Grave stone

Chunkyfathead

Hi

Simple question needs to be asked is how much is everyone prepared to pay... thats thats the big question, most stone masons want 50% deposit before carry work out and the rest paid before the stone is fitted....

Don't forget its not just the case of the fee for the stone, lettering and fixing, but then theres a cemetery permit fee and VAT......

End of the day you could go to a mason direct and pay cash to avoid the VAT issue and then you don't have to go for a headstone.... a simple raised tablet with a simple inscription names and dates size 18" x 18" would surfice

McKneff

I believe you also have to buy the land as well

BobQ

McKneff wrote: »

I believe you also have to buy the land as well

I doubt it. Otherwise they would have a strange ownership structure in a cemetery.

Savvy_Sue

You don't exactly buy the land, but you only have the right to leave the ashes / body in it for a limited amount of time. At the end of that time, your descendants / representatives would have to pay again, or risk someone else arriving.

I think it's 99 years but I'd have to check the piece of paper for Dad's ashes. We have a tree with space for four sets of ashes around it,but we don't have that right in perpetuity. When we add mum's ashes next year we'll get another 99 years or however long it is.

Note that this isn't in a churchyard, but I have a feeling it's the same for graves.

jackyann

I think you & dh need a conversation about who wants what and what you are prepared to pay.
If the family as a whole are not bothered, then really, you have to accept it.
If a small number want one, then they have to agree to pay, and accept that for some of the siblings it is not as important as a new washing machine, the kids' school uniform, or a holiday.

If that would cause ill feeling, then best leave it lie.

You don't say whether for oyou it is a sense of "what is right & proper" or whether you were fond of them and wish to mark their lives this way.
If the former, leave it to the children. If the latter, imagine having conversation with them, and how they would want it dealt with.

BobQ

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

You don't exactly buy the land, but you only have the right to leave the ashes / body in it for a limited amount of time. At the end of that time, your descendants / representatives would have to pay again, or risk someone else arriving.

I think it's 99 years but I'd have to check the piece of paper for Dad's ashes. We have a tree with space for four sets of ashes around it,but we don't have that right in perpetuity. When we add mum's ashes next year we'll get another 99 years or however long it is.

Note that this isn't in a churchyard, but I have a feeling it's the same for graves.

My local cemetery charged £250 five years ago for a 25 year lease. This covered the right to bury (up to three bodies) and inter ashes and erect a stone. The licence had all sorts of restrictions on it. It was a racket because even though after three bodies the grave is closed you have to pay the licence if the headstone falls over (as well as the cost or re-installing it) assuming you want to make it good