the grave and this might not be members of the same family.
No memorial rights exist on public graves so no headstone or other memorial can be erected.
When burials take place
Burials can take place on any weekday, except on bank holidays. Muslim graves are exempt. Please talk to your funeral director or contact us to discuss any specific needs.
Saturday burials can take place by arrangement but are subject to a £612 surcharge.
Memorials
We know how important memorials are as a lasting symbol of remembrance.
We offer technical advice and help to make sure that all memorials meet cemetery regulations.
Consecrated and Unconsecrated Ground
Most of our cemeteries have consecrated (blessed as sacred) and unconsecrated areas where you can buy graves. The consecrated ground is consecrated by the Church of England.
Cremated Remains in the Cemeteries
There are memorial gardens for cremated remains at each of our cemeteries. Cremated remains can also be placed in purchased graves.
For further information please use our online request for information form.
Types of Graves
Traditional grave spaces
These allow the owner of the grave to put a full headstone and surround on the grave after burial.
All memorials of this type must be built on a concrete base or 'landing'. Available at Eccleshall Road Cemetery.
Lawn-type graves
We will maintain these special areas, at no expense to the grave owner.
After the burial, the grave is made level and grassed over. The headstone can have a marble or granite vase plate on which flowers or wreaths can be placed.
So that we can maintain these areas, nothing else is allowed to be placed or grown on or around the grave and the area in front of the headstone is grassed over.
Woodland Burials
A woodland site is an area where graves are of a single depth, dug side by side as against a traditional burial in a lawn cemetery where the graves are of a double depth. After the first interment a tree is planted on the first half of the grave in place of a conventional memorial. The next interment takes place in the second half of the grave thus avoiding any disturbance of the tree. The graves will not be in straight lines as in a conventional burial ground, rather in small islands of graves, which will be sited throughout the area.
For further information please use our online request for information form.