We will help you in the selection of a grave plot either for a pending funeral service or for a purchase of Rights of Burial in reserve.
Helping you make your choice
We appreciate that during this difficult time you will have to make important decisions about the cemetery and grave you want for the funeral. The following information will help you make your choice.
What happens next
After the Rights of Burial into a grave have been purchased you will be sent deeds of Rights of Burial for 50 years. These deeds should be kept in a safe place as you will need to provide details from them when instructing a stone mason regarding a memorial and will also need to produce them for future burials.
FAQ
How many burials can take place in my grave?
You will be asked at the time of the first interment how many interments you want the grave for. The maximum number of interments is four. However, depending on the ground conditions at the time of the first interment it is not always possible to achieve this depth.
Can cremated remains be buried in my grave?
Yes, up to six sets of cremated remains can be buried in a grave in addition to the number of full interments.
What happens if I move out of the borough? Am I still classed as a resident for burial purposes?
If you were a resident of the borough when you purchased the grave, or have lived in the borough for ten years of your adult life, or are the parent, child or spouse of a resident then you will be classed as a resident.
Can the ownership of Rights of Burial be passed to someone else?
Yes, you will be asked to provide evidence of this change of ownership of Rights of Burial and will be recorded as the holder of the deeds. A charge will be made for this service (see Funeral Expenses) and you will be asked to provide a form of evidence of change of ownership i.e. letter from the owner if still alive, Probate or Letters of Administration or some other form of evidence if the owner is deceased.
What type of memorial can I place on my grave?
If you purchase a traditional or ordinary plot, this is classed as a full memorial grave. A memorial with maximum dimensions of 5ft high x no greater in width than the width of the grave space x 6ft 6in long can be placed on this grave. If you purchase a lawn section grave, a headstone and vase plate only can be placed on this grave. The maximum dimensions for the headstone are 3ft high x 2ft 6in wide x 3” deep. A 9in area in front of the vase plate can be planted, but nothing else is permitted on the grave. After approximately one year, depending on the season, the area in front of this grave will be turfed.
How do I buy Rights of Burial in a grave?
Normally, your funeral director will help to make the necessary arrangements for purchasing the Rights of Burial. Some people may want to make their own arrangements at the time of the funeral, you can organise this by directly contacting us. We will be happy to advise you. 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.
How long can I buy Rights of Burial for?
In the cemeteries we manage we offer several types of grave. The exclusive Right of Burial is sold for 50 years. These are known as ‘purchased graves’.
Who can buy Rights of Burial?
Only people who live in the London Borough of Lewisham, have lived in the borough for ten consecutive years of their adult life, or the parent, child or spouse of a Lewisham resident can purchase Rights of Burial in the borough’s cemeteries as a resident. Non-residents can purchase Rights of Burial in a Lewisham cemetery, but must pay a non-resident fee, which is four times the fee for a resident.
When can burials take place?
Burials can take place on any weekday, except on bank holidays. Special arrangements for burials at weekends can be made at an additional charge. Please talk to your funeral director or contact us to discuss any specific needs.
What types of graves are available?
Traditional grave spaces: These allow the owner of the grave to put a full headstone and surround on the grave after burial. Memorials should not be placed on these graves until at least one year after burial. All memorials of this type must be built on a concrete base or ‘landing’.
Lawn-type graves: A headstone and vase plate only is permitted on these graves. One year 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.
Can I bury cremated remains in the cemeteries?
Yes, a few graves specifically for cremated remains are available in our cemeteries, but the majority of our memorials for the burial or interment of cremated remains are in the Crematorium Grounds. Up to six cremated remains burials can take place in purchased graves, in addition to the number of full burials for which the plot was purchased.
Are all the graves on consecrated ground?
No, all 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. Unconsecrated areas include general burial plots for all other religions including Roman Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist and Muslim.
What is the difference between unpurchased and purchased graves?
Unpurchased grave: An unpurchased grave, sometimes known as a public or common grave, is where the right to burial cannot be bought and the Council has total control of the grave. The Council will decide who will be buried in the grave and this might not be members of the same family. Memorial rights only exist on public graves for a period of 15 years and a small headstone or marker is permitted on the grave for that period.
Purchased grave: A purchased grave is where the Right of Burial can be bought for a period of 50 years, with an option of renewal at 10 year intervals or at the end of the 50 years (the maximum period that can be purchased is 50 years). The owner of the Right of Burial can decide who will be buried in the grave and memorials are allowed in line with the cemetery regulations.