Burial Ground

Burial Ground, Elsfield Road

Burials

The operation of this Burial Ground is subject to the following conditions:

1. Burials are at the discretion of the Parish Council, available only in respect of those who were normally resident in the Parish at the time of death and to those who moved out of the Parish within five years prior to their death due to medical or care needs. Advance purchase of plots will only be permitted for the spouse or civil partner of the deceased.

Following an internment the plot will be returned to flat grass.

2. Burials are subject to the payment of fees determined by the Council from time to time, currently:

Interment, including plot purchase £400

Advance plot purchase £200

Subsequent interment £200

The above fees are doubled in respect of those normally resident outside the Parish at the time of death.

The above fees are reduced by one half in respect of the burial of a person under the age of 11 years at the time of death.

The ground is not consecrated; any officiating Minister may do that.

3. The interment of ashes is only permitted in a grave in which an interment has already taken place or has been purchased for a subsequent burial.

The fee for the interment of ashes in an existing grave is £125

4. Memorials may be erected subject to the Council’s prior written approval, normally arranged by the mason. Any erected without prior approval may be removed without notice.

Headstones must not exceed 0.75 meters in height, with or without an integral vase incorporated within the base, the top of which must be flat with the surface of the stone base placed level with the soil. The Council’s grave number must be inscribed on the south side of the stone. Photographs will be permitted if they are no larger than 15 x 20cm.

A table stone of 35cm square will be permitted, subject to approval. It must be level with the soil,with or without provision for an integral vase, subject to the top of the vase being flush to the surface of the tablet. The Council’s grave number must be inscribed on the bottom right hand corner of the tablet.

5. Kerbs, mounds or other ways of enclosing grave spaces, freestanding vases or obstructions to mowing are not permitted and will be removed and disposed of without notice.

6. The Council reserves the right to charge for the removal of wreaths and flowers one month after a burial should they cover an area in excess of two square meters.

Memorial fees are:

For a headstone or tablet, with the first inscription £50

For each subsequent inscription £25

7. Flowers- and wreaths may be placed on graves. These will be removed one month after the burial or if earlier when their appearance deteriorates.

Artificial flowers are not encouraged and will be removed when their appearance deteriorates.

8. Single plots are not large enough to accommodate caskets and vaults, but requests to purchase two adjoining plots will be considered

9. Those tending graves are obliged to remove rubbish away from the site.

Attention is drawn to condition 5

Interment of Ashes

1 The strip along the fence towards the seat is reserved for the interment of ashes subject to the discretion of the Council. Use of the facility is not reserved for Old Marston residents.

2 Interments will be in the centre of an area 70cms square. Caskets and vases are not permitted ashes being poured into a hole allowing a soil cover of 20 cms. to allow for second family interment. Fee £125

3 A tablet 35 cms. square, level with the soil, with an inscription will be permitted with provision for an integral vase, subject to the top of the vase being flush with the tablet. The Council’s grave number to be inscribed on the bottom right hand corner. Fee £50. Additional inscriptions £25

4 The ground is not consecrated; any officiating Minister may do that.

5 Flowers and wreaths may be placed on tablets. These will be removed when their appearance deteriorates. Artificial flowers are not encouraged and will also be removed when their appearance deteriorates

Those tending graves are obliged to take their rubbish away from the site.

Enquiries relating to the Burial Ground should be addressed to: The Clerk, Old Marston Parish Council, 31, Oxford Road. Old Marston, Oxford. OX3 0PQ. Telephone 01865 241888 (Information updated April 2008)