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Cemeteries & internment

One of the options for the remains of deceased loved ones is to have them buried in a cemetery, churchyard or woodland.

Exclusive right of burial

When you are granted exclusive rights of burial for a grave plot it does not mean that you own the land. It means that you own the right of burial for that particular grave plot for a set period of time. The ownership of the cemetery land, including the grave surface, remains with us.

By law the grant has to last for a set time, usually between 50 and 100 years depending upon the age of the grave. During this time the person registered with us as the owner of the right of burial has the sole right to decide who can be buried with the grave plot. The grant can be renewed when the set time is coming to an end. Prices will vary depending on the type of grave.

Grave options

All of our active cemeteries provide options for:

  • Traditional GravesĀ 
  • These allow both a headstone memorial and a kerbset around the grave.
  • Lawn Graves
  • These allow for lawn-style headstones. These graves are laid to grass and mown on a regular basis. You can not place items on the grassed area, as this causes problems for maintenance and may cause safety hazards for other visitors.
    Children's/infant graves - These are 4 foot graves used for the interment of infants. They are lawn style and do not allow for further burials.
  • Cremated Remains Graves
  • These are individual 4 foot lawn style graves which allow for several sets of cremated remains to be buried in each plot.
  • Muslim Graves
  • Located in our Mansfield Woodhouse cemetery and are dug for single interment only.
  • Woodland Graves
  • Located in our Mansfield Woodhouse cemetery and are dug for single interment only. They are marked by a tree.

Standard traditional and lawn-style graves can take two interments to a plot.

The graves are all in pre-designated areas. It is important that you advise your funeral director which type of grave you require before the burial, as it is not possible to change your mind afterwards.

Memorials and headstones

There is no restriction on the design of a memorial, other than considerations of public safety and decency. However the memorial must be of natural stone and must be submitted by a stonemason who is on the list of approved masons permitted to work within our cemeteries.

The owner of the grant of right of burial is also financially responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of any memorial.

Transfer of right of burial

If the person named on the grant of exclusive right of burial dies, a legal transfer to a new owner needs to take place. This is usually done at the time of their burial but can be done at any time, providing contact is made with the cemeteries office in advance.

Exhumation

Exhumation is the removal from the ground of human remains, whether as a body or as cremated remains.

You may need to exhume human remains to:

  • move a body from the original grave site to a new grave
  • deepen an existing grave to allow for a further burial
  • send them for cremation, or
  • allow police or coroner intervention.

Removing a human body from the ground requires an Exhumation licence. There is no charge for the exhumation licence, but we do charge a fee for the act itself. We offer guidance on the process of exhumation.

War graves and memorials

The war memorials within Mansfield district are found in many places, not just cemeteries. We only have basic information on war graves and memorials within the district but can direct you to a number of further resources.

Closed churchyards

When a churchyard is closed for further burials, usually because it is full, responsibility for its maintenance is sometimes transferred from the church to the parish or district council.

We manage three closed churchyards within the district.

Non-private graves

A non-private or public grave is one which does not have an exclusive right of burial. They are used primarily when burial is selected as the appropriate option for a Public Health funeral. More information on Public Health Funerals can be found in the FAQ page.

Other people may already be present in the plot, or may be buried there afterwards. A headstone can not be placed on a non-private grave.

Frequently asked questions

It is not uncommon to know very little about burial options until it falls upon us to organise them. To help you in this difficult time we have answered some frequently asked questions.