Headstones FAQs

Regulations for new headstones:

• Must be made of natural stone and be no more than 900 mm in height or width, and between 75 mm – 150 mm in thickness.

• A flower vase must be incorporated as an integral part of the memorial base.

• Authorised edging, plants and tributes are only permitted at the top of the grave and must be no longer than 450 mm length.

• All upright memorials are to be installed using a ground fixing system; only the systems that have passed the criteria for stability laid down by the National Association of Monumental

• Masons shall be installed.

• Only Memorial Masons registered with the Council are permitted to work in Oldham Cemeteries.

• The maintenance and stability of memorials is the owner’s responsibility.

• The right to erect a memorial will only be issued for the length of the guarantee issued by the Mason commissioned to erect a new memorial.

Your responsibilities:

Maintenance

• Security - it must be able to withstand a 35 kg pressure test

• Phone the Cemetery Office on 0161 681 1312

• Consider insurance to protect the headstone in future generations

Choosing a mason
Only masons registered with the Council can work in Oldham’s cemeteries.

Guarantees
Memorial masons registered with Oldham Council guarantee work for up to 30 years.  Rights to build a memorial are affected by the length of a guarantee.  The guarantee is against faulty workmanship.  You will get a copy of the guarantee from your mason.

Registered masons
Ask the Central Cemeteries Office:

Phone: 0161 681 1312
Fax: 0161 683 5233
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
To register with the Council, masons must demonstrate their skill by working on a headstone. If a mason is going to work on your family headstone the Council will try to contact you first.

Safety inspections
Every 5 years, by Council staff or qualified independent inspectors.  A notice is attached to the headstone if the Council needs to make a headstone safe.

Maintenance/repairs
Repairs are at the owner’s expense.  A registered memorial mason must do the work.  If repairs are not done the memorial may be removed.  Damage to cosmetic cement joints does not affect headstone safety.

Long-term care
When the guarantee expires you will be asked to supply a new one (at your expense). A new right to erect and maintain the headstone will be issued depending the period of guarantee. If it is decided not to extend the guarantee, the memorial  may be removed from the grave.

If safety inspections are carried out and necessary maintenance is undertaken the headstone may be erected on the grave for the period of the right to burial (99 years).