My Dad's Headstone

reeree

my dad was buried 20 years ago in the local graveyard he had a beautiful headstone and we were very happy with it, the other day my mum got a letter from the council saying that my dad's headstone and all the others in the graveyard needed re erecting for safety reasons and that they had 30 days to comply,
My mum phoned the original stonemason and was told that they would anquarage the foundation system and reguild the inscription on the head stone (which it dosent need) for this they want to charge £464 they want a 75% deposit and the rest when its done, my mum simply can't afford this as shes a pensioner on limited income, my question is has anyone heard of this before, thanks in advance

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Have you got quotes from other stonemasons to compare?

sassyblue

Hi reeree, yes it happens alot, the council has to make sure the headstones stay safe so they don't topple on anyone walking around it.

No need to go to a stonemason, have you got a builder who could do it? It sounds like it's just the foundation which is just some concrete that needs laying and the headstone mounting on top again.

As you said the lettering doesn't need doing so ignore the stonemasons quote.

pigpen

A lot of cemetaries are asking people to get work done.. mainly because morons go around and push them over and cause untold damage.. even breaking some stones.

Ask for the quote without the guilding.. they are just trying to con more money out of you... and go to a few more than just 1.

Basically they are going to take the stone out, dig a hole.. fill it with concrete poke a couple of dowels into it and resite the headstone..

if you are anywhere near Yorkshire I know someone..

bluenoseam

It's not uncommon, my local council decided to do this 4 years ago but in their infinite wisdom & excellent judgement decided to send said letter out and it arrived on the anniversary of my Dad's death! (needless to say my local council heard me very loud & very clear just exactly how unhappy i was at the situation - i've never seen a council worker move so quickly in all my days!) It's perfectly reasonable, but like someone said you DON'T need to take the Stonemason's quote, the grim reality is that they'll take every penny they can get, speak to the staff at the graveyard & see if they know anyone reasonable, fortunately for us Mum knew one of the gravediggers who put us onto someone who did it at a fraction of the cost the council's recommended stonemason quoted.

delain

That's true Bluenoseam, the man who works in the cemetery here is lovely and would be happy to talk anyone through what is and isn't a reasonable price even re funeral arrangements, he's a really nice bloke.

I haven't heard of it happening here though, and the cemetery I'm thinking of has large 200 year old memorials!

DUKE

Yes, I've heard of this. In fact I'm keeping an eye on my Dad's as I've a feeling that it's mysteriously going to become unsafe. I strongly suspect they damage them themselves to make money.

escortg3

reeree wrote: »

my dad was buried 20 years ago in the local graveyard he had a beautiful headstone and we were very happy with it, the other day my mum got a letter from the council saying that my dad's headstone and all the others in the graveyard needed re erecting for safety reasons and that they had 30 days to comply,
My mum phoned the original stonemason and was told that they would anquarage the foundation system and reguild the inscription on the head stone (which it dosent need) for this they want to charge £464 they want a 75% deposit and the rest when its done, my mum simply can't afford this as shes a pensioner on limited income, my question is has anyone heard of this before, thanks in advance

Private message sent:)

meritaten

its become dangerous after only twenty years? bit hard to believe if the graveyard has been maintained properly - or was it that the gravediggers didnt fill it in properly? has anyone actually seen it? dont take the councils word for it reeree. go see for yourself, it could be that everyone they could contact has had this letter! If you suspect that the grave is unsafe because its sinking inward then I would suspect it wasnt filled in properly. Vandalism is a different matter and you would need legal advice as to whether its the councils/churches concern or those who paid for the grave. (what are they doing about those with no living relatives?
Investigate a bit hun
I spend a lot of time in graveyards (Family History) and a grave thats only twenty years old should be looking pristine. I wouldnt be paying out just because of a letter saying I should about a relatively new grave.