Dereham Town Council, Norfolk

Cemeteries

Cemetery Road has been open since 1869. There are very limited burial plots available to purchase at this site and our ashes section is now full. The majority of interments take place at our cemetery on Norwich Road, which opened in April 2018.

Burials and Ashes Interments

Burials and ashes Interments are generally organised via a Funeral Director. For any enquiries, please contact the office on 01362 693821 or via email generalenquiries@derehamtowncouncil.org.

Memorials

Memorials are organised via a stonemason. Before any headstone, tablet or vase is laid, an application for permission to erect a memorial must be made by the registered owner and approved by the Council. For memorials at Norwich Road Cemetery, a Memorial Grant must also be completed.

Any items left on the grave must be placed on the plinth (the foundation upon which the headstone sits), or in the absence of a plinth they must be placed in line with neighbouring headstones. No items are to be placed upon the actual grave space (unless on a kerbed grave).

Please see Memorial Guidance leaflet for further information.

Memorial Plaques

A memorial plaque can be erected at Norwich Road cemetery in the Shelter of Remembrance. These are primarily for those who choose to scatter loved ones cremated remains within the cemetery grounds.

The plaques are 150mm x 180mm x 21mm made from solid oak and wax sealed. They can be engraved with wording of your choice, using one of three fonts available. The plaque will be on display in the shelter for a period of either 10 or 20 years. Current pricing can be found within the Cemetery Fees brochure. If you would like to apply for a plaque, please complete the Application for a Memorial Plaque form.

Exclusive Rights of Burial

Exclusive Rights of Burial may be purchased for a period of 60 years. This is often done by people who may wish to reserve a grave next to a loved one. It entitles the purchaser to determine who shall be interred in the grave. Please note however that the grant of such rights does not confer on the owner any rights of title to the land; the grave itself remains at all times the property of Dereham Town Council.

Exclusive Rights of Burial must be purchased on any new plot at Cemetery Road, however this is not a requirement at Norwich Road.

Maintenance

We are responsible for the maintenance of the cemetery. It is the responsibility of the next of kin to ensure that memorials are kept in good order and that mowers and machinery are not obstructed by incorrectly positioned vases, containers and other items. We undertake memorial inspections from time to time, and in the event of a memorial being found to be unstable we will endeavour to contact relatives to ask them to repair the memorial. It is only as a last resort that we lie memorials down.