Cemeteries and Crematorium

For the safety of our staff and customers and to help minimise the spread of the coronavirus, the following provides information on how our service has adapted following Public Health England and Government advice.

Regulations do not specify a maximum number of attendees but states that a modest number of close friends and family of the deceased may attend a funeral. The guidance allows the venue to determine the maximum number of attendees based on venue capacity and the requirement to allow social distancing, therefore there is a restricted maximum attendance of 20 people per cremation service within the Chapel building, this will allow 12 seated in the main chapel and up to 8 standing in the overflow area.

Mourners are asked to sit at least 2 metres apart if not part of the same family and the chapel is sanitised following each service.

No other persons should be in attendance and it is discouraged for people to congregate outside of the chapel and the surrounding areas.

Any individual with symptoms of coronavirus must follow government guidelines to stay at home and not attend a funeral service.

From Monday 10 August 2020, updated guidance relating to face coverings has been issued and face coverings will become mandatory whilst inside the chapel.

Singing, chanting, raised voices and playing of instruments which are blown should also be avoided in the chapel building and the curtains will be closed at committal to prevent touching of the coffin on exit.

Access to the grounds is still available but social distancing should still be observed.

The Book of Remembrance Hall is currently closed and will reopen as soon as possible following government guidance, you can view book entries online.

Burial services within the cemeteries are also taking place, again with restricted attendance as for cremation, with graveside service only, it is asked social distancing at the graveside is fully observed.

The Cemetery Office at the Town Hall is closed for public access, however should you require contact with the office, please call 01325 406744 or email:

[email protected]

If requests could be limited to current working arrangements, current funeral services rather than family history requests, this would assist greatly at this time.

Information on registering a death

You can find information on bereavement support on the COVID-19 health and wellbeing page

Fees

Cremation and burial fees
Memorial fees

Cremation and burial fees April 2020 - April 2021

Cremation and burial fees
Cremation (VAT exempt)
A baby not exceeding twelve months	No fee
A child exceeding twelve months but not exceeding eighteen years (this fee includes £20 for medical referee fees)	No fee
A person whose age at the time of death exceeds eighteen years (this fee includes £20 for medical referee fees and £55 environmental surcharge)	£900
After post mortem remains	£200

The above includes: scattering of cremated remains within our gardens of remembrance at an unreserved time; certificate of cremation; use of organ (own organist to be arranged); use of chapel (20 minutes), waiting room, recorded music (in and out only) and all attendance after coffin is placed on catafalque by funeral director.

Additional charges
Additional Charges (VAT exempt)
Scattering of cremated remains at a reserved time	£45
Extended use of crematorium chapel (20 minutes)	£100
Medical referee fees	£20
Environmental surcharge	£55

Urn charges
Urns
Biodegradable Urn	£80
Wooden casket	£50
Plastic urn (Postal carton)	£20
Metal urn	£40
Baby urn	£10
Baby box	£3

Interment charges
Interment (VAT exempt)
A baby not exceeding twelve months	No Fee
A child exceeding twelve months but not exceeding eighteen years	No fee
A person whose age at the time of death exceeds eighteen years	£900
Interment of cremated remains	£200

For the interment in a grave in respect of which the exclusive right of burial HAS NOT been granted, the fees will be trebled where the person interred is not a resident of the Borough of Darlington at the time of death. For an interment in a grave which the exclusive right of burial HAS been granted. The fees will be doubled where the person interred is not a resident of the Borough of Darlington at the time of death.

Exclusive burial charges
Exclusive Burial Rights (VAT exempt)
Exclusive right of burial for a period of 50 years (Double depth graves are excavated unless single sites are specifically requested)	£900
Half plot (for cremated remains)	£450
Quarter plot (for cremated remains or baby)	£225

This fee will be doubled if purchased by a non resident of Darlington prior to an interment.

Additional charges
Additional charges
Exhumation of a body (excluding re-interment)	£2000
Exhumation of cremated remains (excluding re-interment)	£500
Scattering cremated remains on a grave	£45
Use of West cemetery chapel	£100
Indemnity form (including issue of duplicate grant of right of burial)	£45
Interment of after post mortem remains	£200
Initial grave maintenance charges (traditional sites only)	£50
Annual grave maintenance (traditional sites only)	£36

Memorial rights
Cemetery memorial rights
Permit to erect headstone/memorial in accordance with current regulations	£220
Kerbs - traditional sites only	£100
Vase - with inscription	£80
- which does not include a surname or date (This is the only option available for unpurchased sites)	No fee
Additional inscription	£80

In addition to the above a charge may be made for work done by the cemetery Staff for setting out and any other work connected with erection of memorials.

The right to erect or place a memorial on a grave or vault can only be carried out in respect of gravesites where the exclusive right of burial has been granted. The charges include i) checking of paperwork and issuing of a memorial grant; ii) inspection of memorials periodically to ensure stability and safety to other cemetery users.

The fees will be doubled if the memorial is for a person who was a non resident at time of death.

Memorial fees April 2020 - April 2021

Book of remembrance charges
Book of remembrance
Single entry (2 lines)	£70
Double entry (3 or 4 lines)	£110
Each additional line	£25
Five lines of text with coat of arms/floral emblem	£250

More information about the book of remembrance

Memorial card charges
Memorial cards
Charge per card with a 2 line inscription	£25
Charge per card with a 3 or 4 line inscription	£30
Each additional line	£5
Coat of Arms or Floral Emblem	£70
Personal Photographs - set up	£50
Additional Photographs - after set up	£10

Miniature memorial book charges
Miniature memorial books
Charge per book with a 2 line inscription	£80
Charge per book with a 3 or 4 line inscription	£85
Each additional line	£5
Coat of Arms or Floral Emblem	£70
Personal Photographs - set up	£50
Additional Photographs - after set up	£10

Triptych charges
Triptych
Charge per book with a 2 line inscription	£67
Charge per book with a 3 or 4 line inscription	£72
Each additional line	£5
Coat of Arms or Floral Emblem	£70
Personal Photographs - set up	£50
Additional Photographs - after set up	£10

Memorial plaque or planter charges
Memorial plaque and Planter
Option	7 years	14 years	21 years
Wall (3 lines) - relief	£245	£365	£465
Wall (3 lines) - gold	£305	£425	£525
Planter (3 lines)	£365	£485	£585
Wall (6 lines) - relief	£365	£485	£585
Wall (6 lines) - gold	£420	£540	£640
Replacement plaques - 3 Line red/black relief - £145
Replacement plaques - 3 Line black/gold - £205
Replacement plaques - 6 Line red/black Relief - £215
Replacement plaques - 6 Line black/gold - £270

Memorial kerb vase charges
Memorial kerb vase
New kerb vases (children's garden of remembrance only)	£470
Replacement flower holders	£5
Replacement kerb vase plaques	£300

Methods of Payment

CASH, CHEQUE, CREDIT CARD, DEBIT CARD, POSTAL ORDER OR GIRO

In person – Customer Contact Centre, Town Hall, Darlington

Monday – Thursday 9.00am – 4.30pm

Friday 9.00am – 4.00pm

By post - Payment should be made by crossed cheque or postal order and payable to Darlington Borough Council. If credit card payment is preferable then please complete the form below. Completed applications can then be posted to:

Cemetery & Crematorium Manager, Town Hall, Darlington. DL1 5QT

Darlington DL1 5RF

Fees and payment form [pdf document]