How long can I buy a grave for?
In our cemeteries we offer several types of grave. The exclusive right of burial is sold for either 30 years or 90 years, depending on the burial type and location, and renewable on a 10 yearly basis after this time. These are known as 'purchased graves'.

Who can buy a grave?
Any one can purchase a grave in one of the three Council Cemeteries. Non-residents of Maldon District will pay a non residency fee. 

When can burials take place?
Interments can take place on Mondays to Fridays between 9:30am and 2:30pm from 1 October to 28 February and between 9:30am and 3:30pm from 1 March to 30 September (excluding Bank Holidays) Saturday interments are permitted between 10am – 12noon at a supplementary charge. Please talk to your Funeral Director or contact us to discuss any specific needs.

What types of graves are available?
Lawn burials and ashes interments are available in all three cemeteries.  At Maldon and Burnham-on-Crouch cemeteries we offer Woodland Glade graves.  In Maldon cemetery we also have the Primrose Garden area for child and baby graves.

Ashes interments can take place in the Gardens of Remembrance, Parklands and Woodland Glade areas.

Lawn grave spaces
These allow the owner of the grave to put a full headstone and surround on the grave after burial.

All memorials of this type must be built on a concrete base or 'landing'. 

Owners may also plant a garden area within their grave.

Can I bury cremated remains in the cemeteries?
Yes, there are memorial gardens for cremated remains at each of our cemeteries. Cremated remains can also be placed in purchased graves.

Are all the graves on consecrated ground?
All of our cemeteries have consecrated (blessed as sacred) areas where you can buy graves. The consecrated ground is consecrated by the Church of England.

What is the difference between unpurchased and purchased graves?
Unpurchased grave
An unpurchased grave, sometimes known as a public or common grave, is where the right to burial has not been bought and the Council has total control of the grave. These graves can be bought within three years of the last burial.

The Council will decide who will be buried in the grave and this might not be members of the same family. No memorial rights exist on public graves so no headstone or other memorial can be put up.

Purchased grave
A purchased grave is where the right of burial can be bought for a period of 30 years, with an option to re-new on a 10 yearly basis.

The owner of the right of burial can decide who will be buried in the grave and must sign for any memorial to be placed on the grave as allowed in line with our cemetery regulations.

How much will it cost?
Please download a copy of the charges from the download area.

Memorials
We know how important memorials are as a lasting symbol of remembrance. We offer technical advice and help to make sure that all memorials meet cemetery regulations.

The Neat & Tidy Scheme

At Maldon District Council we take pride in our cemeteries.  They are of the utmost importance as they remind us of the history of our community, they are places where wildlife can flourish undisturbed and where friends and relatives such as yourself can come to mourn and remember.

We are committed to keeping the cemeteries clean and tidy and have given much thought to their development.

We understand that as the owner of the Exclusive Rights of Burial it is not always easy or practical to make regular visits to maintain an individual grave.

We are therefore pleased to offer a maintenance scheme to help you cherish those you loved and lost.

For a small charge, we will maintain your burial plot twice yearly.  This will include levelling, turfing and general horticultural maintenance.  A further option of seasonal bedding can also be arranged.