Fees and charges
Cemeteries
Interment (during normal working hours)
| Adult (18 years of age or over) Depth for up to two burials. Does not include exclusive rights of burial. | £1,171 |
| Child up to 18 years of age (including still-born and NVF) Does not include exclusive rights of burial. | No charge |
| Additional fee for grave taken out of rotation | £103 |
| Cremated remains in any grave. Does not include exclusive rights of burial. | £338 |
| Late arrival for interment (charge for every 15 minutes) | £77 |
Interment (outside of normal working hours - only permitted in exceptional circumstances - no interments will take place on bank holidays)
| Interment between 2.15 and 4pm Monday to Thursday, and 1.45 and 4pm Friday | £1,471 |
Non-resident interment charges
A non-resident surcharge will apply where the deceased is regarded as a non-resident of Gateshead (resided outside the Borough of Gateshead) at the time of their death. Exemptions apply in circumstances where:
- the deceased had moved to receive specialist care which was not available in the Borough of Gateshead
- the death occurred within 12 months of moving out of the Borough
- the deceased was a serving member of the armed forces living in temporary accommodation whose next of kin still resides in the Borough
| Full interment (deceased is resident and exclusive right of burial purchaser non-resident) | £1171 |
| Full interment (deceased non-resident and exclusive right of burial purchaser resident) | £1171 |
| Full interment (deceased and exclusive right of burial purchaser are both non-resident) | £2342 |
| Interment of cremated remains (deceased is resident and exclusive right of burial purchaser non-resident) | £338 |
| Interment of cremated remains (deceased non-resident and exclusive right of burial purchaser resident) | £338 |
| Interment of cremated remains(deceased and exclusive right of burial purchaser are both non-resident) | £676 |
Exclusive rights of burial
Purchasing the exclusive rights of burial gives the purchaser complete control over further burials in the grave (if space allows) and over any memorials that maybe placed on the grave (following submission of an application to Gateshead Council). The exclusive rights of burial does not grant ownership of the grave. The period of the exclusive rights of burial in total must not exceed 90 years.
| Full grave (purchased at time of burial) - 50 years | £1,007 |
| Full grave (purchased at time of burial) - 60 years | £1,208 |
| Full grave (purchased at time of burial) - 70 years | £1410 |
| Full grave (purchased at time of burial) - 80 years | £1,609 |
| Full grave (purchased at time of burial) - 90 years | £1,813 |
| Cremated remains section (purchased at time of burial) - 50 years | £589 |
| Cremated remains section (purchased at time of burial) - 60 years | £706 |
| Cremated remains section (purchased at time of burial) - 70 years | £823 |
| Cremated remains section (purchased at time of burial) - 80 years | £942 |
| Cremated remains section (purchased at time of burial) - 90 years | £1,058 |
| Children's section grave- 50 years | £589 |
| Children's section grave - 60 years | £706 |
| Children's section grave - 70 years | £823 |
| Children's section grave - 80 years | £942 |
| Children's section grave - 90 years | £1,058 |
Note: All new graves must be purchased at the time of internment with the exception of graves for children up to the age of 18 years.
Exclusive rights of burial - extensions to lease
An extension to the exclusive rights of burial can be purchased only on expiry of the initial lease. The period of the exclusive rights of burial in total must not exceed 90 years.
| Full grave - 20 year extension | £403 |
| Full grave - 30 year extension | £605 |
| Full grave - 40 year extension | £806 |
| Cremated remains section - 20 year extension | £236 |
| Cremated remains section - 30 year extension | £352 |
| Cremated remains section - 40 year extension | £471 |
| Children's section grave - 20 year extension | £236 |
| Children's section grave - 30 year extension | £352 |
| Children's section grave - 40 year extension | £471 |
Cemetery memorials (application to be made to Gateshead Council)
| Right to erect memorial | £395 |
| Additional inscription on memorial | £83 |
| Replacement memorial | £95 |
| Right to place a vase, tablet or flower stand that is not fixed | £41 |
| Refixing of memorial to industry standard to make safe only. No material change permitted to memorial. | No charge |
| Renovation (includes refixing, cleaning, repairing etc) | £59 |
Kerbstones/border sets
Approval for kerbstones/border sets is at the discretion of the council and will only be allowed in designated sections.
| Right to erect half kerbstones on lawn section (full burials only) | £253 |
| Right to erect full kerbstones or border sets on specified graves. | £505 |
| Right to fix a horizontal (flat) plaque between kerbstones not exceeding 750mm x 750mm (30" x 30") | £95 |
| Replacement full kerbstone | £250 |
| Replacement half kerbstone | £127 |
Cemeteries - miscellaneous charges
| Coffin cover (replaces vaulted graves) | £894 |
| Exhumation (does not include re interment/cremation fee) | Actual cost |
| Transfer of exclusive rights of burial | £54 |
| Use of chapel for burial or memorial service (Saltwell Cemetery, Birtley). Only if available - fee in addition to interment fee. | £141 |
| Service cancellation (less than 3 working days notice) | £241 |
Crematoria
| Adult (18 years of age or over) | £913 |
| Child (up to 18 years of age) | Medical referee fee only |
| Medical referee fee (payable for all cremations) | £57 |
| Environmental surcharge | £66 |
| Non-resident surcharge* | £50 |
| Disposal in Garden of Remembrance of a person cremated elsewhere | £80 |
| Witness scattering of cremated remains if cremation was carried out within Gateshead | £60 |
| Witness scattering of cremated remains if cremation was carried out elsewhere | £80 |
| Additional 15 minute service time at Saltwell Crematorium - only for 12noon and 3.15pm services only Additional 15 minute service time at Birtley Crematorium - only for 2.30pm service | £92 |
| Exceeding service time by 15 minutes (charge for every 15 minutes over) | £92 |
| Direct cremation (no service available) | £577 |
| Direct cremation - non resident surcharge | £50 |
| Live webcasting service (Live web streaming plus seven days on-demand viewing) | £68 |
| Live webcasting service and downloadable MP4 video file | £91 |
*A non-resident surcharge will apply where the deceased is regarded as a non-resident of Gateshead (resided outside the Borough of Gateshead) at the time of their death. Exemptions apply in circumstances where:
- the deceased had moved to receive specialist care which was not available in the Borough of Gateshead
- the death occurred within 12 months of moving out of the Borough
- the deceased was a serving member of the armed forces living in temporary accommodation whose next of kin still resides in the Borough
Media services
| Single photo One additional photo | No charge £18 |
| Basic slideshow (up to 25 photos) Extra 25 photos | £58 £22 |
| Music tribute (up to 25 photos) Extra 25 photos | £95 £22 |
| Themed tribute (up to 25 photos) Extra 25 photos | £119 £22 |
| Family supplied slideshow / video | £32 |
| Additional work (additional editing / late submissions) | £28 |
For young people under the age of 18, we offer a free live and on demand stream, a single photo, and a choice of basic slideshow or music tribute of up to 25 photos.
| Keepsake DVD, USB or Blu-ray of the service and visual tribute in a presentation case Additional copies | £63 £24 |
| Video book - a portable video of the service on an A5 electronic screen | £123 |
| Memory box - up to 25 printed photos and keepsake DVD / USB in a presentation box | £170 |
Book of remembrance
| Each line of entry (entries must consist of either 2, 5 or 8 lines) | £50 |
| Emblem or service badge | £162 |
| Family crest or coat of arms | £193 |
| Token entry | Actual cost + £49 admin fee |
Other memorials
| Memorial wall plaque (for period of 10 years) | £641 |
| Extension of memorial wall plaque or kerb plaque (for period of 10 years) on expiry of lease. | £361 |
| Memorial kerb (for period of 10 years) | £1,116 |
| Memorial kerb/wall plaque - replacement plaque (for remainder of 10 year period) | £282 |
Miscellaneous charges
| Family search (searches for children, siblings, parents and grandparents are free). All other searches will be charged. Search fee is for one name. If limited information is provided, the search fee will increase accordingly. | £50 |
| Dignified disposal of body parts | 50% of appropriate fee (internment or cremation) |
| Grave location (appointment with member of staff on site to locate grave. Graves for children, siblings, parents and grandparents are free). All other grave locations will be charged. | £54 |
| Memorial bench in cemetery or crematorium (without need for base preparation) for period of 10 years* | £1,820 |
| Memorial bench in cemetery or crematorium (with the need for base preparation) for period of 10 years* | £2,801 |
| Memorial cast iron plaque on existing seat in Saltwell Park (10 years duration)* | £766 |
| Renewal of 10 year lease for memorial plaque on existing seat in Saltwell Park | £486 |
| Memorial benches - replacement or additional plaque | £280 |
*Please note terms and conditions on memorial bench application form
Contact us
Bereavement Services
Gateshead Council
Civic Centre
Gateshead
NE8 1HH
0191 433 4530
[email protected]
Office opening times: Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm