Policies & Procedures

Dunston Parish Council

Guidance for Grave markers

The following guidance for the erection of memorial headstones is designed to allow each plot to have sufficient space and for ease of maintenance of the graveyard.

Requests for memorials outside of this guide can be made to the Clerk to Dunston Parish Council for consideration.

Burial plots can be for individuals or multiple people, such as a couple or family. Burial plots are generally not actually sold but are leased for a set period. The lease period for Dunston Parish Cemetery graves has not been set.

The law states that a grave may only be ‘leased’ for up to 100 years at a time. You will therefore be given the option to ‘top-up’ your lease over time should this be required.

During the lease memorials such as headstones are often erected above a grave.

Grave plots

A single grave plot is approximately 2ft 6” x 8ft. A double grave is double this size.

 Graves can be marked with a headstone or cross for example which must be of a suitably durable material and can be engraved. Plot borders also of a durable material can be used, allowing for the passage of people and maintenance around the plot.

A standard grave marker would be 24" x 12" x 4", but this is not a set size as there are smaller and larger variations allowed as long as the groundsmen have the ability to maintain the space. For a companion grave, or two graves side-by-side that typically share a marker, the standard size is 36" x 12" x 4".

Cremation plots

A single cremation grave is approximately 1ft x 2 ft. A double plot would be approx. 1 ft x 3 ft.

Graves can be marked with a headstone or cross for example which must be of a suitably durable material and can be engraved. Plot borders are not permitted.

Cremation headstones are typically smaller than the standard gravestone, created to specifically rest above cremated remains. Typical sizes range from 6”x9” to 12”x18”, but depending on location an increase may be allowed, especially if double plots were side to side.