Further information on Ipswich Cemeteries is available here.
The Committal
Following the funeral service those present make their way to the burial site where the burial attendant leads the Funeral Directors and mourners to the grave. It is usual for the minister to carry out the committal but if no minister is required a representative or family member can officiate instead.
If soil and shovels are required for the burial, your funeral director must request this when making the arrangements. It is normal practice to allow mourners to back fill the grave until the coffin is no longer visible, at which point Cemetery staff take over the responsibility to complete the process.
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Ownership of a grave
Being the owner of a grave gives you the right to be interred there without permission from anyone else. The owner is the only person authorised to give consent for any further interments or to allow the erection of a memorial. A living owner must give permission for an additional inscription to be placed on the memorial.
However, it is not unusual for a grave to be owned by more than one person. In this situation, all owners of the grave must give their consent before any action can be taken.
To ensure a living owner is able to give consent in the future, it is possible to assign the rights to whomever you wish at any time, as long as you are the sole owner or the other present owners also agree to this assignment. A charge would normally be made for an assignment such as this, however, if you return the correct form within 30 days of a funeral the assignment will be carried out free of charge.
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Transfer of burial rights
No authority is required for the burial of the registered owner of a grave. However, after the interment of the grave owner, at the earliest opportunity the Probate of Will or Letters of Administration should be exhibited at the Cemetery Office in order that the grave may be duly transferred to the Executors or other interested parties.
In the event that there is no Probate, Will or Letters of Administration, a declaration of Affidavit must be made by the heir-at-law or next of kin under the Statutory Declarations Act 1835 or any modification therein.
Until this is done, or other satisfactory proofs of ownership are given, the grave cannot be re-opened or interfered with.
For further help with the transferral of burial rights please contact the Cemetery Office.
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Burial Areas
There are specific areas within the Ipswich cemeteries that are designated for certain religions. The different areas are for Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, Quaker, Church of England and Non-Conformist beliefs. The Millennium Cemetery is dedicated for the use of all religions.
It may be possible to arrange for a burial in one of these sections. Please advise your funeral director to enquire further.
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Grave styles
There are two grave styles available to choose from, both of which are purchased on a 50-year lease and can be extended upon payment of a renewal fee.
Traditional: This style of grave allows for a more individual style of memorial. A kerb set can be placed around the grave or a standard headstone can be fitted. Planting is permitted, subject to cemetery rules and procedures. Turfing of traditional style graves is available upon request, although a fee is payable for this service.
Lawn: A standard style headstone is allowed and the area is set out in a regimental style. No kerb sets or planting is allowed. Turfing is carried out automatically 9-12 months after the burial at no additional charge.
Special consideration is given when arranging the burial of children and babies and it is recommended to visit the cemetery in order to view individual areas.
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Public Graves
The Council retain all ownership rights to public graves, which are located in the Old Cemetery.
No headstone or marker can be placed on an adult public grave as other, unrelated burials, may have taken place in the past. For the public graves of babies, the current burial area allows the placing of a marker, which is supplied by the Council, in order to identify the individual graves. Please contact the Cemeteries Office for further information and costs.
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Existing Family Graves
If you already have a family grave in an Ipswich cemetery it may be possible that a further interment could take place in this grave or that cremated remains could be buried.
You will need to advise your funeral director of the names and dates of death for those already buried in the grave in order to enable the cemetery staff to locate the grave.
To re-open an existing family grave, consent will be required from the registered owner. If they are deceased then ownership (Rights of Burial) must be transferred prior to any re-opening. When a grave is deemed 'full' in respect of earthen burials, it is still possible to have cremated remains of family members buried there.
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Grounds Maintenance
The Ipswich Borough Council Parks Department carries out maintenance work for the four Ipswich Cemeteries under contract.
Grounds Maintenance staff automatically inspect graves for subsidence after an interment and will then level graves if required. This procedure is continued for approximately six months.
If a family has additional concerns regarding ground conditions, they should advise the Cemetery Office who will arrange for remedial works to be undertaken.
Christmas wreathes are removed on the first week in February every year. The grass in Section M of the Old Cemetery is cut once a year to encourage wild flowers and butterflies to flourish.
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Floral Tributes
The funeral flowers stay on the grave for approximately 4 weeks following a burial, after which time the Grounds Maintenance staff will remove them. If the family wish, the floral tributes may be removed before this time.
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Turfing of Graves
The Council automatically turfs graves in the Lawn Cemetery and the Lawn Section of the Millennium Cemetery approximately 9 to 12 months after a burial at no additional cost. Turfing is normally carried out in April and October, weather permitting.
Graves in the Old, New and Traditional sections of the Millennium Cemetery can be turfed upon request and payment of the relevant fee to the Cemetery Office.
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Annual planting of graves
The Council is also able to offer a service for the annual planting of graves, bringing peace of mind to families unable to tend to their family graves.
Graves purchased in the Old, New and Traditional Sections at the Millennium Cemetery can be planted by the Council Park's Department upon payment of an annual fee. Details of costs are available from the Bereavement Services team.
Planting is carried out twice a year, usually in June when summer bedding plants are used, and in again October when spring bedding is available. Once a request is made for a grave to be placed on the Annual Planting Scheme and payment is received, instructions are issued to Council Grounds Maintenance Staff. A payment reminder is then sent out during March every year. For more information or to join the Annual Planting Scheme please contact the Cemetery Office.
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Memorials
Following a burial, we recommend you allow a period of 9 months before erecting a headstone to allow time for the ground to settle. For kerb sets at least 12 months must have elapsed. In the interim a temporary marker can be purchased from the Cemetery Office and placed on the grave. These are aluminium, with a black background and silver lettering, and can be inscribed with the deceased's name and grave number.
Before a memorial can be erected on a grave your stonemason must submit an application for permission to the Cemetery Office. All headstones, monuments and memorials will only be permitted according to the Cemetery rules and procedures in force at the time of application. Copies of this document can be obtained from the Cemetery Office or downloaded in the Rules and Procedures section of this site.
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Memorial Maintenance
Once the memorial has been erected, the Council Stonemason will inspect it on health and safety grounds. The Council also carries out a continuous programme of health and safety inspections on all memorials in Ipswich cemeteries.
The Authority reserves the right to remove from the Cemetery any memorial which, is not fixed in a safe manner, has been erected without a permit, has not had the appropriate fees paid, or has been erected in contravention to Cemetery rules and procedures.
Every memorial must be kept in good repair at the expense of the owner and remains their sole responsibility. Any memorial found to be unsafe might have to be taped, laid down or removed for the safety of others working in or visiting the Cemetery.
The Council employs a masonry team who offer a range of services for existing memorials within the cemeteries, including cleaning, refurbishment, renovation and planting. Any such work is subject to the acceptance of a detailed, no obligation quote.
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Annual care of memorials
The Council also offers an Annual Care service that can help bring peace of mind to families who are unable to attend to memorials on family graves.
If memorials are not cleaned regularly and correctly maintained, they can soon deteriorate and damage can be caused. Annual Care is a programme of inspection and cleaning, which is undertaken by experienced Cemetery staff.
A memorial is placed on the Annual Care programme at the request of the family or grave owner. If a memorial has not been maintained for some time, the Council stonemason may have to carry out initial work to bring the memorial up to a suitable standard before it can be placed on the programme. The stonemason will inspect the memorial and provide a no obligation quotation for work before renovation begins.
When a memorial is placed on the Annual Care programme, the owners will receive a reminder for payment during March every year. After the payment has been received, instructions to inspect and clean the memorial are issued to Cemetery staff.
During the following 12 months the memorial will be cleaned and inspected for any deterioration. If any additional work, such as re-lettering, re-fixing joints or providing new flower containers, is required the Annual Care client will be notified and asked if they wish the work to be carried out and a further quotation issued.
For further information, details on charges or to sign up for this service please contact the Cemetery Office.
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Memorial Benches
Individual Seats
A scheme exists for the provision of memorial benches to be placed in the Old, New, and Lawn Cemeteries. The bench is paid for by the applicant and is donated for use in the Cemetery for visiting members of the public. All seats are maintained annually and checked on a regular basis, with maintenance carried out by Cemetery staff.
The hardwood benches available are 5ft in length with a bronze plaque fitted centrally on the back rail. The plaque includes up to 4 lines of lettering with a maximum of 20 letters per line. Spaces for seats are limited and if you are interested in this option you will need to contact the Cemetery Office to discuss availability and position before a formal application can be approved.
Shared Seats
In the Millennium Cemetery a shared memorial seat scheme is in place. Each seat holds up to four cast bronze plaques fixed along the back rail, and are leased for a period of five years with an option for renewal. The seats are made of Iroko wood, which is untreated in order that it turns a natural silver colour over time. All seats are purchased by Ipswich Borough Council and remain Council property at all times. Memorabilia must not be attached or placed around the seat.
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