Memorials application

One of our registered Monumental Masons must carry out any proposed memorial and memorial inscription work. We will approve most types of stone memorials for installation in our cemeteries.

Apply to register as a Monumental Mason to carry out work in one of our cemeteries.

Memorial maintenance

The responsibility for the safety and upkeep, including repairs to any gravestone or memorial, remains with the owner(s) of the grave. We recommend that grave owners get a guarantee from the Monumental Mason for all work they carry out and arrange for the Monumental Mason to check the memorial for defects every 5 years. Insurance for memorials is available from many independent insurers.

We carry out inspections of memorials and reserve the right under Health and Safety legislation to 'make safe' any defective memorials we find.

Headstone specifications

Under the current code of practice, as prepared by the National Association of Memorial Masons, all memorials erected must have ground anchors.

All memorials erected or placed upon the ground must have the corresponding grave space number placed on the side of the stone's base.  The supplying firm may place their name on the memorial.

Installation of memorials are on a 36"x18" (0.92 x 0.45m) concrete flag. Grave edge kerbs are not allowed.

No headstone may be more than 1.2m (4') in height and 750mm (2'6") in width. (Double grave spaces, a maximum of 1.8m (6ft) in width).

Memorials in cremated remains rows and children's burial areas may not exceed 0.685m (2'3'') in height.

See Cemetery Regulations for details of regulations for memorials and headstones.

Additional inscription on a headstone

If an additional inscription involves the supply and fixing of a new plinth or further section of stone, you must supply a sketch of the proposed stonework showing details.

We do not permit extra 'free-standing', unattached plinths, or non-fixed stonework.

Memorial safety

We carry out inspections on all memorials in our cemeteries and the closed churchyards we maintain. Where these inspections have highlighted unstable memorials, we make them safe, by either laying them flat or supporting them with posts. We appreciate that visitors to the cemeteries may find the laying down of a headstone distressing but we hope that people appreciate we do this in the interest of safety.

As the owner of the grave, you are responsible for the repair and maintenance of the memorial. You must arrange for a registered Monumental Mason to carry out any repairs.

Contact the Bereavement Services Office if you are the owner of a memorial laid down or supported.

Alternative memorial options

As an alternative to the traditional headstone memorial, other options are available. These include a bronze plaque, a bench memorial, or the tree donation scheme.

Apply for a bronze plaque

There are two sizes of bronze plaques, a 6"x4" plaque and a 11"x7" plaque. We have a wall within the Garden of Rest area at Penrith cemetery for inscribed plaques.

Contact the Bereavement Services Office to apply.

Enquire about a bench memorial

Email: contracts@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk for further information.

Enquire about the tree donation scheme

Read about the tree donation scheme for details of costs, types of trees, tree maintenance and where we plant trees.

Last updated: Tuesday, 20 June, 2023.