Barrow Borough Council manages three cemeteries. Barrow
Cemetery opened in 1872, Dalton in 1860 and Ireleth in 1951. All
three cemeteries have sufficient space for new burials and graves
for up to three interments can be purchased; these graves are now
for one hundred years as opposed to the early graves, which were in
perpetuity.
With the exception of woodland graves new graves can be dug
for up to three interments to allow family members to eventually be
interred together. It is possible to choose a grave for interment
and also purchase a grave in advance; please contact the cemetery
office to arrange an appointment.
Grave Types
The Council offers the following
graves:
Full sized graves for up to 3
interments
Cremation graves for up to 3 caskets
Woodland graves (Barrow) for 1 interment
only
Lawned Graves - All three cemeteries
These graves are situated on lawned areas; the only memorials
permitted are headstones and vases. The aim is to be able to mow
the grass without restrictions; therefore any planting of the grave
is at the head of the grave in an 18" x 12" border. The placing of
fences and surrounds by the family are no longer permitted, but
kerbstones supplied and fixed by a stonemason are acceptable.
A section at Barrow and Dalton has a concrete plinth on which
to place the headstone.
Woodland Graves - Barrow and Dalton
This type of burial consists of a single grave. After the
interment and the grave has settled, instead of placing a memorial
on the grave, a tree is planted. The area is only cut three times a
year to encourage wild flowers, grasses and wildlife. It should be
stated that this is not a suitable choice for people who prefer a
neat, tidy appearance.
The concept is that once the trees have matured the area will
form a small woodland, and this is aimed at people who wish to help
the environment. Any natural woodland tree can be planted on the
graves and if you have a preference, please indicate at the time of
purchase or the funeral.
Baby Graves - Barrow
A small section has been provided for the burial of infants,
stillborn babies and foetal remains. These graves allow families to
inter babies in individual graves and have a short service.
Afterwards a small memorial and toys, etc. can be placed on the
grave. Kerbstones, suppled and fixed by a stonemason, are
also permitted.
This section is also used where families do not wish to be
involved with the interment. In these instances a number of
individual coffins may be placed in a single grave and the hospital
chaplain takes a short service.
Cremated Remains - Barrow and Dalton
Funeral Flowers
Any funeral flowers will be left on any grave for up to two
weeks after the funeral depending on weather conditions. If you
want flowers to be left undisturbed please inform the Cemetery
Office and we will ensure that the flowers are not removed.
Exclusive Rights of Burial
When a burial takes place in a new grave, or a grave is
sold in advance, then you will receive a signed and sealed
grave deed. This allows the person named on the deed to say who can
be interred in the grave or to place a memorial on the grave.
You are not purchasing the grave as the land remains in ownership
of the Council.
It is possible to purchase the rights to a grave in
advance.
When the grave is reopened, the person named on the deeds must
give their written consent to the cemetery office. Once the
grave owner has died, then the rights need to be transferred to a
living owner who is usually the next of kin. This can be done
either by production of Grant of Probate, Letters of Administration
or a Will or, if these are not available, by signing a Statutory
Declaration in the presence of a Magistrate or Commissioner for
Oaths.
Where the deed holder is still alive and the burial rights are
to be transferred then this can be done via a Form of
Assignment.
These forms are available from the Cemetery Office.
Grounds Maintenance and Grave Digging
When a grave is reopened it is not always possible to remove
surplus soil from around the grave. In this instance the soil is
placed in a box on the adjoining grave until after the burial has
taken place. It may be that if you have a grave then at some time
it may be necessary to place a soil box on your grave if the
adjacent grave is reopened. This will be for the minimum time
possible and your grave will be left tidy once the grave has been
backfilled.
All the grounds maintenance and grave digging in our three
cemeteries is carried out under the Authority's grounds maintenance
contract. This means that the work is placed out to private
competition every five years, to ensure that the cost remains
competitive.
If you are dissatisfied with any work which is carried out,
please register your complaint at the Cemetery Office and the
matter will be taken up with the Contractor.
Memorial Safety
All memorials in the Cemetery are inspected on a regular
basis. Any unsafe memorials are marked and in some cases may
be laid flat. All new memorials are erected by stonemasons
who are members of the Council's Memorial Registration Scheme,
thereby ensuring that they are fixed securely.
Exhumation
Once a coffin or a casket has been interred, there may be occasion
when it has to be removed from the grave. If this happens,
then the remains can only be removed once legal permission has been
given.
If the burial took place in a grave which was not on ground
consecrated by the Church of England, then a licence is required
from the Home Office. If the ground was consecrated, then a
Bishop's Faculty is required from the Carlisle Diocese.
In both instances, the appropriate forms must be completed by
the applicant and, if it is a different person, permission must be
given by the owner of the exclusive rights of burial. The
Cemetery Office will give help and guidance on making the
application, if needed.
If the family are requesting the exhumation, then there will
be fees involved and a full estimate will be given at the time of
application.