Memorials
If you wish to place a memorial on a grave you must purchase the exclusive rights of burial. If you do not the grave remains an unpurchased grave in which you will not be able to place a memorial.
Our list of monumental masons and funeral directors shows who act as agents. Whilst the list is not exhaustive, it provides contact details for monumental masons and funeral directors who undertake work within our cemetery.
Those regular monumental masons and funeral directors who undertake work within our cemetery have the two necessary application forms we require regarding memorials, and which they will complete and send to us on your behalf.
Application forms can also be provided to other monumental masons should you wish to use a different firm than one of those listed.
It is important that you use a qualified monumental mason and that they adhere to the National Association of Memorial Masons
(NAMM) guidelines as all memorials within the cemetery must comply with this standard.
The NAMM guidelines ensure memorials are installed with adequate foundations and that all joints of memorials are properly secure.
Under no circumstance can any memorial be installed in the cemetery without authorised consent of the registered owner, authorised consent from us or by anyone other than a qualified monumental mason.
All memorials must be kept in good repair by the registered owner and any subsequent repairs carried out by qualified monumental masons and to the NAMM guidelines.
We reserve the right to make safe any memorial which is allowed to fall into disrepair or become dangerous should we fail to make contact or receive no response. Please also see 'headstone safety testing'.
Should a memorial become dangerous and the exclusive rights of burial have expired, we are legally allowed to remove the memorial should we choose to do so.
Period following a burial that a memorial can be installed
Cremation plot – Following a cremation a memorial can be installed at any time.
Full burial plot – roughly a 6-month ground settlement period is required following a burial, although this period could be longer.
This is due to the memorial being installed directly on the excavated are of the grave and the ground will need time to settle and consolidate.
During this period cemetery staff monitor any sinkage that becomes apparent and top up periodically with topsoil until settlement ceases.
Forms
Forms are available from the burial officer or from your chosen funeral director.
The 'application for a memorial' form must be signed by the registered owner to confirm the instruction and their permission. No applications will be authorised if they are signed by anyone other than the registered owner. Where there is more than one registered owner, the signed authorisation must be obtained by all.
The 'erection of a memorial' form is to be completed by your chosen monumental mason to show a drawing of the proposed memorial, dimensions and inscriptions. This form is to then be authorised by the burial officer and returned to the applicable monumental mason.
It is important that we receive the two application forms for a memorial and that we authorise the application before you instruct your chosen monumental mason to proceed with the memorial or additional inscriptions to existing memorials.
Permitted memorials
All memorials must be placed at the head of the grave and the following memorials are permitted within the following sections of the cemetery.
Old section
The old section of the cemetery is laid out in a traditional style and with the following memorials permitted:
If you wish to place a memorial on a grave you must purchase the exclusive rights of burial. If you do not the grave remains an unpurchased grave in which you will not be able to place a memorial.
Our list of monumental masons and funeral directors shows who act as agents. Whilst the list is not exhaustive, it provides contact details for monumental masons and funeral directors who undertake work within our cemetery.
Those regular monumental masons and funeral directors who undertake work within our cemetery have the two necessary application forms we require regarding memorials, and which they will complete and send to us on your behalf.
Application forms can also be provided to other monumental masons should you wish to use a different firm than one of those listed.
It is important that you use a qualified monumental mason and that they adhere to the National Association of Memorial Masons
(NAMM) guidelines as all memorials within the cemetery must comply with this standard.The NAMM guidelines ensure memorials are installed with adequate foundations and that all joints of memorials are properly secure.
Under no circumstance can any memorial be installed in the cemetery without authorised consent of the registered owner, authorised consent from us or by anyone other than a qualified monumental mason.
All memorials must be kept in good repair by the registered owner and any subsequent repairs carried out by qualified monumental masons and to the NAMM guidelines.
We reserve the right to make safe any memorial which is allowed to fall into disrepair or become dangerous should we fail to make contact or receive no response. Please also see 'headstone safety testing'.
Should a memorial become dangerous and the exclusive rights of burial have expired, we are legally allowed to remove the memorial should we choose to do so.
Period following a burial that a memorial can be installed
Cremation plot – Following a cremation a memorial can be installed at any time.
Full burial plot – roughly a 6-month ground settlement period is required following a burial, although this period could be longer.
This is due to the memorial being installed directly on the excavated are of the grave and the ground will need time to settle and consolidate.
During this period cemetery staff monitor any sinkage that becomes apparent and top up periodically with topsoil until settlement ceases.
Forms
Forms are available from the burial officer or from your chosen funeral director.
The 'application for a memorial' form must be signed by the registered owner to confirm the instruction and their permission. No applications will be authorised if they are signed by anyone other than the registered owner. Where there is more than one registered owner, the signed authorisation must be obtained by all.
The 'erection of a memorial' form is to be completed by your chosen monumental mason to show a drawing of the proposed memorial, dimensions and inscriptions. This form is to then be authorised by the burial officer and returned to the applicable monumental mason.
It is important that we receive the two application forms for a memorial and that we authorise the application before you instruct your chosen monumental mason to proceed with the memorial or additional inscriptions to existing memorials.
Permitted memorials
All memorials must be placed at the head of the grave and the following memorials are permitted within the following sections of the cemetery.
Old section
The old section of the cemetery is laid out in a traditional style and with the following memorials permitted:
- monolith
- headstones
- crosses
- kerb surrounds
- tablets within kerb surrounds
- vases are also permitted but these must also be fixed by a qualified monumental mason and either within kerb surrounds or up against the headstone
New section
The new section of the cemetery is laid out in a lawn grave style.
The lawn grave was designed on the war grave principle - to have only a memorial of limited size at the head of the grave with the rest of the grave laid to lawn.
In this manner the limited area available for burial is best utilised. In addition maintenance is easier to accomplish with large mowing machinery being used to keep the area in a neat condition and by keeping maintenance costs down. This also helps us keep our cemetery fees as low as possible.
Lawn graves are sold on the understanding that only lawn style memorials are erected.
The following memorials are permitted as long as they do not exceed 5 feet 6 inches by 2 feet 6 inches (not including the base):
- headstones
- crosses
- tablets and vases are also permitted but these must be fixed by a qualified monumental mason also and must be fixed up against the headstone
Cremation block
Only approved design tablets are permitted within the cremation block and must be installed on a concrete plinth by a qualified monumental mason that is flush with ground level. Tablets must not exceed 18 inches by 18 inches.
Dedicated facilities
We can also provide dedicated trees; shrubs and benches for loved ones within the cemetery grounds, or on land within the management of the Parks team.
Please contact us for further information and costs relating to this.
Insurance
It is advisable to insure a memorial against accidental damage, vandalism and theft to take effect from when the memorial is installed.
The cost is very reasonable and usually insignificant when compared with the possible cost of repairs.
Any reputable monumental mason should have details of the schemes available but, if they do not, the National Association of Memorial Masonswill be able to assist.
We can also provide dedicated trees; shrubs and benches for loved ones within the cemetery grounds, or on land within the management of the Parks team.
Please contact us for further information and costs relating to this.
Insurance
It is advisable to insure a memorial against accidental damage, vandalism and theft to take effect from when the memorial is installed.
The cost is very reasonable and usually insignificant when compared with the possible cost of repairs.
Any reputable monumental mason should have details of the schemes available but, if they do not, the National Association of Memorial Masons
will be able to assist.
