New Graves at Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery

When facing the difficult task of arranging a burial, understanding the options available for a final resting place is paramount. For those in the Merton and Sutton area, the Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery offers a range of choices. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the types of new graves available, the intricacies of grave ownership, garden space regulations, and essential purchasing information, ensuring you have all the details needed during such a sensitive time.

Understanding New Grave Availability at Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery

It is important to note that new graves are indeed available at Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery. However, a crucial piece of information to be aware of is that these new graves can only be purchased at the time of a burial. This differs from some other cemeteries, such as Gap Road Cemetery, which allows for new graves to be purchased for future use. London Road Cemetery also has new graves available, while Church Road Cemetery currently has no new graves available. This specific policy for Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery is vital for families to understand when making arrangements.

Types of Graves Available

Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery offers a variety of grave types, each with specific features, lease periods, and regulations for memorialisation. Understanding these differences will help you choose the most suitable option.

1. Lawn Graves

Lawn graves are a popular choice due to their simple and elegant appearance. They are designed for easy maintenance, with the main grave area regularly mown throughout the growing season, contributing to the overall serene aesthetic of the cemetery.

• Lease Period: Graves can be leased for either 50 years or 75 years, providing a long-term resting place.
• Headstone & Garden Space: A lawn-style headstone can be erected at the head of the grave. In front of the headstone, a dedicated garden space is permitted, with a maximum size of 1.22 metres (4 feet) in width by 0.46 metres (18 inches) in length. This small area allows for personal planting and tributes.
• Remaining Area: The area beyond the garden space is grassed over and must be kept clear at all times to facilitate maintenance. Once graves have settled, typically between October and March, the area is turfed over.
• Sections Available: These are available across numerous sections at Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery, including A, AX, B, BX, C, CC, CX, D, DD, DX, EX, F, FCR, KX, LX, M, MU, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.

2. Cremated Remains Graves

For those opting for cremation, dedicated graves for cremated remains are available. These sections offer a similar style to lawn graves but are typically smaller to accommodate urns.

• Lease Period: Graves for cremated remains are leased for 25 years or 40 years.
• Interments: A maximum of six interments are permitted per grave, allowing multiple family members to rest together.
• Headstone & Garden Space: Similar to lawn graves, a lawn-style headstone can be placed at the head of the grave, allowing for a garden space of up to 1.22 metres (4 feet) in width by 0.46 metres (18 inches) in length for planting.
• Maintenance: After settlement, the grave areas on these lawn sections are seeded over, with grass seeding usually carried out between October and March. The remaining grassed area must be kept clear and is maintained by the Cemetery.
• Section Available: Cremated remains graves at Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery are available in section FCR.

3. Semi-Lawn Graves

Semi-lawn graves provide a larger area for personal gardening, offering families more scope for planting and personalisation, albeit with specific responsibilities.

• Garden Space & Upkeep: The grave owner is directly responsible for the planting and ongoing upkeep of the garden space. If this area is not maintained, it will be grassed over by the cemetery.
• Headstone & Garden Size: These graves allow for a headstone at the head, with a garden space measuring a maximum of 0.76 metres (2 feet 6 inches) wide by 1.52 metres (5 feet) in length. This generous space is ideal for planting bedding flowers or small shrubs.
• Prohibited Items: To maintain the cemetery's appearance and safety, certain items are not permitted and will be removed if found. These include fencing or edging, and gravel or glass chippings on or around the grave.
• Sections Available: Semi-lawn graves at Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery are found in sections E, G, H, J, L, N, O, P, R, S.

4. Public Graves

For individuals who do not wish to purchase a private grave, public grave spaces are provided. These offer a communal resting place with specific regulations.

• Capacity & Allocation: Each public grave accommodates four unrelated burials. The cemeteries service determines who is to be buried in each grave.
• No Reservation: Due to their public nature, these graves cannot be reserved for family members.
• Headstones: Families are welcome to arrange for a headstone to be added to a public grave. Each burial is allowed three lines of inscription. If a request for a headstone is received, the cemetery will contact all families with a loved one buried in that public grave to ask for a contribution towards the headstone cost.
• Ownership & Coordination: Although families contribute, the headstone remains the property of the cemetery, which also coordinates inscription requests among the families.
• No Garden Spaces: Public graves do not feature garden spaces. They are grassed over and kept clear for maintenance by the cemetery.
• Section Available: Public graves at Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery are located in Section K.

Grave Ownership and Lease Periods

Upon a burial in a new grave, a legal document known as the “Grant of Right of Burial” is issued to the nominated grave owner. This deed serves as confirmation of ownership and explicitly states the length of the lease period, whether it's 25, 40, 50, or 75 years, depending on the type of grave.

Garden Spaces and Restricted Items

We understand that families often wish to personalise their loved one's grave with a garden space. These spaces, typically in front of headstones, are a maximum of 1.22 metres (4 feet) wide by 0.46 metres (18 inches) in length. Having a garden space is optional; if chosen, the family and grave owner are responsible for its care. Should you decide against a garden space, the area can be turfed over. The rest of the grave will always be grassed over and must remain clear to allow for regular maintenance and grass cutting.

To ensure our cemeteries remain tranquil places and are kept pleasant and attractive for all visitors, certain items are restricted, primarily for safety reasons. Grave owners and family members are asked to refrain from placing these items on or around the grave space. Unfortunately, the cemetery must remove restricted items if found. If you have any questions about grave maintenance or permissible items, it is always best to contact the Cemeteries Office for clarification.

A selection of restricted items includes:

• Fencing
• Edging
• Gravel
• Glass-chippings
• Glass-vases
• Solar lights

Temporary Wooden Crosses

Small wooden crosses, with a maximum height of 0.76 metres (2 feet 6 inches), are accepted for a period not exceeding one year from the date of burial. After this one-year period, the Cemetery will remove these crosses.

Maintenance of Graves

For those who may require assistance, the Cemetery can provide a maintenance service specifically for garden spaces. Details regarding fees and charges for this service can be obtained by contacting the Cemeteries Office.

Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery Opening Times

Visiting hours are subject to seasonal changes to accommodate daylight hours. Please note the specific times, especially for public bank holidays, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Special Opening Times:

• Public Bank Holidays: 10am - 6pm
• Christmas Day and New Year's Day: 10am - 3pm

Cemetery Contact Information

For further enquiries or to arrange an appointment, please use the following contact details for the Cemeteries Office, managed by idverde ltd:

idverde ltd
Cemeteries Office (visits are by appointment only)
Cheam Depot
Cheam Park
Tudor Close
Cheam
SM3 8QS

Tel: 020 3876 8806
Email: [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Can I purchase a new grave at Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery for future use?

No, new graves at Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery can only be purchased at the time of a burial. If you wish to purchase a grave for future use, you would need to explore options at other cemeteries like Gap Road Cemetery, which offers this facility.

Q2: What is the maximum lease period for a grave at Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery?

The maximum lease period for a lawn grave is 75 years. For cremated remains graves, the maximum lease is 40 years.

Q3: Are there any restrictions on what I can place on a grave's garden space?

Yes, to maintain the aesthetic and safety of the cemetery, items such as fencing, edging, gravel, glass-chippings, glass-vases, and solar lights are restricted and will be removed if found. It's always best to check with the Cemeteries Office if you are unsure.

Q4: What happens if I don't maintain my semi-lawn grave's garden space?

If the garden space of a semi-lawn grave is left unkempt, the cemetery reserves the right to grass over the area to ensure consistent maintenance standards.

Q5: How many interments are allowed in a cremated remains grave?

A cremated remains grave at Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery allows for a maximum of six interments.

Q6: What are the opening times for Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery on Christmas Day?

On Christmas Day and New Year's Day, Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery is open from 10am to 3pm.

Q7: Is there any information about Garth Road Cemetery in the provided details?

The information provided does not contain any details regarding Garth Road Cemetery.

We hope this detailed guide assists you in understanding the options and regulations concerning new graves at Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery. The Cemeteries Office is always available to provide further assistance and answer any specific questions you may have during this sensitive time.

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