We have put together the most frequently asked questions from our clients when deciding on purchasing a new burial space for themselves or a loved one.
When you buy a burial plot or grave, you’re buying the right to bury a body or scatter ashes (cremated remains) in that plot but not the land around it. This is called the Exclusive Rights of Burial. As the owner of the plot, these Rights mean that you have to give permission to be buried in it. You also have the right to add a memorial to the grave (additional cost will apply), depending on the individual cemetery’s rules and regulations.
You will be sent a Grant of Exclusive Rights of Burial certificate which confirms that you own the burial plot. This is a legal document that is recognised by HM Land Registry. You should keep this document in a safe place until the time when the grave is used.
Where possible, we try to give our customers the opportunity to select their plot. However, this is subject to availability at the time of purchase. You will be able to select by Religion, section, row and position where we have full availability – the sooner you buy your plot, the more choice you will have. We will be able to talk you through the plots available at your home advisory appointment or you can call our Customer Service Team on 01902 471 656
Yes Most of our cemeteries will allow the option for more than one interment per plot, meaning more than one person can be buried in one place. This is usually for loved ones/family members to be together when they pass and offers tremendous comfort knowing that they will eventually be laid to rest together. Another option is for loved ones is to purchase multiple plots next to each other which is quite common within some religious groups.
When you pass, your family will just need to inform the funeral director of the fact that you already own a plot at Essington Cemetery. The funeral director will then liaise directly with us to make all the necessary arrangements.
Whether you pay for your burial or ashes plot in full or choose to pay by monthly instalments under a credit agreement, you are entitled to a 14-day cooling off period. During this time you can change your mind and cancel the purchase of your plot and you will receive a full refund of any money you have paid.
Yes – for people who want to buy a plot, there is no restriction in terms of address or postcode and the plot prices are the same whether you live 3 miles away or 33 miles away.
West Midlands is a cemetery that owns freehold land for use as a muslim cemetery; its constitution forbids the use of the land for any purpose other than as a cemetery. So the concept of leases, as in other multi-denominational and council run cemeteries, does not apply.
If the concern is how long will it be before the grave is recycled, then please rest assured that this will not occur at least for a generation. This is consistent with both the law and shariah.
There are no extra fees for weekend or bank holiday burials. However, there may be additional charges for out of hours support (after 5pm).
Change amount from £100 to £150
In accordance with shariah burial at the Cemetery is conducted in shrouds.
The only occasions on which this is varied is when medical advice or directions from the coroner are received for burial to take place in a coffin.
As you can see there are already so many benches at the cemetery that there is little point in having more at this stage.
If you would like to donate on behalf of a loved one, then please consider sponsoring the planting of a tree or a shrub, further details of which are set out on the
The latest time for burial at the cemetery is 4.00pm. This is to meet the planning conditions granted by Redbridge Council. We do not have any choice in this matter.
We do not encourage the placing of flowers on graves. This adds to the cost burden of maintaining the Cemetery as the flowers will have to be removed after a few days when they have wilted.
Why not instead sponsor a tree at the cemetery for the benefit of the deceased, or offer a donation either to the Cemetery or to some other worthwhile charitable cause? Such an act by you will be a source of recurring reward for the deceased.
Notwithstanding, we recognise some visitors will still want to leave flowers on graves. Under no circumstances however will plastic flowers be permitted.
The burning of incense is also not permitted at the cemetery as there is no basis in the hadith for this practice.
Please note that we only accept religious material for disposal printed on paper. We cannot accept plastic, glass, metals etc. as we cannot deal with it.
It is sad for us to point out the obvious, that is visitors should not leave religious material in the dustbins, on the floor near the clothes bank, dump into the stream going through the cemetery, dump on the front steps of the Hall of Remembrance or the administration building or leave in the car park. We have come across all of these ways in which visitors to the Cemetery have disposed of religious material.
We will each year only accept Quranic materials for disposal during the following days:
- Good Friday to Easter Monday
- Late August Bank holiday weekend (Sat to Mon)
- Christmas Eve to Boxing Day
For bulk (more than 1 kilo) disposal of Quranic materials there will be a compulsory charge of £5 per kilo to cover our costs
Your loved one’s grave will be maintained as soon as practicable. On a continuous basis as the soil settles, we will top the grave. This usually takes a minimum of 12 months post burial. We will cut the grass and re-mould the grave after this period.
Yes, we can have the gravestone cleaned and the lettering re-inked. You can arrange this by contacting the office and paying the small fee.
Yes, this is possible although there are certain times of the year when this is best undertaken.