Burials

More information on burials, including the process and what you need to do.

• What’s involved
• Choose your cemetery
• About private and public graves
• What paperwork you need
• Approximate timescales
• Costs
• Consider memorials
• Alternative burial arrangements

What’s involved

If you are having a service in the chapel the coffin or casket will be moved to the prepared burial plot in the cemetery once the service is near its end. Your chosen celebrant will then commit the body to the ground and end the service.

The grave will then be backfilled by cemetery grounds staff, and the earth allowed to settle before any memorials can be erected.

Choose your cemetery

Within the borough of Trafford there are five cemeteries, one of which shares grounds with Altrincham Crematorium. Each have their own facilities and regulations, which can be found below.

Dunham Lawn Cemetery

Opened in July 1963, Dunham Lawn Cemetery is situated on the same site as Altrincham Crematorium, with the cemetery located behind the Crematorium and Chapel buildings. There is a special Baby Garden open for interment of those under 2 years old, with small graves set aside for the interment of stillborn or small babies. There are also separate Muslim and Jewish cemetery sections.

Facilities

• Toilets
• Wheelchair access
• 2 Car Parks (with disabled bays)

Location

Whitehouse Lane, Dunham Massey, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 5RH

Dunham Lawn Cemetery map

Getting here by car

The crematorium is signed from the A56 at Broadheath and Bowdon near junction 7 on the M56.

Getting here using public transport

The closest train/tram stop is Altrincham. From here, visitors should board the number 247 bus – which runs every 30 minutes – to the ‘Sinderland Lane’ bus stop. This takes about 20 minutes. From the bus stop it is roughly 300 meter walk up Whitehouse Lane to the site.

Cemetery regulations

• Where an existing concrete raft is not in place, foundation stones must not be more than 3’ x 15". They must be level and its back must be in line with the front edge of the turf on the next row of graves.
• There should be a minimum of 6" between foundations.
• On new sections, headstone must not exceed 2’6" in height from ground level and should be a maximum of 3’ in width and a minimum of 3" thick. On sections A – E, headstones must not exceed 9" in height, 2’6" in width and 12" front to back.
• All memorials should be made from natural stone. Any other material should be discussed prior to ordering with the Bereavement Services Manager.
• No kerbs, border stones, tiles, slates, raised mounds; turf banking or wooden erections are permitted.
• No trees, shrubs or planting other than low growing material should be placed on the grave and all planting should be contained in the soil are at the head of the grave.
• No interference by the public in the scheme of layout of the planting, graves or borders will be permitted. We reserve the right to remove dead flowers, wreaths etc at all times. We have the authority to remove, without notice anything placed on or round a grave which contravenes these regulations.

Hale Cemetery - new graves are not available

Opened in December 1894, there are vaults available for the interment of cremated remains. Whilst no new graves are available, burials do take place in those plots where the exclusive rights of burial still exist. Cremated remains may also be added to existing family graves.

Chapel

The chapel is available for services. The chapel has capacity for 40 seated, plus 10 standing.

Facilities

• Wheelchair access
• Car Park

Location

Hale Road, Hale, Altrincham, Cheshire WA15 8DF

Hale Cemetery map

Getting here by car

The cemetery is on the A538 which runs from Altrincham to Wilmslow.

Getting here using public transport

The closest train/tram stop is Altrincham. From here, visitors should board the number 18 bus – which runs every 30 minutes – to the bus stop right outside the cemetery. This takes about 10 minutes.

Cemetery regulations

• Foundations stones must not be more than 3’ x 15". They must be level and its back must be in line with the front edge of the turf on the next row of graves.
• There should be a minimum of 6" between foundations.
• Headstones must not exceed 3’ in height, 3’ in width and should be a minimum of 3" thick.
• All memorials should be made from natural stone (any other material should be discussed prior to ordering with the Bereavement Services Manager).
• No kerbs, border stones, tiles, slates, raised mounds, turf banking or wooden erections are permitted.
• No trees, shrubs or planting other than low growing material should be placed on the grave and all planting should be contained in the soil area at the head of the grave.
• No interference by the public in the scheme of layout of the planting, graves or borders will be permitted. We reserve the right to remove dead flowers, wreaths etc at all times. We have the authority to remove, without notice anything placed on or round a grave which contravenes these regulations.

Sale Cemetery

Opened in September 1862. New graves are still available for burials and half graves for cremated remains.

Chapel

The chapel is unavailable for services. (It is possible for a service to be held at either Hale Cemetery or Altrincham Crematorium ahead of interment at Sale).

Facilities

• Wheelchair access
• Car Park

Location

Marsland Road, Sale, Cheshire M33 7UN

Sale Cemetery map

Getting here by car

The cemetery is on the A6144 near its junction with the A56.

Getting here using public transport

The closest Metro Station is Brooklands, from which it is about 150 meters walk to the cemetery. Visitors travelling by bus should alight at the stop on the A56, from which is about 500 meters walk to the cemetery.

Cemetery regulations

• Where an existing concrete raft is not in place, foundation stones must not be more than 3’ x 15". They must be level and its back must be in line with the front edge of the turf on the next row of graves.
• There should be a minimum of 6" between foundations.
• On new sections, headstones must not exceed 3’ in height from ground level and should be a maximum of 3’ in width and a minimum of 3" thick.
• All memorials should be made from natural stone (any other material should be discussed prior to ordering with the Bereavement Services Manager).
• No kerbs, border stones, tiles, slates, raised mounds; turf banking or wooden erections are permitted.
• No trees, shrubs or planting other than low growing material should be placed on the grave and all planting should be contained in the soil area at the head of the grave.
• No interference by the public in the scheme of layout of the planting, graves or borders will be permitted. We reserve the right to remove dead flowers, wreaths etc at all times. We have the authority to remove, without notice anything placed on or round a grave which contravenes these regulations.

Stretford Cemetery

Opened in February 1885. New graves are still available for burials and half graves for cremated remains.

Chapel

The chapel is unavailable for services. It is possible for a service to be held at either Hale Cemetery or Altrincham Crematorium ahead of interment at Sale.

Facilities

• Wheelchair access

Location

Lime Road, Stretford, Manchester M32 8HX

Stretford Cemetery map

Getting here by car

The cemetery is at the bottom of Lime Road, off Edge Lane.

Getting here using public transport

The closest Metro Station is Stretford, from which it is about 600 meters walk to the cemetery. Visitors travelling by bus should alight at the stop on the A56, near the Stretford Mall Shopping Centre, from which it is about 5 minutes’ walk to the cemetery.

Cemetery regulations

• Where an existing concrete raft is not in place, foundation stones must not be more than 3’ x 15". They must be level and its back must be in line with the front edge of the turf on the next row of graves.
• There should be a minimum of 6" between foundations.
• On sections AA headstone must not exceed 2’6" in height from ground level and should be a maximum of 3’ in width and a minimum of 3" thick. On other sections headstones may reach a maximum of 3’.
• All memorials should be made from natural stone (any other material should be discussed prior to ordering with the Bereavement Services Manager).
• No kerbs, border stones, tiles, slates, raised mounds; turf banking or wooden erections are permitted.
• No trees, shrubs or planting other than low growing material should be placed on the grave and all planting should be contained in the soil area at the head of the grave.
• No interference by the public in the scheme of layout of the planting, graves or borders will be permitted. We reserve the right to remove dead flowers, wreaths etc at all times. We have the authority to remove, without notice anything placed on or round a grave which contravenes these regulations.

Urmston Cemetery

Opened in November 1892. New graves are still available for burials and half graves for cremated remains.

Chapel

The chapel is unavailable for services. (It is possible for a service to be held at either Hale Cemetery or Altrincham Crematorium ahead of interment at Sale).

 Facilities

• Wheelchair access
• Car Park (with disabled bays)
• Disabled toilet (with radar key)

Location

Queens Road, Urmston, Manchester M41 9HF

Urmston Cemetery map

Getting here by car

The cemetery is at the bottom of Queens Road.

Getting here using public transport

The nearest train station is Urmston, from which it is about 10 minutes’ walk to the cemetery. Visitors travelling by bus should alight at the stop on Queens Road, from which it is about 10 minutes’ walk to the cemetery.

Cemetery regulations

• Where an existing concrete raft is not in place, foundation stones must not be more than 3’ x 15”. They must be level and its back must be in line with the front edge of the turf on the next row of graves.
• There should be a minimum of 6” between foundations.
• Headstones must not exceed 3’ in height from ground level and should be a maximum of 3’ in width and a minimum of 3” thick.
• All memorials should be made from natural stone (any other material should be discussed prior to ordering with the Bereavement Services Manager).
• No kerbs, border stones, tiles, slates, raised mounds; turf banking or wooden erections are permitted.
• No trees, shrubs or planting other than low growing material should be placed on the grave and all planting should be contained in the soil area at the head of the grave.
• No interference by the public in the scheme of layout of the planting, graves or borders will be permitted. We reserve the right to remove dead flowers, wreaths etc at all times. We have the authority to remove, without notice anything placed on or round a grave which contravenes these regulations.

About private and public graves

Private graves

A private grave, is a grave where you own the current lease for that grave. Additional interments can only take place using that grave with your permission and you can erect memorials as you choose within cemetery regulations, as long as you hold the active lease.

Public graves

A public grave is owned by the cemetery and open for any interments. No memorials can be erected or marks made. In the case of a baby burial, a standard inscription will be added.

What paperwork you need

Once you have decided on burial, and chosen your cemetery, you will need to submit the relevant paperwork to Trafford Bereavement Services to begin the process.

All forms must be submitted in hardcopy/paper form.

The relevant forms you will need to complete are:

• Notice of Interment
• If you are having a service, you will also need to complete the relevant sections of the particulars of cremation form.
  

Alongside the forms above, you will need to submit the 'Green Form’, from the Register Office or The Coroner’s Certificate.

Approximate timescales

Depending on the time of year, the waiting list for burial can vary. As a rough guide, you will usually be able to book a burial to take place within 6 weeks after you contact Trafford Bereavement Services unless there is prevailing religious guidance which requires more immediate action.

Burials can take place at our cemeteries between the hours of:

• 9.00am – 3.00pm, Monday to Thursday
• 9.00am – 1.30pm, Fridays

Burials are not available to take place on bank holidays.

Costs

View further information about fees and charges, including financial aid available.

Consider memorials

There are a number of memorial options available. Full details can be found on the memorials page.

Alternative burial arrangements

If you are considering alternative burial arrangements, you will need to contact the relevant bodies to obtain the appropriate licenses and ensure compliance with any existing regulations.

• For burial at sea, you can find more information on the DEFRA website
  
• For home burial, you can find more information on the Environment Agency website.