What to do in order to have cremated remains interred in a grave in a cemetery

Due to the demand for something more permanent by way of memorial, or the comfort of knowing that your loved ones will be ‘together’ when the time comes, you can arrange to have ashes interred in a grave in a cemetery.

Cremated remains sections are available in the following cemeteries:

• Blaydon
• Hookergate
• Garden House
• Saltwell
• Birtley
• Heworth Burn

Ashes may also be buried in full graves. New full graves would need to be purchased in advance of the burial. If there is an existing used grave and space is available, ashes can be buried here without the need to have purchased the grave beforehand.

The cremated remains grave spaces are smaller than that for full graves, but can hold up to 4 individual caskets of ashes.

The deeds to the grave do not have to be purchased prior to the ashes being interred but they must be obtained before any fixed memorial is allowed.

Information regarding memorials is available from the Cemeteries Office.

Things you need to know to enable ashes to be buried (interred)

It may sound rather strange but you must have the ashes!

They must be in a wooden or biodegradable casket, which bears a name-plate and date of death of the deceased.

A cremation certificate is also necessary should the ashes have been cremated outside of the Gateshead Borough.

This would have been given to you with the ashes after the cremation

For any cremations, which have taken place at Saltwell or Birtley Crematorium this is not needed.

The Cemeteries Office needs to be contacted to arrange to book in a date and time for the interment to take place. At least 48hrs notice is needed to allow time for the grave to be prepared and for the paperwork to be completed.

A 'Notice of Interment' form, which you will receive from the Cemeteries Office, or can be downloaded on the right of the page, must be completed and signed by the person applying to have the ashes interred. In any instance where the deeds to the grave have been purchased, the grave owner or his/her representative must be the person responsible for doing this.

Deeds have to be brought to the Cemeteries Office, with the notice of burial, in order to be updated.

Should the deeds be misplaced or lost a signed indemnity form will have to be submitted with the notice of burial. The indemnity form can be downloaded on the right of the page, or a copy can be obtained from our office.

The fees for the interment must be paid before 10.00am on the day prior to the proposed burial.

On the day of the burial you will be met by the cemetery operative who will show you to the graveside and carry out the interment.

Summary of things you need to know

You must have the cremated remains in the appropriate casket bearing a nameplate of the deceased.

The cremation certificate must be produced when necessary.

The Cemeteries Office must be given at least 48hrs notice of the proposed date and time of the burial.

The 'notice of burial' form must be completed and returned to the Cemeteries Office, together with the appropriate payment, no later than 10.00am on the day preceding the burial. Burials booked in for a Monday, by 10.00am on the Thursday before.

Should you decide to purchase the deeds to the grave, information can be obtained from the Cemeteries Office. It is also available on our graves| page.

Please note that all of the details relating to a burial and a grave must be confirmed as correct by the Cemeteries and Crematoria Office before any interment of cremated remains can be carried out.