Question: How do I buy a grave?
Answer: There are two different ways you can buy a grave in one of our cemeteries:
We can allocate the next available grave to you, or if you prefer to have more of a choice regarding the location of the grave, we can arrange for you to meet the Cemeteries Inspector in the cemetery who will show you the graves available. There is a fee for this meeting.
The person/s wanting to buy the grave will be asked to complete and sign a form so that we can register them as the formal owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial (this can otherwise be referred to as grave ownership).
There is a fee to buy a grave and this varies depending upon the size of the grave and which cemetery the grave is in. Please refer to our current fees list.
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Question: When can burials take place in Isle of Wight Council Cemeteries?
Answer: In Isle of Wight Council cemeteries, burials can take place Mondays to Fridays only; we cannot accommodate burials on weekends or bank holidays. Timings vary depending upon availability and the time of year. Summer months April - September: Mondays 12noon-3pm, Tuesdays to Fridays 10am-3pm. Winter months October - March: Mondays 12noon-2pm, Tuesdays to Fridays 10am-2pm.
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Question: What types of grave are available to buy?
Answer: Full graves can be bought for coffin burials, half graves can be bought for burials of cremated remains.
Full graves can accommodate two full coffin burials one on top of the other. Most half graves can accommodate approximately four cremated remains caskets or urns, however this does vary depending upon the sizes of the caskets/urns.
Some graves can have memorial headstones and stone kerb surrounds installed (twelve months after burial) while some graves will have restrictions on the types of memorials you can have erected upon the grave; make sure you ask about this before buying a grave to avoid disappoint later on.
There is burial ground available for the following faiths: Church of England, Roman Catholic, Muslim & Non-Conformist.
We also have a dedicated Natural Burial Ground and areas in cemeteries set aside for babies and children.
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Question: What proof will I receive when I have bought a grave?
Answer: When you buy a full grave or a half grave, you are buying the Exclusive Right of Burial (EROB) and not the land itself. You’ll receive your receipt of payment but more importantly you’ll receive a Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial for a term of 100 years. This must be kept safe because this is your proof that you are the owner. If you have written a funeral plan or a Will, you should file a copy of the Grant of Exclusive Right with it.
It is important that you remember to let us know if you have a change in your name, address or contact details so we can update our records.
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Question: How many people can own a grave?
Answer: One grave can have a maximum of three registered owners of the Exclusive Right of Burial. As the owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial you have the automatic right to be buried in the grave you have purchased, so it is important that you register yourself as the owner when buying a grave if it is intended for yourself when the time comes.
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Question: What is a grave owner allowed to do to their grave?
Answer: The person buying the grave (Exclusive Right of Burial) is the only person that can apply to the Isle of Wight Council (the Burial Authority) for burials and burials of cremated remains to take place in the grave, and for scattering of cremated remains to take place under the turf upon the grave.
The owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial is also the only person that can apply for a permit for any memorials or headstones to be erected upon a grave, subject to cemetery regulations and payment of the relevant permit fee.
Only hard stone memorials are permitted. Any items made of glass, ceramics, plastic, paper, cardboard, pottery are strictly forbidden.
It is important that you let us know about any burials, burials of cremated remains, scatters of cremated remains and placing of memorials BEFORE any money is spent to ensure what you have planned is permissible within cemetery regulations.
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Question: What are a grave owner's responsibilities?
Answer: As the owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial for a grave you have the responsibility of ensuring the grave and any memorials erected upon it are well maintained at all times and that they do not present any risks to cemetery visitors, contractors or staff. Memorials installed or placed upon the grave must fall within the cemetery regulations; any items upon graves which do not comply with the regulations set out by the Isle of Wight Council will be removed without exception.
It is a legal requirement that the owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial informs the Isle of Wight Council before any burials or scatters take place and before any memorials are put onto the grave. This helps us to keep our statutory records up to date.
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Question: Who can put a memorial on a grave in an Isle of Wight Council cemetery?
Answer: You must be the owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial for the grave to be permitted to put a memorial on a grave in any of our cemeteries. The formal memorial application process must be followed.
The owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial can only instruct a stonemason registered to carry out memorial work in Isle of Wight Council cemeteries.
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Question: What do I have to do to put a memorial on a grave?
Answer: The grave owner should first select a registered stonemason who will make and erect the memorial for them. The grave owner must complete and sign a Memorial Application form, which their chosen stonemason will be able to provide.
A permit fee will need to be paid to your stonemason; these fees vary depending upon the type and size of the memorial being erected on the grave (refer to the current fees and charges list).
Bereavement Services will assess the memorial application before issuing a permit to the stonemason. The stonemason cannot erect any memorials on any graves until they have the permit to carry out the work.
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Question: Can I put a headstone or memorial on a grave that has just been buried in?
Answer: Memorials and headstones cannot be put onto a grave until at least twelve months have passed since any burial has taken place. The reason for this is to give the ground time to settle after the burial to minimise any ground movement when the headstone is eventually erected. A temporary wooden cross no taller than 2ft in height can be erected for a maximum of one year immediately after the burial; the formal memorial application process must still be followed. Bereavement Services, your funeral director or stonemason will be able to provide you with a temporary wooden marker for a fee.
Memorials and headstones can be erected on graves where a burial of cremated remains has just taken place because the grave has not been excavated as deeply, so the ground does not require the time to settle. The formal memorial application process must still be followed.
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Question: What type of memorial or headstone can I put on a grave?
Answer: There are regulations stating what can and cannot be put on graves in our cemeteries. These regulations are in place to make sure memorials and headstones do not create any hazard or risk to the safety of cemetery visitors, contractors or staff.
All permanent memorials and headstones must be constructed of hard stone (e.g. marble, granite, etc). We do not permit any items made of glass, plastic, ceramics, pottery, paper, cardboard or any similar breakable or perishable material.
Some cemeteries have restrictions on the types of memorials that can be placed on graves, for example kerb surrounds are not permitted in some cemeteries. If you are unsure whether the memorial you prefer is permitted, please check our cemetery regulations, ask your stonemason or contact bereavement.services@iow.gov.uk for clarification.
We do not allow memorials of any kind in the Natural Burial Ground at Northwood Cemetery, any items placed upon graves in the Natural Burial Ground will be removed without exception. Fresh cut flowers are welcome.
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Question: Who is responsible for a grave and the headstone or memorial upon it?
Answer: The owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial for a grave holds the responsibility of ensuring the grave and any memorials or headstones erected upon it are well maintained at all times. As the Burial Authority the Isle of Wight Council will periodically inspect all cemetery memorials to ensure they are safe and installed to BS8145 standard. Any memorials that are found to be poorly installed or unsafe will be laid flat upon the grave or supported in an upright position to eliminate any risk of it falling. We will advise the owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial to repair or reinstate the memorial.
It is important that owners of the Exclusive Right of Burial remember to let us know if they have a change in name, address or contact details so we can update our records.
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Question: What if something happens to my memorial / headstone?
Answer: Placing a memorial upon a grave can be costly and for this reason we recommend that grave owners insure their memorials and headstones. Headstones and memorials can be insured against many scenarios such as damage, theft and subsidence, this gives reassurance that the investment in placing a memorial is protected.
Memorials are installed upon graves at the grave owner's own risk. The Isle of Wight Council do not accept any responsibility or liability for any damage, subsidence, vandalism, theft or any other event beyond its control that may occur.
If you think your grave or headstone/memorial has been maliciously damaged or vandalised we recommend that you take photographs as soon as possible. Report the incident to the Police online or by dialling 101 (especially if it seems to be a recurring problem) and make a note of the incident number. Email bereavement.services@iow.gov.uk with the photos and the incident number so we can record the incident and monitor the cemetery.
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Question: What is the Exclusive Right of Burial (EROB)?
Answer: Not many people realise that ownership of a grave (legally known as the Exclusive Right of Burial or EROB) is a legal Right purchased for a period of years by the ‘owner’ giving them the Right to apply for burials to take place in a grave and for stone memorials to be erected upon the grave. When you buy a grave in a local authority cemetery you buy the Exclusive Right of Burial and not the land itself. This is a legal ownership which is subject to the laws made by the UK government in the Local Authority Cemeteries Order 1977.
The owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial is the only person permitted in the eyes of the law to request for burials to take place in a grave and for memorials or headstones to be erected on a grave.
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Question: Why would grave ownership need to be transferred?
Answer: When the owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial dies, this ownership needs to be transferred to a living owner.
It is a legal ownership, if it is not transferred the law prevents us from allowing any future burials, burials of ashes, scatterings of ashes and headstones & memorials cannot be erected.
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Question: How do I transfer the grave ownership (Exclusive Right of Burial)?
Answer: The Exclusive Right of Burial is transferred via the deceased grave owner’s estate. It doesn’t matter if they died many years ago or very recently, the ownership must still be transferred, and the process is still the same.
Bereavement Services will ask for legal documentation relating to the deceased’s estate, such as a Will, a Grant of Probate, etc (this varies depending upon the deceased's estate) or the person dealing with the matter might be required to visit a solicitor's office to sign paperwork under oath. Sometimes a solicitor will charge a small fee for this, sometimes not. Bereavement Services will provide all necessary paperwork and forms.
In the first instance anyone wanting to transfer the ownership of a grave must email bereavement.services@iow.gov.uk. Please do not visit the Bereavement Services office without making an appointment first; it is a very busy office and coming in unannounced often ends in disappointment.
Anyone emailing about transfer of grave ownership should make sure they know the answers to these questions:
· Did the deceased grave owner leave a Last Will & Testament?
· Do you have a Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration for the deceased’s estate?
· Were you a named Executor / Executrix (female executor) on the deceased grave owner’s Will?
· If there was no Will, does the deceased have a living spouse (by marriage or civil partnership) or children?
A transfer fee is payable to Bereavement Services (Isle of Wight Council) for the transfer of grave ownership. Payment should be sent to Bereavement Services with the signed forms; payment can be accepted by cheque, credit/debit card or bank transfer. (See current fees and charges list for the fee).
It's really important not to worry about this process!
Many people feel overwhelmed when given this information and it can feel like it is an obstacle you could do without. Bereavement Services do understand and want to help guide you through the process, so it is as stress-free as possible.
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Question: Who are the stonemasons registered to carry out work in Isle of Wight Council cemeteries?
Answer: Wight Stonemasonry
Stoneworkshop
Dinglers Farm
Yarmouth Road
Newport
PO30 4LZ
Tel: 01983 522701
Island Memorials
2 Sandford Cottages
Shanklin Road
Sandford
PO38 3EX
Tel: 01983 866495
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Question: How do I find out where someone is buried?
Answer: Bereavement Services have a searchable website containing all burial and cremation records www.iw-bereavementservices.co.uk.
This website can be used to search by entering the deceased's name. Burial or Cremation register entries and maps can be purchased via the website.
Bereavement Services can carry out a manual search for a fee (see current fees and charges list), however other time dependent work will take priority over these search requests and cannot be carried out immediately. Please email bereavement.services@iow.gov.uk with the FULL NAME of the deceased along with the date or year of death and the cemetery name.
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Related LinkHas this FAQ answered your query? Question: Can a cemetery chapel be used for a funeral?
Answer: The chapels in the following cemeteries can be used for funeral services:
Carisbrooke (Mountjoy) Cemetery - seats approximately 40
Northwood Cemetery - seats approximately 50
Ryde Cemetery - seats approximately 30
Ventnor Cemetery - seats approximately 30
A fee is payable (see the current fees list) to use the chapels, and the date and time of the funeral must be booked into the Bereavement Services diary by the funeral director.
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Question: Are there any cemetery volunteer groups?
Answer: Yes there are, as follows:
Carisbrooke, Newport and St Pauls Cemeteries:
Friends of Newport & Carisbrooke Cemeteries - https://www.foncc.org.uk/ or search for their page on Facebook
East Cowes Cemetery:
Friends of East Cowes Cemetery - https://www.friendsofeastcowes.co.uk/
Northwood Cemetery:
Friends of Northwood Cemetery - https://www.friendsofnorthwoodcemetery.org.uk/
Ryde, Binstead & Ashey Cemeteries:
Ryde Social Heritage Group - https://rshg.org.uk/
Ventnor Cemetery:
Friends of Ventnor Cemetery - search for their page on Facebook
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Question: How do I arrange a burial?
Answer: You should instruct a funeral director to make the burial arrangements for you; your chosen funeral director will make all required arrangements for you so that you do not have the worry of doing all the work at a really challenging time. In some cases you can make the arrangements directly with Bereavement Services but this decision should not be taken lightly.
If you decide not to use a funeral director, you should give serious consideration to whether you feel emotionally able to make the arrangements yourself, whether you can dedicate the time required to make the arrangements and the logistics involved in providing everything required for a burial along with transporting and caring for the deceased. For example: You'll need to buy a coffin (which meets British Standards and is fully biodegradable) & prepare the deceased for burial. The coffin will need to be transported to the cemetery and lowered into the grave by 4-6 bearers. Statutory paperwork must be completed to allow the burial to go ahead and the owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial (the grave owner) must give formal permission for the burial to go ahead. In the first instance contact bereavement.services@iow.gov.uk.
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Question: Do I have to buy a grave for a burial to go ahead in it?
Answer: It is a legal requirement that you buy the Exclusive Right of Burial (ownership) for a grave so that the burial can go ahead.
There are two different ways you can buy a grave in one of our cemeteries:
We can allocate the next available grave to you, or if you prefer to have more of a choice regarding the location of the grave, we can arrange for you to meet the Cemeteries Inspector in the cemetery who will show you the graves available. There is a fee for this meeting.
The person/s wanting to buy the grave will be asked to complete and sign a form so that we can register them as the formal owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial (this can otherwise be referred to as grave ownership).
There is a fee to buy a grave and this varies depending upon the size of the grave and which cemetery the grave is in. Please refer to our current fees list.
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Question: What is a 'Born Too Soon' burial?
Answer: Three times a year the Isle of Wight Crematorium holds a burial service for babies who have died, or were 'born too soon'. This includes babies that were stillborn and also babies that did not reach full term because of a miscarriage, an ectopic pregnancy or a medical or elective termination.
The bereavement midwife at St Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight will inform families who have lost a baby when the next Born Too Soon burial will take place, and that their baby can be included in this burial if the family choose to do this. The family can choose for a burial or a cremation elsewhere, it is their decision to make.
The Born Too Soon burial takes place in the Crematorium Baby Garden in the designated Born Too Soon area. All babies are laid to rest in one casket after a graveside service has taken place, officiated by St Mary's Hospital Chaplain. Afterwards a granite memorial plaque will mark the grave with the words 'Born Too Soon' and the date of the burial. Additional memorials are not permitted here, however fresh cut flowers are welcome.
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Question: What is a natural burial?
Answer: A natural burial is the interment (burial) of the body of a dead person in a natural environment, such as a woodland or area designated for natural burials and without anything to slow down the decomposition of the body in the soil.
Different natural burial sites have various rules that must be met for a burial to go ahead, such as the coffin or casket being made of fully biodegradable materials or the deceased being laid to rest in a shroud only and not a coffin.
The Isle of Wight Council can offer natural burials at Northwood Cemetery (Cowes).
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Question: Who can I contact to clean the headstone on my grave?
Answer: Grave Concerns - Tel: 07833376842
https://graveconcernsiow.weebly.com/services-and-pricing.html or search Facebook for their page
Wight Stonemasonry - Tel: 01983 522701
www.wightstonemasonry.co.uk
Island Memorials - Tel: 01983 866495
www.islandmemorials.co.uk
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Question: What is the Children's Funeral Fund?
Answer: The Children’s Funeral Fund can help to pay for some of the costs of a funeral for a child under 18 or a baby after the 24th week of pregnancy.
It is not means-tested: what you earn or how much you have in savings will not affect what you get.
The burial or cremation must take place in England.
The Children’s Funeral Fund can help pay for:
burial fees
cremation fees
coffin, shroud or casket
The Children's Funeral Fund will not accept applications for babies who have died at 23 weeks gestation or less.
Speak to your Funeral Director about applying for financial help from the Children's Funeral Fund.
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Related LinkHas this FAQ answered your query? Question: What is a baby loss certificate?
Answer: If your pregnancy ends before 24 weeks, you can get a free certificate in memory of your baby. You do not need to request a certificate if you prefer not to. It’s optional.
The certificate is not a legal document - for example you cannot use it to claim benefits. The certificate will not be added to your GP record.
This is supplied by the UK Government. For more information or for help applying for a certificate you can contact the baby loss certificate service:
Email: babylosscertificate@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
Telephone: 0300 330 9445
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
If your pregnancy ends from 24 weeks onwards, you need to register a stillbirth with your local Register Office instead. There is more information about how you can do this here: https://www.iow.gov.uk/births-deaths-and-ceremonies/deaths/register-a-death/
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Related LinkHas this FAQ answered your query? Question: Do you offer natural burial?
Answer: Yes, we offer natural burial in Northwood Cemetery, Newport Road, Cowes, PO31 7PW.
The Natural Burial Ground is very different to traditional cemeteries. Headstones and memorials are not permitted. The natural flora and fauna of the area are permitted to grow as it would 'in the wild' so over time graves that have been buried in are not easily identifiable.
The graves are buried in at a depth which allows more efficient decomposition to take place. Oxygen reaches the top few feet of soil, so a less deep burial can aid decomposition resulting in a positive impact upon the surrounding environment, with nutrients from the decomposing body being able to reach plants and grasses growing in the immediate area. At this shallower depth bacteria and insects can also help encourage decomposition.
Everything buried in the grave must be biodegradable. Wooden coffins or caskets are accepted but these must be natural and not treated with any veneers or varnishes. All metal work must be removed and replaced with wooden alternatives. Cardboard coffins may seem to be more environmentally friendly but some cardboard coffins are made with china clay as an ingredient and we do not accept these for burial. A shroud burial is the most 'green' or environmentally friendly option.
Embalmed bodies cannot be buried in our Natural Burial Ground. Embalming involves the use of formaldehyde, which is highly toxic and a known carcinogen. Buried embalming fluids pollute the soil and negatively impact soil health.
Each burial in the Natural Burial Ground is marked with an electronic chip which when scanned identifies the grave number and deceased buried in the grave.
A wooden 'gazebo' with seating is located next to the Natural Burial Ground and can be used free of charge for a service prior to the burial. Alternatively the original cemetery chapel can be hired for a pre-burial service. See our fees and charges list for the cost to hire the chapel and have a natural burial.
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Question: What is a 'Common Grave' or a 'Pauper's Grave'?
Answer: Before the passing of the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977 by the UK government it was not required that a grave had to be bought before a burial could take place in it (although the option to buy the grave was always there).
Burial Authorities would allow burials to take place in unpurchased graves (remaining under the ownership of the local authority), often permitting unrelated deceased to be buried in one grave at their discretion. These graves would not be allowed to have any headstone or memorial.
A pauper was the word used to describe a very poor person, often the next of kin or family were also poor and unable to afford to buy a grave for burial, so these graves became known as pauper's graves, or sometimes common graves.
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Question: What's the best way to contact Isle of Wight Council Cemeteries Team?
Answer: The best way to contact Bereavement Services, who look after the Isle of Wight Council Cemeteries, is by email initially: bereavement.services@iow.gov.uk. We will endeavour to respond to your email within five working days.
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Question: What times are Isle of Wight Council cemeteries open and closed?
Answer: Our cemeteries are always open, however the official opening and closing times state from dawn until dusk.
Ryde Cemetery has two entrances, one on West Street which is always open and one on Pellhurst Road which is opened and locked by volunteers at times arranged by them so it is a good idea not to rely on this entrance always being open.
Newport Cemetery has two entrances, one on Fairlee Road which is often locked at the end of the working day and one pedestrian entrance with steps accessed from Newport Quayside which is always open.
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Question: Can I drive my car in an Isle of Wight Council cemetery?
Answer: We allow hearses and funeral cars into our cemeteries where feasible, and we permit visitors to cemeteries to drive in with their vehicles, again, where feasible.
We ask that those driving into cemeteries use their common sense.
Vehicles must not be parked on the grass, there are many graves unmarked without headstones and we ask that respect is shown to those laid to rest in the cemetery.
Vehicles must not block any access to visitors to the cemetery whether pedestrians or other car drivers.
Vehicles must be mindful of cemetery entrance gates and stonework and be sure not to cause any damage upon entry or exit.
Vehicles must be driven slowly at a maximum speed of 10 miles per hour.
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Question: Who looks after the grass cutting and grounds maintenance in Isle of Wight Council Cemeteries?
Answer: The Isle of Wight Council's contractor John O'Conner carries out the grass-cutting and hedge cutting in all twelve Isle of Wight Council cemeteries.
John O'Conner can be contacted by telephoning 01983 533347.
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Question: What do I do if I am concerned about a tree in a cemetery?
Answer: If you have noticed a tree in a cemetery which looks unsafe, please contact us directly by email bereavement.services@iow.gov.uk.
It is really helpful if you can detail the tree species if you know it, where in the cemetery the tree is and what your concerns are.
If possible, please take photos and email those to us as well.
We will carry out an inspection of the tree to assess it for safety. Please let us now if you would like us to contact you with the findings of our inspection.
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Question: Which cemeteries are Isle of Wight Council cemeteries?
Answer: (locally known cemetery names in brackets)
ASHEY Gatehouse Road, Ashey, Isle of Wight, PO33 4BS (Very limited parking in Gatehouse Road only)
BINSTEAD Cemetery Road, Binstead, Isle of Wight, PO33 3RD (Parking in Cemetery Road, small amount of parking in the cemetery itself by prior arrangement)
CARISBROOKE (Mount Joy) Whitcombe Road, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 1YS (Chapel available by arrangement) (some parking in cemetery by prior arrangement – Funeral Director should advise Bereavement Services if large amount of cars expected for funerals)
EAST COWES (Kingston) Kingston Road, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO32 6HE (no parking)
NEWPORT (Fairlee) Fairlee Road, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2EJ (some parking in cemetery by prior arrangement – Funeral Director should advise Bereavement Services if large amount of cars expected)
NORTHWOOD Newport Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7PW (Chapel available by arrangement) (some parking in cemetery by prior arrangement – Funeral Director should advise Bereavement Services if large amount of cars expected for funerals)
RYDE West Street, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 2QF (Chapel available by arrangement) (parking for disabled/less mobile mourners available by prior arrangement with Funeral Director, other parking in West Street or surrounding roads)
SANDOWN (Lake) Lea Road, Lake, Isle of Wight, PO36 9JA (parking in Lea Road and surrounding roads)
SHANKLIN Cemetery Road, Lake, Isle of Wight, PO36 9NW (parking in Cemetery Road and Green Lane)
ST PAULS (CLOSED CEMETERY - No new graves available to buy) Halberry Lane, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2ER (next to Mountbatten Hospice) (parking in Halberry Lane)
VENTNOR Newport Road, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, PO38 1AE (Chapel available by arrangement) (some parking in cemetery by prior arrangement – Funeral Director should advise Bereavement Services if large amount of cars expected for funerals)
WROXALL Castle Road, Wroxall, Isle of Wight, PO38 8DU (no parking)
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Question: What is headstone or memorial safety testing?
Answer: We have a legal obligation to ensure all headstones and memorials in our cemeteries are safe and do not pose any risk to visitors to the cemeteries.
We carry out headstone and memorial safety testing in all twelve of our cemeteries every five years.
The testing involves giving the headstone or memorial a firm but not excessive push by hand to see whether there is any movement in the stone. Some local authorities use a piece of equipment known as a topple tester, which applies a certain amount of force to the headstone to test its stability, but we do not use these.
A test failure will be recorded wherever there is movement in the stone. Sometimes there is a great deal of movement which may result in the stone falling unexpectedly, sometimes the movement is quite small and just requires some remedial works to resolve a potential problem.
Sometimes it is necessary to make a memorial or headstone safe immediately after finding it has failed testing. This will usually be by laying it flat upon the grave, with the inscription facing up so it can still be read, or by supporting it in an upright position temporarily.
The results are collated by our cemeteries team, who will endeavour to make contact with the registered grave owner to advise them of any headstones which have failed the safety testing. It is a grave owner's legal responsibility to ensure any headstones or memorials upon their grave are safe. If they are contacted and advised a memorial on their grave has failed safety testing they will be given a timeframe to arrange for a registered stonemason to carry out repairs. If repairs have not been carried out after the given timeframe, the work will be arranged by Bereavement Services with all costs being met by the grave owner.
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Question: Can I just go and scatter some ashes on my family grave?
Answer: No, it is illegal to scatter cremated remains anywhere without seeking permission first.
To scatter cremated remains upon a grave you must first contact Bereavement Services by email bereavement.services@iow.gov.uk who will hold all the records for the grave. You will also need to speak to the grave owner to ask for their permission. If you don't know who the grave owner is, Bereavement Services can contact the grave owner on your behalf to request permission.
By law, cremated remains cannot be disturbed. If cremated remains are scattered upon a grave, and later on the grave owner would like a burial to take place, the law will prevent us from allowing the burial to go ahead. This is because we cannot excavate the grave without disturbing those cremated remains, so it is always best to check first.
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Question: Do you have any cemeteries dedicated to babies and children?
Answer: We do not have any cemeteries designated for babies and children ONLY, but all of our cemeteries have baby and child graves within them.
The following cemeteries have specific sections which are dedicated to baby and child burials only:
Carisbrooke (Mount Joy) Cemetery, Whitcombe Road, Newport, IW
Shanklin Cemetery, Cemetery Road (off Green Lane), Lake, IW
Ventnor Cemetery, Newport Road, Ventnor, IW
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Question: What other options are there to lay cremated remains to rest?
Answer: Fundamentally, you must obtain the land owner's permission and possible options are:
Birch Meadow at the Crematorium - please contact our Memorials Officer bereavement.services@iow.gov.uk and refer to our price list.
Upon an Isle of Wight Council owned grave - please contact Bereavement Services bereavement.services@iow.gov.uk and refer to our cemeteries price list
Private land - you must get the landowner's permission first in order to comply with any legal framework.
In your own garden - please liaise with the Land Registry Office first.
Upon water - Cremated remains can be strewn at sea or into a river or stream. However, there are legalities and under no circumstances must the scattering cause any harm or distress to wildlife, members of the public or the environment. Please always liaise with the Environment Agency for current guidelines.
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Question: Do you have any Muslim burial grounds?
Answer: Yes. We have a dedicated Muslim burial ground in Northwood Cemetery, Newport Road, Cowes.
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Question: Do you have any Roman Catholic burial grounds?
Answer: Yes. Most of our cemeteries have parts of them dedicated to burials for those of Roman Catholic faith.
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Question: I'm not religious. Can I still be buried in a cemetery?
Answer: Yes. Our cemeteries are divided up into sections. Some sections are dedicated to burials for those of a certain religious belief, but there are also areas for those that have no formal religion. We call these areas 'non-conformist' or 'unconsecrated'.
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Question: I bought a grave, but I don't want it anymore. Can I sell it back to you or get a refund?
Answer: Yes, but only if the grave remains unused. Email us at bereavement.services@iow.gov.uk with your full name and address explaining that you no longer need your grave. We will send you a 'Deed of Surrender' form to be completed and signed by the person registered as the grave owner and returned to us. We can then cancel your ownership and refund you the fee paid at the time of purchase, minus the fee we charge for processing a surrender of grave ownership (see our current fees and charges list). When the cancellation of the ownership is complete we will write to you to confirm.
If your grave has a burial in it, you cannot sell it back to the Isle of Wight Council or have a refund.
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Question: I lost my Deed showing that I am the owner of a grave, can I get another one?
Answer: Yes. Contact us with the cemetery name, the grave number and your full name and address. We will check that you are recorded as the owner of the grave. If you are, we can re-issue a Deed. There will be a fee for this.
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Question: I'd like to have my ashes buried in a relatives grave when my time comes, but I have been told the ownership to the grave has expired. Can I still have my ashes buried in the grave?
Answer: No. It is against the law to bury in a grave where there is no current Exclusive Right of Burial (ownership) in place. You will need to re-purchase the Exclusive Right of Burial if you would like to bury in the grave or have any memorials put onto the grave. Contact us with the cemetery name, grave number and your full name and address and we will send you a form to complete so you can re-purchase the ownership. There is a fee payable for this (please check our current fees and charges list).
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Question: I'd like to put a headstone on my relative's grave, but I have been told the ownership (Exclusive Right of Burial) has expired. Can I still put a headstone on the grave?
Answer: No. It is against the law to put a headstone or memorial on a grave where there is no current Exclusive Right of Burial (ownership) in place. You will need to re-purchase the Exclusive Right of Burial if you would like to have any memorials put onto the grave or any burials in the grave. Contact us with the cemetery name, grave number and your full name and address and we will send you a form to complete so you can re-purchase the ownership. There is a fee payable for this (please check our current fees and charges list).
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Question: My relative is buried in a Ministry of Defence grave. I'd like to have my ashes buried there when my time comes. Is this possible?
Answer: The Ministry of Defence will only permit immediate family of the deceased already in the grave to be buried in graves owned by them. They will allow burials of ashes of parents (related by blood or adoption but not step-parents), brothers and sisters or children.
Please contact us with the cemetery name, grave number, name of the deceased buried in the grave and what your relationship is to them. We will contact the Ministry of Defence to discuss your request.
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Question: I've just seen a wasps nest in one of your cemeteries. Who do I tell?
Answer: Please contact us on 01983 882288 or 823310 to let us know which cemetery the wasps nest is in with a rough location. We will arrange for the nest to be removed.
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Question: I've just seen some discarded syringes in one of your cemeteries. Who do I tell?
Answer: Please do not attempt to dispose of the syringes yourself!
Contact us on 01983 882288 or 823310 with the cemetery name and a rough location of the syringes, and we will arrange to have them removed.
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Question: Can my pet's ashes be buried with me?
Answer: No, only the deceased should be within the coffin intended for burial.
Animal cremated remains/ashes are deemed 'waste' by the Environment Agency and to be able to do anything with the ashes requires a permit. We do not have a licence for the burial of animals within any of our cemeteries.
We understand how meaningful the bond can be between pet and owner, unfortunately we are bound by the laws laid out in the UK and cannot allow animal cremated remains/ashes within coffins being buried.
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Question: Can I scatter my pet's ashes upon my family grave?
Answer: No, only human remains should be scattered within any of our cemeteries and you must inform us beforehand so we can record the final resting place of the person you are scattering.
Animal cremated remains/ashes are deemed 'waste' by the Environment Agency and to be able to do anything with the ashes requires a permit. We do not have a licence for the burial or scattering of animals within any of our cemeteries.
We understand how meaningful the bond can be between pet and owner, unfortunately we are bound by the laws laid out in the UK and cannot allow animal cremated remains/ashes to be scattered or buried.
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Question: How do I arrange for a burial of ashes in a grave?
Answer: You can instruct a funeral director to make the ashes burial arrangements for you; your chosen funeral director will make all required arrangements for you so that you do not have the worry of doing all the work at a really challenging time.
Alternatively you can make the arrangements directly with Bereavement Services. We will provide you with statutory paperwork which must be completed by the owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial (the grave owner) giving their formal permission for the burial to go ahead.
In the first instance contact bereavement.services@iow.gov.uk.
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Question: I have just seen a dead, wild animal in one of your cemeteries. Who do I tell?
Answer: Please contact us on 01983 882288 or 823310 to let us know which cemetery (and a rough location) the dead animal is in and what type of animal it is. We will arrange for it to be removed.
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Question: I have seen someone camping in your cemetery. Who do I tell?
Answer: Please contact us by email bereavement.services@iow.gov.uk with the cemetery name and a rough location of the camping, and we will investigate the matter further. If you feel this matter is more urgent please telephone our office Monday-Friday 9am-4.30pm on 01983 882288.
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Question: What is a Commonwealth War Grave?
Answer: A Commonwealth War Grave is a grave where the deceased buried in the grave died in service in the armed forces during World War One or World War Two. The grave might be owned by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC - previously known as the Imperial War Graves Commission) or it might be owned by the deceased's family, or the local authority. The grave will have upon it a CWGC headstone paying tribute to the deceased who served during one of the World Wars.
The headstones are regularly cleaned and maintained by volunteers of the CWGC.
The Isle of Wight Council cemeteries have many CWGC headstones in place.
You can find out more by visiting the CWGC website. -
Related LinkHas this FAQ answered your query? Question: Can I have a tree planted in one of your cemeteries?
Answer: In selected cemeteries we can offer the planting of saplings at certain times of the year.
When we plant the trees we do so in areas which will benefit from the planting and where the tree species will thrive. If you would like to adopt a tree, please contact bereavement.services@iow.gov.uk in the first instance to express your interest. Our Memorials Officer will be in touch with you to advise whether there are any trees available at that time in your preferred cemetery, or our plans to plant more in the coming seasons. For the costs please refer to our Memorials fees and charges list.
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Question: I own a grave, but the ownership is going to expire in a couple of years, can I extend the number of years on it?
Answer: Yes. You can extend a Deed of grave ownership by 50 years, but only if you are already the registered grave owner. There is a form you will be asked to complete and return to us. A fee is payable (check our fees and charges list) to extend an existing Exclusive Right of Burial (grave ownership). Please contact us with the cemetery name, grave number and your full name and address and we will send you the form.
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Question: Are there public toilets in your cemeteries?
Answer: No, there is not.
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Question: I have collected my loved ones ashes from the funeral director, am I allowed to open the box/urn/casket?
Answer: Yes you are, there is no law surrounding ashes remaining sealed or closed.
Most funeral directors will give you your loved one's ashes in a biodegradable urn (sometimes known as a bio box) which is a hard cardboard box. Inside the ashes will be within a bag that is usually folded closed or sealed with Sellotape. Wooden caskets are harder to open as they will need to be unscrewed (usually from the bottom of the casket). If your loved one's ashes are in a scatter tube, when the perforated seal on the top of the tube has been broken the tube cannot be resealed; we recommend that you do not break the seal until you are ready to scatter the ashes.
Some families open their loved ones casket or urn, etc so they can remove some of the ashes as a keepsake or for adding to memorial jewellery, or because the ashes are going to be laid to rest in more than one location.
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Question: Do I really need memorial / headstone insurance?
Answer: It is not compulsory to insure your memorial or headstone but it is very highly recommended.
Memorials and headstones can be very costly, so it makes sense to protect this investment. Insurance can offer you protection against subsidence, damage and vandalism.
There are many insurance companies who offer insurance for memorials and headstones, simply search for 'headstone insurance' or 'memorial insurance' online.
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Question: Can I walk my dog in Isle of Wight Council Cemeteries?
Answer: Yes, but only if you always keep your dog on its lead, and ensure you tidy up after your dog if it fouls in the cemetery. It is important that you treat cemeteries and graves with dignity and respect. Dogs off lead in a cemetery is against the legislation, so is dog fouling in cemeteries. On-the-spot penalties can be issued for letting your dog off-lead in a cemetery, and for failing to clear up after your dog in a cemetery. Dog fouling is a persistent issue in many communities and causes a great deal of upset and distress to those visiting the graves of their loved ones in cemeteries. We work to tackle the problem through promoting responsible dog ownership, coordinating enforcement action, providing support for community groups and education. What every dog owner should know: The law covers all public open spaces You must clean-up after your dog in cemeteries as well as all other public areas You can dispose of your dog mess in your bin at home, in any public litter bin, or in the designated dog bins provided We recognise that the majority of dog owners act responsibly and clean-up after their dogs.
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Question: Can I plant a tree, a rose bush or some plants upon my family grave?
Answer: We do not recommend it.
Planting of grave spaces is entirely at the grave owner's own risk. If you are not the grave owner you MUST get the grave owner's permission first. The responsibility for the upkeep of such planting rests with the grave owner.
The Isle of Wight Council acting as the burial authority reserves the right to remove any trees or planting that is causing interference to other graves or is impeding the regular grass cutting schedule. The burial authority accepts no responsibility for planting upon graves which is disturbed by the process of excavating graves for the purpose of burial, the activities of wildlife, necessary grass cutting or any other circumstance beyond its control.
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Question: Can I put a bench in the cemetery near to my loved one's grave?
Answer: In some cemeteries we can allow for new benches to be installed, it all depends on available space that does not impact on available burial space. It might be that we can allow a bench in your chosen cemetery, but it may not be as close to your loved one's grave as you would like.
If you are interested in having a bench put in one of our cemeteries please contact us initially via email bereavement.services@iow.gov.uk stating which cemetery you would like the bench in, and the grave number (or name) of your loved one. We will come back to you to advise whether there is space in your chosen cemetery for a bench. Please see our current fees and charges for bench installation costs.
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Question: Can I place seasonal tributes such as a Christmas wreath on my loved one's grave?
Answer: Yes you can. Please make sure the wreath or tribute is made of natural materials and fibres rather than plastic or any other non-biodegradable material. This helps to protect the wildlife in the cemetery.
We will usually collect and dispose of the Christmas tributes towards the middle of the following January, so we recommend you retrieve any tributes that you might want to keep after Christmas or early in the new year.
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