Hexham Cemetery
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The Council owned cemetery is more correctly known as St Andrew's Cemetery and is situated on the west road leading from Hexham towards Haydon Bridge and Carlisle on the B6531 and is about 1 ½ miles from the centre of the town. There is a bus stop outside the main gates on the Hexham, Haltwhistle and Carlisle route.

The Cemetery first opened for burials in 1859. Originally there were two Chapels, one for burial services under the established Church of England, the other for Other Religions. Nowadays only one Chapel, the western one, is used for Burial Services and the other Chapel is no longer used, save for storage.

The Cemetery was last enlarged around 1960 when extra land to the west was acquired and this land is now in use. It is expected the present land will be sufficient for about 25 more years.

Woodland Burials

In a west facing, but hidden part of the Cemetery, the Council has created a Woodland Burial area. It was one of the first Woodland Burial sites in the United Kingdom and the Council is very proud to have been in the forefront of this method of burial. There have been a number of other woodland burial cemeteries created since Hexham began but none, to our knowledge, is situated in such a beautiful spot. It is next to the Spital golf course and has views across the Tyne valley to the North Tyne valley. It is surrounded by mature trees and because it is in a dip in the land it cannot be seen from most of the remainder of the Cemetery. It is very peaceful and the trees planted over the years are maturing nicely and in the spring and summer their foliage is a haven for many birds and occasionally red squirrels. There are always pheasants and rabbits too and then of course the foxes, weasels and stoats follow them. Roe deer graze the land also but you have to be up very early to see them even though they are quite common.

In the Woodland Burial area, like in other parts of the Cemetery, any foliage or flowers laid on graves is eaten, usually overnight, by the wildlife. Please remember this if you are thinking of laying a wreath or flower spray on a grave. In the Woodland area we cannot allow any flowers to be planted on a grave nor can you delineate the grave plot in any way. The only decoration allowed is the marker stone. Naturally when a Woodland Burial takes place there are of course flowers and wreaths laid on the grave plot but remember firstly the wildlife’s appetite for fresh flowers and secondly the Cemetery rule which removes all wreaths etc for disposal 14 days after a burial has taken place.
Every burial that takes place in the woodland area means the Council plants another tree in the area and in a few years we shall have a very beautiful wood. The only indication of each burial is the small marker stone laid flat on the ground and of course the tree. You should come along and visit, you will like it we’re sure. You don’t have to stay you know, looking is all you need to do!

Families often move away from Hexham and find they can no longer tend their loved one's grave and a woodland burial is one way you can ensure your loved ones are buried in an area that looks as lovely today as it will in the future. The tree we plant is usually at the grave plot but this is not always possible, it is after all intended to be a wood and as trees mature and are tended over at least fifty years they need to be thinned as time passes.

The cost of a Woodland burial is inclusive in that the charge includes the burial casket, the tree and the grave marker stone. You can add your own engraving on the marker stone; you can use your own burial casket so long as it is made of natural material, such as timber or even cardboard. The burial caskets the Council provide and which come as part of the charge are made from bamboo. There are no plastics, resins, MDF, chipboard or similar materials allowed in woodland burial caskets and no embalming either for any burials in the woodland area. Unless you use the Council supplied burial casket you must obtain permission before using another type of material for your own burial casket. Your family can [and some have] carry out the funeral themselves; the Council will dig and fill in the plot and then you carry out the burial in any way you choose. We have had one funeral hearse that was the family estate car. The Council would have to supervise any informal burial to ensure everyone carries it out in safety but the rest is up to you.
Tree planting takes place in the autumn and the tree is a usually a broad leaf English variety and it may be planted anywhere in the woodland area. You can provide your own tree if you wish but you must have permission for the species you want to use and the Council will then arrange the planting.

CEMETERY CHARGES.
View the current list of charges for the various services in the Cemetery.

Remember if you do not live within the Hexham Parish boundary you pay the Standard Charge. This is nearly always more than the charge for a Parish resident and this is because the Council is only able to raise its expenditure from the Council Taxpayers of Hexham. This is the reason Hexham Council taxpayers have a separate Parish Resident charge.

SOME RULES [BUT NOT FOR THE WOODLAND BURIAL AREA].
Unfortunately some rules are needed but we do try to make as few as possible. These are the main ones:

The usual size of a grave plot is 2.74m X 1.22m. The standard depth of a grave is 1.55m. For every additional 0.3m of depth there is an additional charge. A standard depth grave can only be used for one burial. An extra deep grave is usually requested when it is expected another family member is to be buried in the same plot later. You can usually also purchase the adjoining plot but this is not always possible, it depends upon the site requested, ground conditions etc.

To purchase the grave plot there is an additional charge and the purchase means the plot is yours for the next 99 years. If the plot is not purchased it may be used again in the future without notice to you or your family and they cannot erect any memorial/headstone. If they do purchase the plot they can then erect a memorial/headstone but they have to pay a charge which gives permission for the memorial/headstone to be sited there for the next 30 years. This period is renewable ad infinitum but the Council inspects the memorial/headstone regularly to ensure it is safe. If it is found on an inspection not to be in a safe condition then you must immediately make it safe or the Council will have to remove it.

HEADSTONES/MEMORIALS
A few years ago a child was killed at a cemetery when playing and since then many burial authorities have worried about what they can do to prevent such a tragedy happening again. Headstones erected in the past were often left, or became, dangerous but we can assure you every single headstone throughout Hexham Cemetery has been checked and if needs be has been made safe. For a number of years now the Council has been carrying out a repair programme so all the headstones that were once considered dangerous have been made safe. A continuing inspection [and repair] programme of all memorials and headstones ensures they will remain safe.

Hexham Town Council was the first Council in Northumberland to design a specification to ensure every new memorial in Hexham Cemetery is erected in a manner that ensures it will remain safe in the future. All memorials now have to be designed to agree with the Councils memorial fixing specification. There is an under surface reinforced concrete foundation adjoining the grave plots and the memorial/headstone s is fixed to this foundation using a specially designed and patented ‘shoe’ that ensures the memorial/headstone will not lean, fall or move in any way. This fixing system also makes it very easy to remove the memorial/headstone if additional inscriptions are to be added to it in the future.

Every monumental mason permitted to carry out any work in the Cemetery has to abide by the Council’s rules and its memorial fixing specification which ensures every new memorial complies and this means safe and secure memorials in the future.

The Council has a fairly relaxed viewpoint about the design of memorials and although permission has to be requested for all memorials, no reasonable design has been refused for many years. But the size of a headstone must not exceed 1.22m in width.

GRAVE KERBS
The kerbing once common around grave plots is no longer allowed as the currently used section of the cemetery is a lawned area, cut with modern mower machinery and grave kerbs give problems with maintenance.

FLOWERS
You must remember our wildlife, they love fresh flowers and overnight they will eat them and leave the stalks so neat you would think they had cut the flowers off with scissors! There are some varieties they do not like as much but to be fair, if they are hungry no flower is safe. If you use artificial flowers please realise if and when they become faded and discoloured they may be removed and disposed of by our staff.

GRAVE DECORATION
No decorations are allowed on any graves. Please assist the Council and keep the Cemetery a place for everyone to enjoy the peace and tranquil surroundings. If you must put a sentimental item on a plot then it must be placed on the apron of the headstone/memorial, not on the grave itself.

SOME RULES FOR THE WOODLAND BURIAL AREA.
The charge for a Woodland burial is inclusive in that the charge includes the burial casket, a tree planting and the grave marker stone as well as the digging and filling of the grave. You can add your own engraving on the marker stone; you can use your own burial casket so long as it is made of natural material, such as timber or even cardboard. The burial caskets the Council provide and which come as part of the charge are made from bamboo. There are no plastics, resins, MDF, chipboard or similar materials allowed in any woodland burial caskets and no embalming either for any burials in the woodland area. Unless you use the Council supplied burial casket you must obtain permission before using any other type of material for your own burial casket. There is no reduction in the charge for any type of woodland burial even if the Council does not supply or provide every item covered by the charge.

Your family can, and some have, carry out the funeral themselves; the Council will dig and fill in the plot and then you carry out the burial in any way you choose. The Council would have to supervise any informal burial to ensure everyone carries it out in safety but the rest is up to you. Most families however still employ an undertaker and there of course many in the Hexham area and all are familiar with our Woodland burial scheme.
Tree planting takes place in the autumn and the tree is a usually a broad leaf English variety and it may be planted anywhere in the woodland area. You can provide your own tree if you wish but you must have permission for the species you want to use and the Council will then arrange the planting. Your family can attend the tree planting if they want to make a little ceremony of it.

A Woodland burial plot is size 3.66m by 1.22m. Only a single burial is allowed in a woodland burial plot so if another family member or members are to be buried nearby you must purchase the adjoining plot[s] at the same time. One advantage of this is that there is no additional cost in the future as the charge, which you will remember includes the casket, marker stone and tree planting, is already paid, whenever the adjoining plot is needed. Ashes may also be buried at a reduced charge provided they are buried in the section that has been set aside.

There is a reduced charge for burial of the body or ashes of a child [under 12 years] provided it is in the area set aside for child burials and the Council only provides a casket for ashes. Thankfully such burials are rare which is why no child size caskets are provided unless at least two working days notice is given that a child size casket is needed.
No decorations are allowed on any woodland area grave. Please assist the Council and keep the Woodland area a place for everyone to enjoy its peace and tranquillity.

SOME GENERAL RULES
The Council acts under the Local Authorities Cemetery Order 1977 [as amended]. In any matter relating to the Cemetery, the Council’s decision is final.

The Council can prune or remove any plant shrub, grass or tree without notice or compensation if it considers it necessary for the good order and running of the Cemetery.
Motor cars and Dogs [which must be held on a lead] are not permitted in the Cemetery without the prior permission of the Council.

DISABLED ACCESS
If you have difficulty in accessing any part of the Cemetery let any member of our staff know and we will be pleased to assist. A wheelchair, access ramps and disabled toilet facility are available and permission to access most areas by car can be arranged, just ask.

SUGGESTIONS
The Council is always happy to consider any suggestions for the better management of the Cemetery so please send them to us at the Council Offices, St Andrew's Cemetery, West Road, Hexham, NE46 3RR. Hexham Cemetery is a place for your pleasant memories; please help us to help you to enjoy your visits. We cannot promise to act on every suggestion but we will look at every suggestion made very carefully.

COMPLAINTS
If you have a complaint please tell the Council. First of all speak with the Cemetery Superintendent but if he does not provide you with a satisfactory response then write to the Council at the address above. The Council has a procedure to deal with any complaint which is set out in the Council Standing Orders at Paragraph 36.

DIRECTIONS
Ask any member of the Cemetery staff and they will be happy to show you the various sections in the Cemetery and to try to answer any of your questions.

OPENING HOURS
The Cemetery is open to visitors every day between 9.00AM and 6.00PM [or dusk if earlier]. At weekends there is no access for vehicles though vehicular access may be possible if staff are available and provided you contact the Cemetery Superintendent at least 48 hours before access is required.

The Cemetery Manager is normally available for enquiries Monday to Friday [Bank Holidays excepted] between 9.00 AM and 3.00 PM and by telephoning 07710053732.

The Cemetery Superintendent is normally available for enquiries Monday to Friday [Bank Holidays excepted] between 9.00 AM and 3.00 PM and by telephoning 07891101236.

RESEARCH YOUR FAMILY TREE
The Council cannot assist in this but it does have burial records going back to 1869. Before that date you need to search Church Parish Records. You need to contact the Church nearest to where the burial took place. Northumberland Records Office also has many records and papers. It also holds many of the records of Hexham Cemetery because we pass these on to the County Record Office fairly regularly. Please try County Records first in your research.

If you want to personally call at our office to carry out your research of the records we hold it attracts a charge unless you have the exact details of name and date of death/burial. See the current charges list. In addition you must contact the Council first because staff need to be available to see you, remember funerals take place and staff are not always available. A prior appointment will prevent any disappointment. If you want to email your enquiry then do so [email] but please remember it may not be possible to answer every family tree research query and we may also have to make a charge.

Unless there are special circumstances the fees shown will not be altered until after the 1st April following. Please check the date at the end of the page for the current issue.

You can check the fee[s] payable for any of the headings just by telephoning the numbers shown.

May 2009