Burial Regulations
INTERMENTS
1. General
The burial ground is open daily and all visitors must keep on the walks, refrain from touching shrubs or flowers and observe perfect decorum at all times.
Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times
The parish council clerk will allocate grave spaces on behalf of the Parish Council.
2. Right of Interment
The right of interment and the reservation of grave spaces are exclusive to residents of Hogsthorpe, or those whose name at any time has been on the Register of Electors during five years prior to death upon payment as set out in the scale of fees.
Persons residing in residential care homes, nursing homes or hospitals outside of Hogsthorpe who were, prior to their removal thereto, inhabitants of Hogsthorpe will be classed as residents.
At the discretion of the council, these services may be extended to non-parishioners on payment of the appropriate fee. Should there be any query regarding these rights, the non-resident fee must be paid, refundable if residency is proven and accepted by the council.
3. Notice of Interment
Application forms for interment, erection of memorials, reservation of plots and the scale of fees form part of these regulations and are available from the Clerk.
4. Coffins
The deceased must be placed in a properly constructed coffin or eco friendly coffin as agreed by the relevant undertaker before burial will be allowed to take place.
5. Digging and Reinstatement of Graves
A body shall not be interred in a grave in such a manner that any part of the coffin is at a depth less than three feet below the level of the surface of the ground of the grave space, nor shall cremated remains of a body be interred in a grave in such a manner that any part of the casket is at a depth less than 30cm below the level of the ground of the grave space. The minimum depth of a grave shall be 140cm. Double plots are not allowed.
n.b. It should be noted that the above mentioned depths are liable to be checked after digging and if found to be insufficient the interment will not be permitted to take place.
Mechanical diggers may only be used when authorised by the Clerk and reinstatement must be to the satisfaction of the Parish Council.
Turf is to be lifted carefully and stacked, and topsoil is to be piled. On reinstatement, subsoil is to be compacted as firmly as possible with topsoil and turf replaced so that the finished result is a level lawned burial ground after settlement.
6. Re-opening of Graves and Cremation Plots
Permission in writing from the surviving relative or executor must be submitted to the Parish council when a grave is to be re-opened.
There shall be no disturbance of any previous burial
7. Reservation of Graves and Cremation Plots
Plots may be reserved by application to the Clerk who will issue a Grant of Exclusive Rights of Burial Certificate.
Grant of Exclusive Rights of Burial is granted for a period of 30 years only. If you wish to extend the Rights after 30 years, please re-apply to the Clerk for the same plot.
Where a Grant of Exclusive Rights of Burial has been granted, and the holder of the Right subsequently determines to relinquish that Right, a pro rata refund of the fee originally paid shall be made, with any administration fee being deducted.
8. Flowers
Wreaths and flowers may be placed on graves after interment but must be removed within a six month period. Vases and flower containers must be part of a memorial headstone.
Flowers, wreaths and arrangements for special occasions, anniversaries etc will be allowed but these must be removed once they are dead or become unsightly.
No responsibility can be accepted by the Parish Council for the removal of flowers or containers by any unauthorised person, but the Council reserves the right to remove dead or unsightly flowers or other tributes.
9. Prohibitions
Iron crosses, wire or plastic fencing, railings, kerbed or edging stones, or gravel placed on the top of the grave is not permitted.
In the interests of safety, glass, china, plastic, jars or bottles are not allowed and any such items may be removed at the discretion of the Parish Council.
The installation of lamps, solar lanterns, wind chimes, windmills or any decorative metal items are not permitted anywhere within the burial grounds.
No flowers, shrubs or pot plants may be planted in the grave space, the cremation area or around memorial plaques.
MEMORIALS, HEADSTONES AND PLAQUES
1. Installation of Headstones and Memorials
i. The erecting of headstones or memorials will not be permitted until six calendar months following interment to allow settling of the ground. This does not apply to cremation plaques.
ii. Only installation by monumental masons agreed with the Parish Council will be authorised to install headstones. Full details of memorials, measurements and inscriptions must be submitted to the Parish Council prior to installation.
iii. Every headstone must be firmly fixed to the foundation suited to the ground conditions which must be wholly below ground level and of sufficient strength to support the conditions.
iv. A memorial headstone shall be no larger than 120 cm high and 70 cm wide and constructed of Granite, Marble or natural stone but not of reconstituted stone, brick, plaster, bath or other soft stone or of any metal.
v. A plaque or blanking stone in the cremation area shall be 450mm x 350mm and be kept level with the ground. Only sunken flower containers incorporated in the plaque are permitted. Raised, loose or fixed holders are prohibited.
vi. A memorial may be in the form of a headstone or a cross or marker stone and must be placed at the head of the grave. The plot number should be engraved at the foot of the reverse side of the headstone or cross, the right hand corner of the cremation plaque and the reverse side of a temporary marker stone.
vii. No headstone or any other memorial shall be placed in the burial ground and no additional inscriptions shall be made on any stone or other memorial without first obtaining consent from the Clerk in writing and upon payment of the appropriate fee. Such consent will only be given if the proposed memorial and inscription complies with the requirements of these regulations and is acceptable by the council.
viii. Any unauthorised memorial will be removed. The Parish Council will not be responsible for the costs incurred; these will be charged back to the family, undertaker or stonemason responsible.
ix. Lettering on headstones and cremation plaques must be black, dark brown, leaded, white, silver or gold whilst only black is permitted on marker stones. Every effort should be made to keep inscriptions simple and the epitaph appropriate.
2. Care and Maintenance
i. The applicant or family is responsible for the safety, care and maintenance of the memorial.
ii. The Parish Council cannot accept liability for any damage unless it is caused by its Contractors or employees carrying out maintenance work.
iii. The Parish Council Clerk must be informed and the work approved before any memorial or cremation plaque is removed from the Burial ground for repair, modification or additional inscription.
iv. Inspection of all memorials will be carried out at 5 yearly intervals and appropriate action taken in accordance with the report.
v. The Council reserves the right to remove any objects that it deems unsightly or not in keeping with the general aesthetics of a lawned cemetery. Every effort will be made to contact the applicant before removal. The offending objects will be removed within 2 months, with or without a reply.
3. Deteriorating/Unsafe memorials
i. Where a memorial has deteriorated or is unsafe, the Council will attempt to contact the applicant or surviving family in order that repairs can be carried out.
ii. Should this not be possible, or the relatives fail to act in a reasonable time, then the Parish Council may remove any such memorials without further notice.
4. Conveyance and Removal of Materials
i. All tools and equipment required for the erection of headstones and memorials shall be conveyed to the burial ground either by hand or by wheel barrow so as to cause minimal damage.
ii. Care must be taken to avoid damage to paths and grassed areas in the burial grounds.
iii. Equipment, materials and spoil must be removed from the burial ground immediately on the completion of the work at no expense to the Council.
iv. If, after receiving seven days’ notice in writing from the Clerk to the person responsible for the removal of equipment, materials or spoils fails to comply with this regulation, the Parish Council will clear the site and the cost of the clearance passed to the person originally responsible.
v. All work in connection with memorials and reinstatement arising therefrom shall be carried out to the satisfaction of the Parish Council.