These Rules and Regulations are pursuant to the power contained in The Local Authorities Cemetery Order 1977, The Cremation Act 1902 and The Cremation Regulations 2008, in order to ensure the proper management of the following Cemetery & Crematorium:
New Southgate Cemetery & Crematorium, Brunswick Park Road, New Southgate, London N11 1JJ
General
1. Any person admitted to the Cemetery & Crematorium is subject to these Regulations and to any directions that may be given by a Cemeteries Officer in the course of administering the Cemetery and Crematorium service.
2. All correspondence should be addressed to:
New Southgate Cemetery & Crematorium
Brunswick Park Road, New Southgate, London. N11 1JJ
Tel: 0208 361 1713
Email: NewSouthgate@westerleighgroup.co.uk
3. The grounds will be open to the public during the following times:
On Weekdays:
7.00 am to 8.00pm. April - September
9.00 am to 6.00pm. October – March
Office opening hours:
9.00am to 5.00pm – Monday to Friday
Appointment only - Saturday
Any permanent variations to these opening times will be displayed on the main notice board at least seven days prior to the change.
4. A Cemeteries Officer may take any reasonable action to safeguard the health or safety of the public including closing a Cemetery or part of a Cemetery to the public for the purpose of interments, adverse weather conditions or any reason deemed necessary for the safe operation of the cemetery.
5. All applications for burials must be made to the Cemeteries Office between the hours of 9.00am and 00pm Monday to Friday. Other than in exceptional circumstances or for religious reasons and with the agreement of the Cemeteries Officer at least two full working days' notice must be given before the proposed date of burial. Notice must be given on the New Southgate Cemetery standard Notice of Interment.
6. The appropriate fee or charge must be paid to the Cemeteries Office before any interment or work takes place unless agreed otherwise by the Cemeteries Office.
7. Any funeral cortege arriving more than 15 minutes before or after the appointed time may be directed to wait by a Cemeteries Officer until it is convenient to proceed.
8. Any person wishing to carry out an interment or any other work must report to the Cemeteries Officer before carrying out the interment or work. No interment may take place without the presence of a Cemeteries Officer.
9. No coffin, casket, wreath, monument, memorial or other article placed in the Cemetery in connection with an interment may be removed from the Cemetery without the permission of the Cemeteries Office.
10. All monuments, candle boxes and contents of, memorials, wreaths, plants, plant holders or other personal articles placed in the Cemetery or Crematorium Gardens are the responsibility of the grave owner, New Southgate Cemetery & Crematorium will not accept any responsibility for their repair, loss or maintenance but may take any appropriate actions to make them safe and recover their costs from the grave owner.
11. No person who is intoxicated, disorderly, uses obscene or offensive language or who commits a nuisance will be allowed in any part of the Cemetery and Crematorium.
12. All persons entering the cemetery shall conduct themselves in a decent, quiet and orderly manner. No member of staff should be subjected to threatening, violent or abusive behaviour. All such instances will be recorded and reported. The Manager and staff have full powers to exclude from the cemetery any member of the public whom may be deemed fit to exclude. Should it be necessary to use physical force to remove a subject the Police shall be summoned.
13. The taking of commercial photographs and filming is not permitted in the cemetery or crematorium except with the prior approval of the Manager in writing and upon payment of the appropriate fee.
14. No employee of the Cemetery Company are allowed to undertake privately, any work or favour of any kind nor receive any gratuity for the said work or favour.
15. Children under the age of 15 years of age are not permitted to enter the cemetery unless accompanied by a responsible adult.
16. Dogs, other than assistance dogs are not allowed in the grounds, chapel or public areas.
17. Cycling, skating, skateboarding, the lighting of fireworks or the playing of games or music are not permitted within the Cemetery.
18. Rubbish must be placed in the receptacles provided for this purpose. No household rubbish must be left in the cemetery or dumped.
19. Motor vehicles must not proceed at more than 5 miles per hour and may only drive and park on the roads or prescribed areas. Drivers must obey any directions made by a Cemeteries Officer with regard to routes or parking. Unauthorised vehicles may be removed from the Cemetery. Parking on footpaths, planted areas or lawns is not permitted.
20. No person may ply for hire or solicit for business within the Cemetery. The sale of goods, services, plants or other articles, the soliciting of orders or repairs of memorials or for work connected with graves is strictly prohibited within the grounds of the cemetery. All such services and requests should be met by the cemetery office.
21. Balloon releases and sky lanterns pose environmental and fire risks and are not permitted within the grounds.
22. The cemetery fees are displayed in the office and are also available on the cemetery website. Fees are revised from January 1st annually. Services after this date will be charged the revised rate.
23. These rules and regulations shall be final.
Purchase of Graves
24. Any person over the age of 18 years may, subject to availability and payment of the current fee, purchase a Grant for the Exclusive Rights of Burial in a grave space for up to two body interments and four cremated remains interments.
25. Such Grants will only be made to members of the public either individually or jointly; Grants will not be made in the name of any business or company with the exception of Solicitors, Convents, Churches or Local Authorities acting on behalf of the deceased.
26. The Exclusive Right of Burial in a private earth grave is 50 years from the date of purchase. The Exclusive Right of Burial in the Community Mausoleum is 100 years from the date of purchase. Grantees (grave owners) should inform the Cemetery office immediately of change of address. Lease extensions may be granted by the cemetery office and the payment of the appropriate fee.
27. A private grave can be reserved on payment of the current grave price and reservation fee. This fee will not include the interment costs which will be charged at the time of the burial.
28. Such Grants may only be transferred with the consent of the Cemetery office and will be subject to the following conditions:
i. The original Deed of Grant must be produced or a Statutory Declaration to the effect that it has been lost sworn in front of a Commissioner for Oaths.
ii. The original Grant owner must give their written consent in an assignment form or have made provision for the transfer in their will or if there is no will the Grant will pass to the next of kin subject to them completing a Statutory Declaration indemnifying the Cemetery against any claims by other relatives.
iii. The new owner must pay any transfer fee that would have been payable if they had been the original owner.
Interments
29. Each body, whether adult or child, brought into the Cemetery for Interment must be contained in a suitable coffin, casket or shroud and bear adequate particulars of the identity of the deceased within.
30. The Deed of Grant of Right of Exclusive Burial must be produced to the Cemetery Office before any interment takes place. No grave may be opened for interment without the written consent of the grave owner except for the interment of the grave owner.
31. An interment fee at the current rate must be paid prior to the interment taking place.
32. A memorial erected on a grave that requires removal prior any interments taking place will be subject to the current removal and replacement cost at the time of burial.
33. The Registrar's Certificate for Disposal or the Coroner's Order for Burial must be produced to the Cemetery Office before the interment of any body. The Cemetery Office must be advised at the time of booking if the deceased died of an infectious disease.
34. The net outside dimensions of the coffin size must be entered accurately on the interment notice or given to the office in writing at least 48 hours before the intended burial. The cemetery will not be held responsible or liable for any delay or incident which may occur as a result of such dimensions being omitted or entered incorrectly on the interment notice.
35. The cemetery will not be held responsible of any error or consequence which may arise by reason of any inaccuracy or late receipt of a notice of interment and will accept orders and instructions by telephone only at the risk of the sender.
36. All requests for witness backfills must be made at the time of booking the burial or at least 48 hours before the interment takes place. It cannot always be guaranteed that the backfill will be witnessed due to adverse weather conditions or in the interest of Health & Safety.
37. The Cemetery Office must be advised prior to the interment of any special tributes or personal items that families wish to keep otherwise these will be removed and disposed of. All tributes will be removed from graves and disposed of two weeks after the last interment unless a specific request is made and agreed.
38. All graves without exception will be dug by persons employed or contacted to the cemetery.
39. All coffins interred above ground within the mausoleum or beneath ground in concrete vaults must be zinc lined to ensure they are hermetically sealed.
40. Pet ashes cannot be interred in the Cemetery.
Care of Graves
41. Wreaths of fresh flowers, flower arrangements and cut flowers shall not be left on any grave for longer than two weeks. Christmas wreaths will be removed and disposed of during the last week of January. A Cemetery Officer may remove and dispose of any wreaths or cut flowers without notice which detract from the appearance of the Cemetery.
42. The planting and maintenance of the grave is the responsibility of the grave owner. The company does not undertake any work other than mounding or seeding unless a separate agreement has been made with the cemetery office and the appropriate fee paid.
43. The Cemetery reserves the right of access over all grave spaces and the right to temporarily remove without notice any memorial, frame, cross, potted plants, edging or personal items from any grave to facilitate the digging of another grave for the purpose of interment or exhumation.
44. The cemetery have right to place spoil from excavated graves on adjacent plots for the purpose of burial or exhumation. Following the interment all affected areas will be reinstated to their previous condition.
45. The size of the grave plot for traditional graves is 760mm (2’6”) wide x 1980mm (6’6”) long.
46. The maximum coffin dimensions for the mausoleum chamber is 735mm (29”) wide x 635mm (25”) high x 2300mm (90”) long. All coffins for mausoleum interments must be zinc lined and hermetically sealed.
47. Temporary surrounds covering the 720mm (2’6”) wide x 1980mm (6’6”) long are permitted on traditional graves only. These must be removed by the grave owner prior installation of any memorial. Temporary surrounds may prevent routine maintenance being carried out to the grave space by Cemetery staff. Permanent plastic, wire, metal or wooden surrounds are not permitted as they deteriorate and cause maintenance issues. Any surround that is broken, deteriorated or exceeds the permitted size will be removed without notification.
48. The placing of any items such as paving slabs, shingle, pots or unauthorised memorials etc around and leading to a grave space is strictly prohibited and shall be removed and disposed of without prior notice on the grounds of health and safety and to satisfy the insurance underwriter of the cemetery.
49. Grave owners are not permitted to install their own benches on land not leased by them within the cemetery. Benches can only be installed in the Garden of Remembrance with agreement of the cemetery office and on payment of the current lease. Benches can only be installed within the cemetery on grave spaces where the rights of burial have been purchased. Benches are not permitted between or outside of the grave space. Any bench causing access or maintenance issues will be removed without notification. .
50. Items placed around the Community Mausoleum must be restricted to fresh flowers and plants. Candles are permitted if placed within a suitable holder. Due to the communal nature of the mausoleum and to retain a tidy appearance, personal items that cover or encroach other spaces or are spread over and around the memorial will be removed without notice. The Cemetery Company will not accept responsibility for the safekeeping of any personal items.
51. Plants may only be planted within the confines of a grave surround on any traditional grave in the Cemetery Plants cannot be planted outside the dimensions of 720mm (2’6”) wide x 1980mm (6’6”) long.
52. The Cemeteries Office will remove, without notice, any tree or shrub that obstructs any grave, headstone, road or path. No trees or large growing shrubs are permitted to be planted around or within the grave space. These will be removed without notification as they can encroach on other spaces, cause issues with the grave and issues with maintenance, memorials and interments.
53. Plans showing the grave spaces are kept by the Cemetery office and may be viewed during normal office hours.
Monuments and Memorials
54. All memorials must be supplied and fixed by the cemetery company. No external stone masons will be permitted to carry out work in the cemetery. Unauthorised memorials will be removed from the cemetery at the grave owner’s expense.
55. No memorial may be fixed in the cemetery without the approval of the Manager. Unauthorised memorials will be removed out of the cemetery at the grave owner’s expense. All suitable styles and materials will be provided for your choice by the cemetery company.
56. Landings and foundations for grave surrounds and headstones will be installed by the Cemetery memorial staff as part of the memorial. Foundations will be of the appropriate size for the type of grave plot and conform to BS8415:2018.
57. Lawn style headstones must be at least 760mm (2'6”) high above ground level, 300mm (1') wide and 75mm (3") thick with a base 300mm (12”) deep and no more than 900mm (3') high, 760mm (2'6") wide and 150mm (6") thick. Headstones will be installed on a secured landing and in accordance with the Code of Practice and Standard Specification of the National Association of Monumental Masons.
58. Traditional memorials should not be erected until at least 12 months after the last interment. The Cemetery will not be responsible for levelling memorials where the owner has erected a memorial before 12 months.
59. Traditional memorials must not exceed 760mm (2’6”) wide and 1980mm (6’6”) in length. The maximum height permitted for traditional memorial is 1830mm (6’)
60. No items are permitted on any land other than where the Exclusive Right of Burial has been granted and may not exceed the memorial dimensions for the type of grave.
61. All monuments or memorials will be inscribed with the appropriate grave number.
62. All monuments or memorials must be securely fixed together and fixed to the landing or foundation with dowels of copper, aluminium or galvanised metal at least 12mm in diameter and must extend at least 75mm into the foundation unit.
63. All monuments or memorials must be constructed of best quality solid stone. York stone or similar soft stones or composite stones or wooden or other perishable materials are not permitted.
64. The Cemetery has the right to make safe any memorial that is deemed to be dangerous or insecure by means of laying flat said memorial. The cemetery will make every effort to contact the owner and if required recover any costs for safety work required.
65. All cemetery memorials will be inspected every 5 years and a record maintained of the inspection to ensure they are structurally safe and do not pose any danger to visitors and employees in the cemetery. If a memorial is found to be unsafe the Cemetery office will deal with the memorial in an appropriate manner which will include fixing a notice on the memorial and may include lying flat or removal if necessary. The Cemetery will within a reasonable time endeavour to contact the grave owner at the address held in our statutory register for burial.
66. Do not enter any area of the cemetery that has been allowed to return to nature for wildlife and ecology reasons. These areas are clearly signposted as unsafe to enter. If entry is required please enquire at the cemetery office.
67. Memorial benches can only be purchased from and supplied by the cemetery company and their position will be determined throughout an agreed lease period by the cemetery company.
68. The Cemetery Company cannot accept responsibility for the safekeeping of any personal items left in the grounds or on memorials
Cremations
69. A cremation can only legally take place when the Crematorium has the Registrars Certificate for Disposal or a Coroners Order for Cremation, Forms 1, 4 and 5 and the Medical Referee has signed Form 10 to allow the cremation to take place. Without these forms in no circumstances will a cremation be carried out. (Cremation Regulations 1930)
70. The above forms must be received by the Crematorium Office at least 48 hours prior to the service taking place. Failure to provide these forms will cause the cremation to be postponed until such time that these can be produced.
71. The forms will be submitted on those provided by the crematorium and the appropriate fee paid before the cremation takes place, unless an account arrangement has been made with the General Manager.
72. The maximum dimensions of a coffin to be loaded into the cremator is 30” wide (including handles) by 24” deep and 84” long.
73. The number of mourners permitted to enter the crematory for a witnessed cremation is six persons. This can only take place with the prior consent of the Superintendent and at his or her discretion.
74. The Funeral Director, or persons effecting the cremation must provide sufficient staff to convey the coffin into the chapel, unless prior warning has been given to the office and the appropriate fee paid.
75. Everybody brought to the crematorium must be contained in a suitable coffin or shroud. No coffin or shroud should be accepted unless it bears adequate particulars of the identity of the deceased therein. The name plate must be made visible for checking by staff before the coffin enters the crematorium.
76. The Crematorium will not be held responsible for any error or consequences which may arise by reason of any inaccuracy in or late receipt of paperwork and will accept orders and instructions by telephone only at the risk of the sender.
77. The crematorium will contact applicants following the cremation to confirm their instructions for the cremated remains and to provide information on memorial options. Applicants have the option to opt out of any further contact. The crematorium will store the resulting cremated remains for a period of 3 months before they are scattered in the grounds, unless instructions to the contrary are given at the time of applying for the cremation or within the 3 month period.
78. If no instructions are given regarding the floral tributes, they will remain in the floral tribute area at the side of the chapel for 2 days, including the day of the funeral. After this period the flowers will then be disposed of.
79. Any music requirements must be communicated to the crematorium office at least 24 hours before the service is due to take place. Only music provided by the crematorium can be played through the digital music system.
80. Video tributes can only be provided by the crematoriums dedicated music provider and on payment of the appropriate fee. Homemade tributes, memory sticks, DVDs will not play on our system and cannot be accepted.
81. The cremation of body parts is permitted on the completion of the appropriate forms and the payment of the appropriate fee. Body parts contained in slides of wax or glass will not be accepted for cremation.
82. The cremation of pregnancy remains is permitted with the production of the Medical Practioner’s or Midwife’s certificate of delivery. Please refer to our Infant Cremation Policy for further details.
Gardens of Remembrance
83. The Gardens of Remembrance are communal areas, please respect each other’s space. Dedicated areas are not permitted unless authorised by the cemetery office and the appropriate fee paid.
84. Flowers and potted plants are permitted within the confines of a memorial plot.
85. Permitted personal items within the cemetery and gardens are restricted to potted plants, fresh flowers and wreaths. The cemetery office will not be held responsible for their safekeeping.
86. Wind chimes and any item that creates a noise nuisance are forbidden anywhere in the cemetery or gardens and will be removed without notice.
87. It is forbidden to encroach on any land, tree or area within the cemetery or gardens where the Exclusive Rights of Burial has not been granted.
88. To maintain a clean and peaceful environment, personal items are not permitted outside dedicated memorial plots within the Garden of Remembrance or Cemetery. Unauthorised items including items that detract from the appearance of the gardens will be removed without notice. These items will be retained for a period of two weeks for collection otherwise after this period the cemetery may dispose of such items.
89. Private cremation plots have their own appropriate regulations for dedication. Please refer to the memorial agreement.
Exhumations
90. No interred remains may be exhumed or removed from any part of any Cemetery without an appropriate Home Office Licence. In respect of an interment in an area of a Cemetery designated as Consecrated, a Faculty from the Diocese must also be obtained.
91. Any exhumation must be carried out in accordance with all conditions set out in the Licence or Faculty and must be carried out when the Cemetery is closed to the public.
92. An exhumation fee and any appropriate grave digging or memorial removal charges at the current rate must be paid prior to the exhumation.
Records
93. Electronic registers of all burials and cremations will be kept at the Cemeteries Office and will be open, by appointment, to search by any member of the public during the opening hours of the Cemeteries Office. Provision of written confirmation of Register details will be charged at a minimum of half an hour's administration time at the current rate of charge.
Additional Rules
94. The Cemetery reserves the right to make any alterations and additions to the Rules and Regulations of the Cemetery & Crematorium at any time it feels fit or appropriate.
Date of Operation
These regulations shall come into force on 1st November 2000 and all previous regulations issued by the Great Northern London Cemetery Company, New Southgate Cemetery and Crematorium Co. Limited and any regulations relating to New Southgate Cemetery & Crematorium are hereby revoked.
The last amendment to the regulations come into effect in March 2020.
New Southgate Cemetery & Crematorium Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Westerleigh Group Ltd.
NEW SOUTHGATE CEMETERY & CREMATORIUM IS A PLACE TO REMEMBER LOVED ONES.
PLEASE RESPECT THESE REGULATIONS TO HELP US PROVIDE A CLEAN, CALM & TRANQUIL ENVIRONMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERYONE.
