Contents

  1. Types of grave available
  2. Buying a grave for future use
  3. Choosing a memorial
  4. Ownership
  5. Maintenance and safety
  6. Memorial benches

Lawn graves

The grave is leased for 50 years or 75 years. Lawn graves have a simple appearance and are mown regularly throughout the growing season. A lawn style headstone can be erected at the head of the grave, which then allows a garden space with a maximum size of 1.22 meters (4 feet) in width by 0.46 meter (18 inches) in length. The remaining area is grassed over, this must be kept clear at all times. When the graves have settled we turf the area over, this is usually carried out between October and March.

Available at:

  • London Road Cemetery
  • Merton and Sutton Joint Cemetery (sections A, AX, B, BX, C, CC, CX, D, DD, DX, EX, F, FCR, KX, LX, M, MU, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z)

Cremated remains graves

These sections allow a headstone at the head of the grave with a garden space in front. The graves are leased for 25 years or 40 years. There is maximum of six interments per grave. They are similar to lawn graves but are smaller. Lawn style headstones can be erected at the head of the grave, which then allows a garden space with a maximum size of 1.22 metres (4 feet) in width by 0.46 metres (18 inches) in length. 

Graves on the lawn sections will be seeded over following settlement of the grave. Grass seeding is carried out between October and March. The remaining grassed area must be kept clear at all times and is maintained by the Cemetery.

Available at:

  • Gap Road Cemetery (section W)
  • London Road Cemetery
  • Merton and Sutton Joint Cemetery (section FCR)

Semi-lawn graves

The grave owner is responsible for the planting and the upkeep of the garden space. If the garden is left unkept, it will be grassed over. The following items are not allowed, these will be removed if found.

  • fencing or edging
  • gravel or glass chippings on or around the grave

This allows a headstone at the head of the grave with a garden space with a maximum size: 0.76 metre (2 feet 6 inches) wide by 1.52 metres (5 feet) in length, this is left for planting bedding flowers or small shrubs.

Available at:

  • Merton and Sutton Joint Cemetery (sections E, G, H, J, L, N, O, P, R, S)

Garden spaces

We welcome garden spaces in front of the headstones of graves; the rest of the grave will be grassed over. Garden spaces are a maximum size of 1.22 metres (4 feet) wide by 0.46 metres (18 inches) in length. The area in front of the headstone will be left as a garden area for individual planting. Having a garden space is optional and if you decide to have one, the family and the grave owner are responsible for taking care of the space. If you decide not to have a garden space, we can turf over the area. The rest of the grave will be grassed over. We ask that this area remains clear so that we can maintain and cut the grass and areas around each grave.

Restricted items on garden spaces

Our cemeteries are well kept thanks to the help from grave owners. To make sure that our cemeteries continue to be tranquil places to visit, we have to restrict the way graves are kept. There are some items that we ask grave owners and family members to refrain from placing on or around their grave space mainly for safety reason but also to ensure that our cemeteries are kept pleasant and attractive.

Unfortunately, we have to remove restricted items from graves so if you have any questions about the way you are maintaining your grave space, please feel free to contact us with any questions. A selection of restricted items are listed below.

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

Grave ownership

After a burial in a new grave, a deed called “Grant of Right of Burial” will be issued to the nominated grave owner confirming that person is the owner of the grave. The deed will also state the length of the lease period.

Public graves

For people who do not want a private grave, we provide public grave spaces. Each grave accommodates four unrelated burial and the cemeteries service will decide who is to be buried in each grave. Because public graves are available to any person, the same grave can not be reserved for their family members.

People are welcome to arrange for a headstone to be added to a public grave with three lines of inscription for each burial. If we receive a request for a headstone, we will get in touch with each family who has a loved one buried in a public grave and ask for a contribution towards the cost of the headstone.

Although the cemetery does not purchase the headstone, it remains the property of the cemetery who coordinate any requests for inscriptions between the families whose love ones are buried in the public grave. Public graves do not have garden spaces, they are grassed over and kept clear so that we can maintained the grave and area around it.

  • Merton and Sutton Joint Cemetery (Section K)

Wooden Crosses

Small wooden crosses with a maximum height 0.76 metre (2 feet 6 inches) are accepted for a period not exceeding one year from date of burial when the Cemetery will remove the crosses after one year.

New graves

Maintenance of graves

The Cemetery can provide a maintenance service for garden spaces. For information on our fees and charges visit the maintenance of graves page.

Contact us

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

Tel: 020 3876 8806