Graves - access and rights

Access to Graves
Cemeteries are places where the burials take place continually either in new or reopened graves. Please note that in the future, perhaps in a few weeks, or many years, a grave next to yours will need to be dug. When this happens, a large quantity of soil has to be excavated. This can amount to several tons, particularly if a large casket has to be accommodated. Unfortunately, it is not possible to remove all of the soil from around the grave. The standard practice (throughout the country) in these situations is to carefully cover the area adjacent to the grave with boards and sacking, and place the soil there. Where possible, graves with no memorials are chosen. This may prevent you from visiting your grave for a short period. After the funeral, the grave is backfilled using the adjacent soil first, and the area is cleaned and left in a tidy condition. The same procedure will apply when your grave needs to be reopened.

Grave Rights
All grave rights are sold for a period of 75 years and can be renewed at the end of this period. The deed of the Grant of Right of Burial should be kept in a safe place, as it is evidence of your ownership of the right. You have purchased a right of Burial and have become the "Owner" of the Right. This means that any further burial in the grave must be of the grave "owner", or a burial authorised in writing by the "owner". Also, only the "owner" can give (written) approval for a memorial to be erected on the grave. It is important to note that you have brought the Right for the grave and not the land, which remains in the ownership of Southampton City Council.

Memorials
Legally, no memorial may be placed on any grave without the consent in writing of the grave "owner", the Registrar of the Cemeteries (at Bugle Street), and the appropriate fee being paid. The City Council does have powers to remove unauthorised memorials. All local stonemasons have supplies of the appropriate application forms, and can advise you on the type and size of memorials permitted. Please be aware that memorials are erected at the "owner's" risk. Your stonemason can advise you regarding insuring memorials.

Memorial Safety
The "owner" of the grave Right is responsible for the safety of any memorial he or she has had erected on the grave. A properly erected memorial should be safe for twenty years or more. If it becomes loose or starts to lean, please contact your stonemason.