Cemetery - rebuild stone / base?
Discussion
What’s the etiquette - I know people do weeding and even relaying of stone chips / maintenance etc on their family’s graves. But my grandparents both have a small plaque type square ie not a headstone, laid on the earth facing upwards.
Over the years the earth has heaved, and undulates a lot, and they’re rather sunken. Is it allowable to lever up the 2 plaques and put to the side in order to set a new concrete base for them to go back on? I can see my grandads one is laid on a square of concrete. Or is it meant to be whoever looks after the cemetery would do it (I don’t think they would), or I need permission or whatever. I’d quite like them to last another 50 years.
They’re like this green one in the foreground
Over the years the earth has heaved, and undulates a lot, and they’re rather sunken. Is it allowable to lever up the 2 plaques and put to the side in order to set a new concrete base for them to go back on? I can see my grandads one is laid on a square of concrete. Or is it meant to be whoever looks after the cemetery would do it (I don’t think they would), or I need permission or whatever. I’d quite like them to last another 50 years.
They’re like this green one in the foreground
If you don't feel extra soil would be sufficient, sneaking in with a bucket of readymix might be the simplest option. If anyone asks you're repairing your grandparents' plaque. Maybe something like this? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bostik-Cementone-General-...
Going through official channels might takes ages and the answer might be no.
ETA just realised that product needs water added which would mean more stuff to carry and more time over the target, but I'm sure there's something ready to use (or mix it before you leave).
Going through official channels might takes ages and the answer might be no.
ETA just realised that product needs water added which would mean more stuff to carry and more time over the target, but I'm sure there's something ready to use (or mix it before you leave).
Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 7th April 13:46
My aunt died a couple of years ago and I wanted to have her buried in the same plot as her husband who had died 45 years previously.
Quite a bit of legwork led me to to the same Funeral Directors and Church but more importantly the same Stonemason ( now run by his son ) who arranged for the original headstone to be regilded and my Aunts “ inscription to be added.
Quite a bit of legwork led me to to the same Funeral Directors and Church but more importantly the same Stonemason ( now run by his son ) who arranged for the original headstone to be regilded and my Aunts “ inscription to be added.
My dads parents headstone (both died before I was born) was lying flat on the ground last year, turns out the lady who kept the cemetery weed free etc was also the one who checked all headstones monthly for any loose ones then pushed them over fiat.
So last year I lifted it, trolley jacks, timbers etc (solid granite and heavier than I first thought) upright then cast a shutter behind it to hold it upright.
I started first thing one morning and was mixing the concrete up when she arrived and at first came galloping up to see who and what I was up too but after I explained who I was and what I was doing she went totally the other way and friendly, chatting about other headstones etc.
My parents went up there later in the year and she saw them and went over to have a chat about what I d done, how some folk change their perception once they know the facts chuckles me a bit.
She did say 75 years is when the grave becomes the cemetery property or parish council, how true that is I m not sure.
That headstone had been there since the 1950 s so 70 odd years.
What struck me more was the more recent headstones on graves in the last 15-20 years that were falling over or had been pushed to the ground. If they put a better footing in for the headstones from the off there would be less movement.
Pre 1900 ones had oak dowels I was told and these on the whole were still ok.
So last year I lifted it, trolley jacks, timbers etc (solid granite and heavier than I first thought) upright then cast a shutter behind it to hold it upright.
I started first thing one morning and was mixing the concrete up when she arrived and at first came galloping up to see who and what I was up too but after I explained who I was and what I was doing she went totally the other way and friendly, chatting about other headstones etc.
My parents went up there later in the year and she saw them and went over to have a chat about what I d done, how some folk change their perception once they know the facts chuckles me a bit.
She did say 75 years is when the grave becomes the cemetery property or parish council, how true that is I m not sure.
That headstone had been there since the 1950 s so 70 odd years.
What struck me more was the more recent headstones on graves in the last 15-20 years that were falling over or had been pushed to the ground. If they put a better footing in for the headstones from the off there would be less movement.
Pre 1900 ones had oak dowels I was told and these on the whole were still ok.
Edited by Promised Land on Tuesday 7th April 14:40
Check with your Council - they will let you know what is and isn't allowed.
in terms of "approved contractors" ours ask for the details of whoever we ask to do the work and if any work is done which isnt in line with what is / isn't approved the Council instructs the Contractor to fix it. If they don't fix the Council does the work and the family get invoiced.
in terms of "approved contractors" ours ask for the details of whoever we ask to do the work and if any work is done which isnt in line with what is / isn't approved the Council instructs the Contractor to fix it. If they don't fix the Council does the work and the family get invoiced.
Yes most cemeteries now have a 75 or similar year rule where after that time has passed the plot is actually then considered vacant and can be re-used.
IME this tends not to happen too often although I know of one cemetery that's now a Tesco - they deemed enough time had passed since the last burial. I believe there were a couple of crypt type things that were relocated and then anything in the last 100 years was taken to another cemetery but the rest was just left and built over as it was over 100 years old.
IME this tends not to happen too often although I know of one cemetery that's now a Tesco - they deemed enough time had passed since the last burial. I believe there were a couple of crypt type things that were relocated and then anything in the last 100 years was taken to another cemetery but the rest was just left and built over as it was over 100 years old.
I am on the local council Allotment and Cemeteries committee -but no idea what the official answer is although I have no doubt it will involve asking for permission.
An advantage of asking for permission is that it gives the council contact details should they ever need to contact you.
If you just do it ensure the plaques are slightly set in the ground as someone else has mentioned. It will prevent damage by the mower
An advantage of asking for permission is that it gives the council contact details should they ever need to contact you.
If you just do it ensure the plaques are slightly set in the ground as someone else has mentioned. It will prevent damage by the mower
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