-
Burial and Grave Choice in Kingston
Burial and Grave Choice in Kingston
The Royal Borough of Kingston has provided local burial since 1852. We manage two cemeteries, Kingston opened in 1852 and Surbiton opened in 1915. They are well maintained and offer many interesting features of Victorian funerary art, attractive trees and an abundance of wildlife. There are various grave types offering burial for up to two people for and are sold for a 75 year renewable period. A chapel is available at both cemeteries with music facilities for C.D. and tape. We can also provide an organist at Kingston Cemetery. There are the following choices of grave at these cemeteries:
- Lawn Grave: These graves are situated on lawns with a slabbed/concrete section at the head where a vase or headstone up to 3’ in height including base can be placed. The graves have a neat, though uniform appearance and are mown regularly throughout the summer.
- Traditional Grave: These graves are for those who want a greater choice over the size or design of the memorial or do not want people to walk over the grave. The entire grave area must be covered and the whole maintained by the grave owner. A large memorial up to 5’ in height including base can be placed and/or kerbs which surround the grave leaving an area to be filled with decorative Chipping’s, slabbed with decorative stone or an area within the kerbs which can be gardened.
- Recycled Grave: There are many old graves owned by the Borough and last used for burial in Victorian and Edwardian times. These are now used for the burial of those who do not want a private grave or a memorial upon the grave. This form of burial requires only the payment of the interment (burial) fee, saving the cost of making the grave private (when the Burial Rights are purchased for an agreed number of years from the Borough). We encourage the use of inexpensive bio – degradable coffins and space for a second burial cannot be reserved. Burials will be with non – related previous or subsequent burials depending on the depth available in a grave when it is needed. The grave will be used again in about 100 years when all the human remains have disappeared. This type of funeral is the least expensive that can be arranged.
- Woodland Grave: Woodland burial is within our re-cycled graves section. (Please refer to information above). Following the last burial in a grave a young native tree will be planted at the appropriate time of year. We can provide information about obtaining bio – degradable coffins if a shroud burial is not an option for you. Most people avoid the use of embalming techniques the fluids from which may harm the environment. No memorial is permitted as the tree is a living memorial. We can also offer information about dedicated woodland burial only sites. This type of burial is not an option for people who like a neat, tidy grave. These graves will have long grass at times to offer a habitat for wildlife. It is usual to find that a provider will permit only a wheeled bier on which the deceased will be placed for transport to the graveside. People with mobility impairments should seek advice from the service provider.
- Childrens' Graves: We offer small baby graves in both cemeteries. All graves are individual and teddy bears and similar items can be placed on graves. A slab is provided at the head of the grave on which a memorial up to 2’10” in height can be placed. Alternatively, a traditional memorial may be placed including headstone, kerbs and cover slab or decorative chippings within the kerb stones. Sizes are headstone 2’10”, width 2’0”, depth 4’0”. Older children may have a grave in the Kingston Children’s Section or alternatively placed within a ‘family’ lawn or traditional grave at either cemetery. Please ask if you would like a copy of the SANDS leaflet. The contact for SANDS is Lucy on telephone no: 020 8769 8261.
- Cremated Remains Graves - Available in three types:
- Lawn Graves: At Kingston Cemetery, laid out in formal rows and accepts up to 4 caskets which are buried beneath a concrete slab. A small memorial can be placed upon the slab. These graves can be purchased for 50 years
- Private Gardens: Available at both cemeteries, an individual circular garden is created for you with choice of stone Chipping’s, dwarf conifer and memorial boulder with fully inscribed polished granite plaque and gold topped vase. A Private Garden accepts up to 2 caskets and can be purchased for 75 years.
- Traditional Graves: At Kingston Cemetery, offering a choice of memorial, kerb set, decorative infill, foundation, fully inscribed in gold leaf with 80 free letters/numbers. Grave spaces are back to back with a space between each pair for privacy. A grave accepts up to 2 caskets and can be purchased for 50 years.
- Niche Wall Space: A niche space may be leased for a renewable10 year period. Each niche has space for two caskets, which together with a gold inscribed polished black granite plaque are provided within the lease fee. There is no fee for placement of the caskets within the niche.
The choice of graves is limited to areas covered by detailed grave plans and a precise grave numbering systems. A Register of all purchases and burials is maintained and available for inspection. A Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial (Title Deed) is issued for each purchase setting out details of the grave owner, the cemetery, burial section, individual grave number and period of grant. Please ensure that you inform us of any change of address this will assist us in maintaining accurate records should we need to contact you.
Please note that when the proposed burial is not that of the grave owner then without the written consent of the owner it is unlawful to open a grave or scatter remains upon it. The possession of the Title Deed does not, in itself, mean a person has the Right of Burial in a grave. If the grave owner is deceased then a new owner will have to be registered. Please ask staff for details.
If you are going to place a memorial on a grave then we recommend that you seek quotations, we can provide you with a list of local masons. It is important that memorials are fixed securely therefore you need to ensure that your chosen mason uses the current fixing methods as approved by the National Association of Memorial Masons, if not please advise us and we will prohibit them working in our cemeteries.
A grave owner is responsible for memorial safety and any necessary repairs including vandalism and you are advised to consider insuring your memorial for peace of mind. Conversely if it is proven that a memorial is damaged due to grass cutting, grave digging or other ground works we conduct then we must accept responsibility.