Click below to visit the section you require:
Visitors are asked to familiarise themselves with these notes, which exist to ensure the quiet enjoyment of Shaw Cemetery, for everyone:
- Car parking is provided inside the main gate of the cemetery and around the chapel. Please do not obstruct other cemetery users. cars are parked at the owner's risk.
- Please do not drive into prohibited areas or drive or park on grassed areas. Cars are only allowed on the two main paths; the one leading from the main gate and the one leading form Cromwell Road gate.
- Public conveniences are situated next to the Cemetery Office, just inside the main gate.
- Water, not suitable for drinking, can be found at the side of the conveniences and at the side of the chapel.
Visitors are requested to ensure that they leave the Cemetery punctually as the gates to the cemetery are secured at the defined time. From Monday to friday (excluding Bank Holidays and weekends) cemetery staff are available to help with any queries, during opening hours.
Monday |
9.00am |
5.00pm |
Tuesday |
9.00am |
5.00pm |
Wednesday |
9.00am |
7.00pm |
Thursday |
9.00am |
5.00pm |
Friday |
9.00am |
5.00pm |
Saturday |
10.00am |
5.00pm |
Sunday |
10.00am |
5.00pm |
Bank Holidays inc Xmas Day |
10.00am |
5.00pm |
From the end of British Summer Time each year to the 1st April the next, the Cemetery will close at sunset if that falls before 5.00pm, with the actual time posted in the Cemetery notice boards.
Last access time is 15 minutes before the declared closing time.
Usually the arrangements for a burial are organised by a Funeral Director. However, sometimes the bereaved may wish to make their own arrangements and Newbury Town Council staff at the Town Hall are available to advise and assist with the procedures involved:
Important Information
Visitors are sometimes distressed by what they find when visiting the grave of a loved one soon after the burial. Many problems are unavoidable and it may help to know what happens as time passes:
The Council WILL permit
A controlled form of scattering, by either “strewn” or “interred”, but not scattered, sprinkled or spread.
Strewing is defined as the lifting of turf to allow the scattering of ashes on to the soil followed by the immediate replacement of the lifted turf.
Preference remains for ashes to be interred in a suitable container. The rules already define the limits to be 2 per cremated remains space or 6 per burial space.
Once strewn or interred, ashes must not be disturbed. A suitable container prevents disturbance. Therefore, once there has been one “strewing” in a particular space, there can be no further strewing or interment in that space.
In all cases, strewing or interment of ashes must be accompanied by appropriate permissions, certificates, fees and forms as already defined within the rules.
The Council will also permit the interment of ashes within the coffin of a relative when a full burial is taking place, with separate permissions, certificates, fees and forms as already defined within the rules.
What the Council will NOT permit
The Council will not permit the scattering of ashes on the surface of any grave spaces or within any other areas of Shaw Cemetery for the following reasons:
It may cause distress or offence to other Cemetery users.
Grounds maintenance machinery would not be able to operate on or around the area where the ashes were scattered, as they would disturb or remove the remains.
Difficulties in ensuring legal record keeping.
"Please contact the Town Council if you have any queries and every effort will be made to assist you"
Before a memorial of any kind is erected on a grave, a permit must be issued. This is a legal requirement.
Usually, all the arrangements are made by a Stone Mason on the family's behalf. However, this is not essential and a permit may be obtained from the Town Hall; council staff are available to offer assistance.
Designs, materials and inscriptions are vetted before a permit is issued.
In the interests of public safety, all memorials must be erected in accordance with the latest recommendations of the National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM). These recommendations are available to view at the Town Hall.
An ongoing process of memorial safety testing is in operation, as defined in the seperate Memorial Safety Policy available from the cemetery Office or the Town Hall.
Non-Standard Memorials, which include benches, planting of a tree or shurb in a designated area with the Cemetery, and maintaining a garden area around the base of an existing Cemetery tree. Application forms must be completed before any Non-Standard Memorial can be placed or planted.Non-standard Memorials that are gardens, or a garden area around the base of an existing Cemetery tree, must comply with the following regulations, which was approved by the Councils Community Services Committee meeting of Monday, 18 March 2013, are as follows:
These sketches are to be used as a guide, for what is permitted within the Cemetery, as the diameter of the tree bases will be different.
Please contact Newbury the Town Council if you have any queries and every effort will be made to assist you.
Newbury Town Council will always make every effort to contact the grave owner, should any issue arise.
Why is memorial stability testing necessary?
When will the testing be carried out?
How will the testing be carried out?
Will memorials be damaged by the stability testing?
Will memorials be laid flat?
Will memorials be removed from graves?
If you require further information on memorial stability testing please contact Services Dept, Newbury Town Council, Town Hall, Market Place, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5AA. Tel: 01635 35486
Rules and Regulations for the Management of Shaw Cemetery, Shaw Hill, Newbury
Hours of Interments
The hours for interments (for all denominations) are as follows:
Mondays (and days immediately following a Bank Holiday) 12noon to 4.00pm.
Tuesdays to Fridays 10.00am to 4.30pm
These hours will be shortened, at Newbury Town Council's discretion, during winter months, depending on sunset times.
No interment shall take place outside these hours, or on weekends, Good Fridays, Christmas Day or a Bank Holiday except in cases of special emergency or religious reasons and then only at an approved hour and on payment of an appropriate additional fee.
The person having charge of the funeral shall make all arrangements with the officiating clergyman, minister or representative. Newbury Town Council undertakes no responsibility in this matter.
Burials and Memorials.
No burial shall take place, no cremated human remains shall be interred, no tombstone or other memorial shall be placed in the Cemetery and no additional inscription shall be made on any tombstone or other memorial without the written permission of Newbury Town Council and after appropriate fees (if any) have been paid.
Notice of Interments.
Not less than two working days notice shall be given of any interment. If the above notice is not given, an extra charge for overtime and any additional expenditure will be made.
All notices of interment must be in writing on the forms provided by Newbury Town Council and requirements must be clearly and completely stated. The responsibility for any error therein is that of the person signing the notice, particularly so in cases where either the wrong fee is charged as a consequence or where additional fees are afterwards incurred.
Newbury Town Council will refuse to allow interments when there is reason to believe details given on the Notice are incorrect, the disposal certificate is not available for inspection to authenticate the identity of the person to be interred prior to the burial, or if the necessary Notice mentioned above has not been given.
Official Plan
A detailed plan of the Cemetery, showing the position of every grave, shall be kept at the Town Hall and the Cemetery Offices and may be inspected during normal office hours without charge.
Exclusive Right of Burial
Purchase of Exclusive Right of Burial does not purchase the associated plot of land, only the right to use that plot exclusively for the burial of remains or ashes.
It is advisable that once the owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial has been interred within the grave, then arrangement be made for transfer of ownership. No further burials, interments of cremated remains, additional inscriptions or installation of new memorials will be permitted until revised entitled ownership has been established.
No transfer of an Exclusive Right of Burial in any grave shall be deemed valid unless and until the same is verified and registered at the Town Hall.
Payment of Fees and Charges
All charges and fees payable for anything in connection with the Cemetery shall be paid to Newbury Town Council before an interment takes place, or any work commences. No receipt other than an official receipt issued by Newbury Town Council will be acceptable as proof of payment.
Receptacles for Flowers
Newbury Town Council reserves the right to remove any receptacle for flowers, which it considers unsuitable or unsightly, without notice. Glass, china or other easily breakable pots and bottles are highly dangerous, and are not permitted in the cemetery.
Glass Shades
No glass shade will be placed on any grave.
Monuments etc, only on Purchased Graves
No monument, gravestone or tablet will be allowed over any grave to which the Exclusive Right of Burial has not been purchased.
Erection of Monuments
A person shall not erect or fix or remove or re-erect any monument, gravestone, tablet, inscribed vase, kerb or railing in the Cemetery except with the written permission of Newbury Town Council and after the appropriate fees (if any) has been paid.
Monuments and Inscriptions to be approved
No monument shall exceed 3ft, 6ins (1.07 meters) in height. A person shall not erect or fix any monument or gravestone, tablet, or make or change any inscription thereon, or place therein any vase bearing an inscription in the Cemetery, without the approval of the Newbury Town Council and shall, before proceeding to erect or fix any such monument, gravestone, tablet or make any inscription thereon, or place any such vase bearing an inscription, furnish to Newbury Town Council a description and measurements of every such monument, gravestone, tablet, vase, kerb or railing, with copies of the proposed inscription thereon, together with a specification of the material and dimensions to be used. All installations must be in accordance with current NAMM recommendations.
Newbury Town Council will remove any unauthorised memorials, kerbs, railings, ornamentation or horticultural decoration. Newbury Town Council may recover the cost of removal of these items from the holder of The Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial to that grave, in accordance with the powers and procedures set out in Article 14 of The Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977.
Repairs to Graves and Monuments etc
The owners must keep all monuments, gravestones, tablets, kerbs or other memorials in repair. All repairs and reinstallations must be in accordance with current NAMM recommendations. In the event of any such monument etc., becoming dangerous, defective or illegible from want of repair or neglect, Newbury Town Council may, in accordance with the powers and procedures set out in Article 16(2) and Schedule 3 of the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977, give notice to the owner or owners, requiring them to repair or remove any such monument etc., and if, after the expiration of such notice, the owner or owners have failed to repair or remove any such defective or dangerous monument etc., or if Newbury Town Council is unable to trace the owner(s) after taking such reasonable steps as it may consider necessary for that purpose, then Newbury Town Council may remove the same without any rights of the owner or owners to any compensation for so doing.
An ongoing process of memorial safety testing is in operation, as defined in the separate Memorial Safety Policy available from the Cemetery Office or the Town Hall.
Surplus Soil
The surplus soil excavated from any grave or vault is to be deposited on such part of the Cemetery as Newbury Town Council may determine.
Damage
If any damage is done to Newbury Town Council's land or premises by bringing in any materials, gravestones, or monument or from any other cause, the person or persons doing such damage will be held responsible for the same and Newbury Town Council may recover the cost of repairing such damage from such person or persons and in addition take proceedings under Article 18 of the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977.
Workmen not admitted on Saturdays, Sundays etc
No workman employed in fixing, painting or restoring monuments or gravestones will be admitted or materials received into the Cemetery on Saturdays, Sundays, Christmas Day, Good Friday, Bank Holidays or on any other day before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
Depth of Private Graves
No private grave will be made deeper than 7ft (2.13 meters) but Newbury Town Council, if they find it impracticable (owing to drainage or other cause) to dig so deep as 7ft (2.13 meters) in any particular grave space, reserve the right to specify the maximum depth which can be dug. All coffins or other receptacles shall be buried in accordance with the requirements of Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Local Authorities Order 1977. A 7ft (2.13 meters) grave allows two earth burials. in addition, up to six sets of cremated remains are permitted per full burial plot.
Plots for cremated remains are excavated to a depth of 18 inches (0.46 meters). Up to two sets of cremated remains are permitted per cremated remains plot.
Grave Number on Monuments
The identification number of a grave must be cut at the foot of all monuments or gravestones so as to be visible when erected. All memorials must comply with current NAMM recommendations.
Conduct
Visitors to the Cemetery are asked to conduct themselves in such a way as to respect the privacy of other visitors in order that a quiet and peaceful environment may be maintained for the benefit of all.
Dogs must be kept on leads when within the cemetery and any clearing up required is responsibility of the handler.
Planting
The planting of plants, shrubs and trees (however small) is not permitted.
Damaged Wreaths
Broken or damaged wreaths, ornaments or memorials shall be deemed litter and not allowed to remain on any grave in the cemetery. Newbury Town Council shall be at liberty to remove the same if the owner fails to do so. All dead floral tributes will be removed from graves at Newbury Town Council's discretion if the owner first fails to do so.
Special Christmas tributes are removed at a set time after Christmas, on the date as posted on a separate notice at the Cemetery.
Gratuities
No gratuities shall be demanded by any officer or servant of Newbury Town Council
Maintenance
As soon as convenient after the interment of a body or cremated remains Newbury Town Council shall sow grass seed or lay turf at its own expense over the whole of the grave. Thereafter no person other than the duly authorised officers or servants of Newbury Town Council shall interfere with or alter the turfed or unturfed areas of the grave except for the purpose of a further interment therein.
Grass Cutting
Newbury Town Council shall keep the turfed areas mown at its own expense, but will not undertake to keep clean or maintain memorials, which matter shall be the responsibility of the owner.
Memorials
No flat stones laid horizontally, nor memorials, metal vases, chippings, railings, fencing, kerbs or other structures enclosing graves, other than headstones are permitted in lawn sections of the cemetery. In particular, the erection of decorative borders is not permitted.(Please contact Newbury Town Council if in any doubt)
Wooden memorials
A wooden memorial may be erected over any grave to which Exclusive Right of Burial has been purchased and prior consent has been given by Newbury Town Council. Newbury Town Council will remove any wooden memorial for which prior consent has not been obtained. such wooden memorials shall be of hardwood or good quality softwood. the surfaces shall be dressed to a smooth finish. Any inscription on the memorial shall be properly carved into the face of the memorial or by means of an inscribed brass plate affixed to the face of the memorial.
There was a previous limit in place of six months for a wooden memorial. That limit is now removed, but rule (12) now also applies to wooden memorials.
Games
The playing of ball, or any other games or sport within the cemetery is strictly prohibited, in accordance with Article 18 (1) (e) of The Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977.
Newbury Town Council by virtue of its powers under the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977 adopted the foregoing Rules and Regulations.
These rules and regulations will be applied and enforced by the cemetery staff under the guidance of the cemeteries officer based at the Town Hall, with the support of management and Members of Newbury Town Council.