Headstones and graveside memorials
The Council allows registered memorial masons at the request of grave (lair) owners to install headstones up to a maximum height of 1200mm (4 feet) within its burial grounds, onto concrete foundations pre - installed by the Council. This work is done to a high specification approved by the National Association of Memorial Masons.
The headstone always remains the property of the lair owner and any repairs or cleaning etc remains the owner’s responsibility. Insurance for damage or vandalism, though rare, can be obtained through the Memorial Mason.
Older headstones can sometimes become unstable and where found are identified by Council staff with yellow plastic warning tape. If the headstone is dangerously unstable it may be laid flat or relocated to avoid injury to maintenance staff or the public. It is the responsibility of the lair owner or their families to repair the headstone.
Families can decorate their lairs with flowers, smaller tributes, small plants and gardens etc but these must remain within the boundary width of the lair and not represent a problem or hindrance to grass maintenance nor overhang adjacent lairs. Council staff can advise on what is suitable and allowable.
Only the lair owner can instruct work to be carried out on a family headstone hence the need to update the ownership details if and when the lair owner dies.
Contact can be made about these issues by emailing
ESBurials@pkc.gov.uk or by phoning 01738 446865
