In London most burials take place in local authority owned cemeteries but some are maintained by other companies such as Kemnal Park, Elmers End Beckenham or Streatham Park. There are now very few Churchyards with spaces.

There is very limited burial space London but a steady demand is keeping prices high.

Some local authorities have several cemeteries but not all may be available as they may be full other than for the re-opening of existing, family owned plots.

The majority of graves are earthen graves whereby the grave is dug into the soil but there are concrete vault graves in Brockley and Streatham Park cemeteries. In Streatham Park there is also the option of purchasing a Mausoleum.

 

We can assist you in choosing a cemetery or with arranging to re-open an existing plot.

 

Graves will usually have a headstone erected at a later date. The local authority will usually charge a fee for a memorial permit.

We recommend waiting 12 months for a headstone, 24 months for a full memorial and 12 months for a ledger.

We can supply new memorials as well as removing and replacing existing memorials for re-openings and refurbishments of older memorials.

 

There are lots of rules and regulations governing cemeteries but those that affect families most are those that says the deceased usually has to reside in the borough where the cemetery is located. Exceptions may be made if the deceased had lived in the chosen area for several years, but this exception varies by borough. If you choose a cemetery in an area where the deceased or next-of-kin didn’t reside the local authority may make extra charges, typically three or four times the standard cost. This is out of the funeral director’s control but we can advise on the rules for the cemetery you want to use or suggest alternatives. It may be possible to receive help with the cost of a burial if you receive certain DWP benefits. Ask us about this and we can assist you.

 

While traditional burial methods are still the popular choice, natural burials are emerging as a popular alternative way of conducting a funeral that can be seen as more environmentally friendly. Brockley and Kemnal Park are the local options for natural or woodland burials but there are others outside of the area.

We understand that the rules around this can be confusing and a bit overwhelming so please do call us and we can answer any questions you might like to know.