Bereavement Services

Pendle Borough Council fully recognises that bereaved families are striving for more varied options in which to inter their loved ones and we offer various differing facilities.

Burials

Earthern Graves

Earthern burials are available in all 6 of our cemeteries and grave spaces can be pre-purchased in advance.  Pendle Borough Council's Grave Rights last up to 99 years and grave spaces can hold up to 2 interments and up to 8 ashes interments.

Vaults and Walled Graves

We still offer vaults or walled graves within all our cemeteries, which are concrete or bricked chambers holding up to two interments.  Again, the burial rights will last up to 99 years and the graves can be pre-purchased.  Please note, due to the nature of the grave, we require at least 4 working days notice for a vault and 3 for a walled grave before the interment can take place.

Woodland Burial

Within Barrowford Cemetery is the Jo Belbin Memorial Woodland Burial.  This is a natural alternative to the traditional form of burial.  The burial ground will create a natural woodland habitat for wildlife, trees, flowers and shrubs while providing a resting place for those who wish to return to nature.  Graves for the interment of ashes are also possible in the woodland.  Due to the nature of a woodland, no form of memorialisation is permitted.  However, we are aware there is a need to have some form of lasting memory, therefore, we have engraved all the names of the deceased in a large memorial stone which has been erected in the centre of the woodland.  Please click for more information

Interment of Ashes

Pendle Borough Council, Bereavement Services offer various options for families to commemorate their loved ones after a cremation.

Graves

It is possible to inter up to 8 sets of ashes in any grave within all 6 of our cemeteries.  With consent of the grave owner we are able to inter the ashes into the grave, with a service if wished.  There is then the option to add the details onto the memorial on the grave.

Half Grave Spaces

More and more families wish to have a lasting place to visit their loved ones either after cremation, or years after bereavement.  One option is to purchase a grace space purely as a visiting place or for the interment of ashes, and/or in order to erect a memorial in memory of a deceased person.   It is possible, in all our cemeteries to purchase a half grave space for the interment of up to 4 sets of ashes, and if wished to erect a full memorial.  The rights to these grave spaces will last up to 99 years.

Memorials can be purchased without the necessity to inter ashes, and therefore, can be used as a lasting memorial to someone who has passed away, and somewhere to visit and remember your loved ones.  Permission from the grave owner would be required

Memorial Walls

All our Cemeteries, with the exception of Salterforth, have Memorial Walls.  Available for one set of ashes only (neighbouring niches can be reserved for the future).  Ashes are placed in the wall; a memorial plaque is then erected in front of the niche.  The interment is recorded within the Cemetery records although no burial number is generated.  The niche is owned in perpetuity.

Memorial Trees

It is possible to plant a memorial tree in any one of our cemeteries.  If wished, at the time of planting ashes can either be interred or scattered at the ball of the tree (they must be contained in a bio-degradable container).  After the planting a small plaque can be erected in memory of the deceased.  Please note, it is only possible for us to plant trees in the autumn and winter months.  There is a choice of 26 different trees, therefore, offering you a wide choice of tree in memory for many years.  There is no record of the interment kept in our records. 

Unfortunately, due to popular demand, we are no longer able to plant any more trees in the following cemeteries:

• Colne Cemetery
• Barrowford Cemetery, other than in the Jo Belbin Woodland Burial Ground

Please click for list of trees.

Bespoke Ashes Section

Pendle Borough Council recognises that in the 21st Century bereaved families are striving for more modern and varied options in order to commemorate their loved ones following cremation, therefore we have built a new modern ashes section at Colne Cemetery where families can have a lasting place to inter ashes as a family.  The interment is recorded in our records with a burial number.  The burial rights are owned for 99 years.

 Please click for more information.

Memorial Benches

These benches are available in all our Cemeteries or parks, and if wished we can inter ashes (within the Cemeteries) at the time of placing the bench.  They are high quality benches which match the uniformed look of our parks and cemeteries.  The bench will have a small plaque in memory and we strive to meet your requirements in placing the bench in a position which brings the greatest comfort (however, this is not always guaranteed).

All of the above can also be pre-purchased in advance if wished.

Use of the Chapel

Both Nelson and Colne Cemetery have multi-denominational chapels which are available for services prior to funerals.  The chapels are also available for hire for other functions or services, please contact Bereavement Services for more information. Please click here for full list of fees and charges

Grave Searches

For information on grave searches

For more information please contact:

Pendle Borough Council
Bereavement Services
Parks and Recreation Services
Email: cemeteries@pendle.gov.uk
Telephone: 01282 661596/661593
Fax: 01282 661610