Buying a grave

We appreciate that during this difficult time you will have to make important decisions about the cemetery and grave you want. The following information will help you decide.

Normally, your funeral director will help to make the necessary arrangements for buying a grave. Some people may prefer to organise it by directly contacting us.

If prior to a funeral taking place, you would like to view the section of the cemetery where a grave is located, a member of staff can meet you on site.

At the Housing and Community Services Committee on Thursday, January 31, 2019, it was agreed to cease with immediate effect the practice of allowing people to pre-purchase graves within Council managed cemetries for future use, except where ground conditions restrict the use of double graves.

In the cemeteries that we manage, we offer several types of grave. The exclusive right of burial is sold for 50 years. These are known as 'purchased graves'. Anyone may purchase a grave space in our cemeteries where available however if you are a non-resident the fees are tripled.

Burials can take place on any weekday, except on Bank Holidays. Talk to your funeral director or contact us to discuss any specific needs.

Traditional grave spaces

These allow the owner of the grave to put a full headstone and/or surround on the grave after burial. These must be built on a concrete base or 'landing'.

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. Nothing else can be placed or grown on or around the grave and the area in front of the headstone is grassed over.

Cremated remains plots

There are cremated remains plots at five of our cemeteries and a memorial garden at Etwall Cemetery. Cremated remains can also be placed in purchased graves.

Purchased grave

A purchased grave is where the right of burial can be bought for a period of 50 years. At the end of this period an extension for a further 25 years can be sought by contacting us. 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. Information about the fees and how to make a payment is available on our fees page.

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. We 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.