Gosberton Cemetery

Rules and Regulations

PARISHIONER AND NON-PARISHIONER

Please note the meaning of Parishioner for the purpose of the Parish Council’s Cemetery Rules and Fees, as evidenced from the Electoral Roll records, is as follows;

• A current resident of Gosberton/Gosberton Risegate/Clough at the time of death and pays part of their council tax to Gosberton Parish Council

• A member of the armed forces if their permanent address is within the parish

• A person who was resident in the parish but left for reasons of care within 5 years of death.

All other persons will be regarded as non-parishioners for the purpose of the Cemetery Rules and Fees.

These rules and fees take effect from 01 September 2017, updated 14th May 2022

CEMETERY RULES

1. Please be respectful at all times.

2. All gravestones, memorials and inscriptions are to be subject to the approval of the Parish Council and all fees are to be paid to the Clerk of the Council before any work is carried out.

3. The planting of trees or shrubs is not allowed in any part of the cemetery.

4. Only vases purchased from the Parish Council are to be used for cremation plots.

5. Pathways are to be kept clear at all times.

6. Please remove wreaths and flowers within a reasonable amount of time.  

7. Inappropriate ornaments will be removed.

8. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times.

CREMATION PLOT RULES

1. Please be respectful at all times.

2. All memorials and inscriptions are to be subject to the approval of the Parish Council, and all fees are to be paid to the Clerk of the Council before any work is carried out.

3. No planting of trees or shrubs.

4. Only vases purchased from the Parish Council are to be used, and they will be placed into the ground by the cemetery keeper.

5. Pathways are to be kept clear at all times.

6. Wreaths can only be placed on cremation plots at Christmas time.

7. Please remove wreaths and flowers within a reasonable amount of time.

8. No ornaments.

REGULATIONS RELATING TO GRAVESTONES, MEMORIALS AND INTERMENTS

1. All Masons etc. need to provide proof of appropriate professional membership, evidence of relevant Risk Assessment & Safe System of work and legal indemnity, as they are responsible for theirs acts or omissions whilst in the cemetery on Parish Council property.

2. The Council reserves the right without giving any notice whatsoever:

• To remove any headstone which is not being maintained in a position and in a manner to the satisfaction of the council

• To remove any headstone or alter its position if such a course appears to the council to be desirable, in order to preserve the amenities of the cemetery

• To remove and replace any headstone so that the opening of a grave may be facilitated

• To remove any unauthorised headstone, memorial plaque, flower container, stone chippings, kerb stones and planted flowers, shrubs and trees

3. In the event of the exercise by the council of the rights reserved in the above points, any expense incurred by the council shall be recoverable from the persons to who the headstone, memorial or plaque belongs.

4. Applications including drawings showing dimensions of every headstone or tablet with a statement of the type of stone to be used, proposed position on the grave space, plus a copy of every inscription, shall be submitted to the Parish Clerk for consideration.  No headstone or tablet shall be erected or placed in the cemetery without written approval from the Clerk.

5. No vases (other than those incorporated within a memorial), shrubs, trees, plants, artificial wreaths, jars, toys or memorabilia, railings, fencing, kerbing or other structures enclosing the grave, shall be permitted. Any breach of this condition may result in the removal of any such item by the Council. This is to facilitate the proper and effective maintenance of the burial ground.

6. No headstone may be removed from the cemetery by any persons other than the council until the consent in writing of the owner of the headstone has been deposited with the Parish Clerk.

7. No responsibility will be accepted by the council for the safe keeping of or damage to any memorial.

8. The Parish Council strongly recommends that grave owners take out insurance to cover damage to their memorials.

9. Masons or other persons engaged in the erection, renovation or repainting of any stone monument must perform the work expeditiously and in all respects in accordance with these regulations.  The work must be carried out at the sole risk and liability of the person executing them and any damage caused by or in the execution thereof shall be made good to the satisfaction of the council or other persons whose property is so damaged.

10. Masons or other persons engaged in the erection, renovation or repainting of any monument are prohibited from exhibiting their addresses on memorials erected in the cemetery.

11. The Parish Council retain the right to tend to any plot that is not regularly maintained.  If it is deemed necessary, the Parish Council may contact the person/s named on the Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial and request that they perform maintenance on the plot to bring it up to a standard in line with other graves in the section.

12. The Parish Council undertakes the upkeep of the cemetery and employs the services of a Cemetery Keeper to carry this out.   Any queries relating to the cemetery should be directed to the Parish Clerk and not the Cemetery Keeper.

13. The ashes plots will be sufficient for two containers of ashes with containers.  Biodegradable containers are only permitted where one ashes is to be buried otherwise wooden must be used.

14. The erection (or renewal) of a wooden cross is not allowed other than for a temporary period not exceeding six months, following interment. In default of this regulation the Council reserves the right to remove any such cross.

DIMENSIONS FOR MEMORIALS

(These are the maximum dimensions allowed)

ITEM HEIGHT WIDTH FRONT-BACK

Single gravestone 1.2m/48” 0.61m/24” 0.10m/4”

Single plinth 0.2m/9” 0.9m/36” 0.10m/12”

Double gravestone 1.2m/48” 0.9m/36” 0.10m/4”

Double plinth 0.2m/9” 1.8m/72” 0.46m/18”

Ashes memorial stone/plaque 0.45m/14“ 0.45m/14“ 0.05m/2”

In the interests of safety, monuments will be mounted only on approved bases

GRANT OF EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS OF BURIAL

1. The Council will grant on such terms and subject to such conditions as they think proper and upon payment of the appropriate fee or fees to any person aged eighteen years or over.  The Grant of Exclusive Rights of Burial will be for a period of 75 years for any grave space or grave.  The full name and address of the person to be registered as the Owner thereof shall be supplied.  It is the responsibility of the purchaser to inform the Council of any change of address.  

2. If a holder of Exclusive Right of Burial no longer wishes to maintain their plot they should refer to the Parish Council.

3. The Council will allocate the next available space at the time of purchase.

4. The Council currently allow four owners of a burial plot.

5. Transfer of Exclusive Right of Burial – documents required – transfer of ownership can take place on production of any of the following relevant original documentation to the Clerk:

a) Grant of Probate:  Normally granted to the executors appointed in the will of the deceased person when the will has been proven in court.  Only the original ‘sealed’ Grant will be acceptable at the Parish Office; ie must bear the embossed seal of the court.  

b) Grant of Letters of Administration:  When a deceased dies intestate (i.e. without making a valid will) then the next of kin (or some other person with a sufficient interest) can apply to the Court to be made the Administrator of the Estate.  As with Grant of Probate, the original document must be produced to the Cemetery Office bearing the embossed seal of the Court. 

c) Form of assent:  Normally completed by the deceased’s personal representative or other holder of either the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration when it is necessary to transfer the ownership of the grave to a family member on closure of the deceased’s estate.

d) Statutory Declaration:  An original document to be completed and witnessed by a Magistrate or Commissioner of Oaths.  Normally used where no other official documents have been issued or applied for. 

GRAVE SEARCHES

Searches to locate the grave of a deceased person whose remains are buried in Gosberton Cemetery will be incur a fee of £20.00 per search payable to Gosberton Parish Council.  Enquiries should be made to the clerk providing at least the following information:

• The full name of the deceased

• The approximate month and year of death.

CEMETERY FEES

Please note: 

• Non-parishioner fees will be triple fees of a parishioner.  

• The above fees do not include the cost for digging the grave.  Fees for grave and ashes plot digging to be paid direct to the contractor responsible for the work.

FEES CORRECT AT 11TH JULY 2024