Huntingdon Town Council

Cemetry Rules

Lawn Cemetery Rules

Applicable to:-

Huntingdon Priory Road Cemetery (Section A), Huntingdon Primrose Lane Cemetery & Huntingdon North Street Cemetery.

The above cemeteries are designated "lawn cemeteries" which means that all graves have flat grassed surfaces and only headstone type memorials are permitted. No flower vases may be placed on or around the grave other than in any receptacle approved by the Council as part of a permanent memorial. SHRUBS, TREES, BUSHES ETC. MAY NOT BE PLANTED ON THE GRAVE AND FLOWERS SHOULD BE PLACED ONLY IN RECEPTACLES WHICH FORM PART OF THE MEMORIAL ITSELF.

The following guidelines relating to memorials are to be observed: -

Permanent memorials may be placed only on graves to which the burial rights have been purchased. Where the burial rights have not been purchased a wooden marker or cross (the cross not to exceed 30" x 24" overall) showing the name, age and date of death of the deceased may be permitted, subject to the Council's approval (see 6). Such a marker shall be removed by the Council on the expiry of the time after which the grave may legally be re-used. The Council reserves the right to remove permanent memorials erected where the burial rights have not been purchased.
Memorials on full size graves are to be of the headstone type, not more than 3 feet high by 3 feet wide by 4 inches deep, set on a plinth and placed at the head of the grave in line with existing headstones. Please note total measurements including plinth not to exceed 3 feet .
In Huntingdon Primrose Lane Cemetery (Garden of Remembrance), horizontal tablets, not more than 18 inches by 13 inches may be placed on cremated remains burial plots intended for a single burial and not more than 18 inches by 18 inches for a double burial, or memorial plaques, not more than 10 inches by 6 inches may be provided for fixing by the Council to the inside wall of the Garden.
In Huntingdon Primrose Lane Cemetery (Children's Section), memorials are to be of the headstone type, not more than 2 feet high by 18 inches wide, to be placed at the head of the grave in line with existing headstones. Please note total measurements including plinth not to exceed above dimensions.
No memorial may be erected until six months after the burial (excluding ashes plots), and the Council's approval of the memorial must be obtained in writing before any arrangements are made (see 6). The right to place a memorial carries with it an obligation to maintain said memorial.
A sketch of any proposed memorial, with full details of dimensions, materials and inscription must be submitted to the Council for approval before any arrangements are made. If approval is granted for a permanent headstone a fee will be payable. The Council reserves the right to remove headstones erected without written approval.
The small brass plaque that is placed on the grave by the funeral directors is considered to be a temporary headstone and should be removed when a permanent memorial is in place.
Memorials remain the property of the owner of burial rights together with the responsibility for maintenance and safety. The Council tests the stability of memorials on a regular basis and owners of burial rights will be informed if a memorial fails such a test. It will be that person's responsibility to ensure the memorial is repaired and therefore not a danger to themselves or other visitors to the cemetery. If the Council considers a memorial to be a danger to the public and cannot contact the owner, action will be taken to make said memorial safe.

Generally

It is essential that those responsible for the erection of headstones or other memorials arrange for their placement in exactly the right positions after consultation with the burial authority. In any circumstances where these memorials have been located incorrectly, the burial authority reserves the right to arrange for their replacement into the correct position and for the costs thereof to be recovered from the persons originally responsible.

Kerbs, fences, stone vases (memorial or not), or the planting of any plants along the grave space are not permitted and the burial authority will reserve the right to remove any such items in order properly to undertake their responsibilities for the care and maintenance of the these cemeteries.

THE BURIAL AUTHORITY HAS ADOPTED THESE RULES IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE LONG TERM MAINTENANCE OF THE CEMETERY CAN BE PROPERLY AND EFFICIENTLY UNDERTAKEN IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE FEELING OF SERENITY AND DIGNITY AS BEFITS CEMETERIES OF THIS TYPE. SUCH RULES ALLOW FOR THE LONG TERM CARE OF ALL GRAVE SPACES, PERHAPS FOR LONG AFTER THOSE WHO INITIALLY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH CARE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE THAT OBLIGATION.

These regulations may be subject to change. Please check with the Town Council Office or see Cemetery notice board.

"TRADITIONAL" Cemetery Rules

Applicable to:-

Priory Road Cemetery - Excluding Lawn Area ("A" Section)

This is a traditional cemetery where kerbs, small shrubs/rose bushes and planting grave areas is permissible. Please refrain from planting until the grave has settled and been levelled by the Council.

The following guidelines to memorials are observed: -

Permanent memorials may be placed only on graves to which the burial rights have been purchased. Where the burial rights have not been purchased a wooden marker or cross (the cross not to exceed 30" x 24" overall) showing the name, age and date of death of the deceased may be permitted, subject to the Council's approval (see 3). Such a marker shall be removed by the Council on the expiry of the time after which the grave may be legally re-used.
No memorial may be erected until six months after the burial, and the Council's approval of the memorial must be obtained before any arrangements are made (see 3).
A sketch of any proposed memorial, with full details of dimensions, materials and inscription, must be submitted to the Council for approval before any arrangements are made. If approval is granted for a permanent headstone a fee will be payable.
Memorials remain the property of the owner of burial rights together with the responsibility for maintenance and safety. The Council tests the stability of memorials on a regular basis and owners of burial rights will be informed if a memorial fails such a test. It will be that person's responsibility to ensure the memorial is repaired and therefore not a danger to themselves or other visitors to the cemetery. If the Council considers a memorial to be a danger to the public and cannot contact the owner, action will be taken to make said memorial safe.

Generally

It is essential that those responsible for the erection of headstones or other memorials arrange for their placement in exactly the right positions after consultation with the burial authority. In any circumstances where these memorials have been located incorrectly, the burial authority reserves the right to arrange for their placement into the correct position and for the costs thereof to be recovered from the persons originally responsible.

These regulations may be subject to change. Please check with the Town Council Office or see Cemetery notice board.