Graveyard usage

[SunshineCake]

I've just been having a conversation with DH and it has made me think of something I can't find out about.

In graveyards I have seen gravestones for people who died in the 1880's. It would be amazing to think they are still being tended by a relative but I expect extremely rare. Given thousands of people are buried every year where do they all go? If authorities can't get in touch with the persons family who died in 1880, and where there is room in the plot, is the stone removed and then someone unrelated buried there? Space has to be a factor. DH and I are going to be cremated but I'm sure many thousands of people still want to be buried.

If there is a better topic please let me know, I did look through them all but nothing obvious came to mind.

I don't think so
Where I live they extended the graveyard, built a crematorium then built a new graveyard and then built another one just on the outskirts.
I've never heard of them removing headstones unless they are dangerous and then they lie them down.

I did wonder why some were laid flat. I thought that was through choice but maybe all were due to falling. I can't imagine how much space we need but surely, given how old some graves are, space has become an issue ?

One of the graveyards where I live is full. They aren't accepting any other graves. They just built more graveyards here though.
My mum owns the plot where my nan and grandad are, so literally owns that piece of land. I can't imagine they can just take them off families due to space issues.

I've just read that owning the plot doesn't imply ownership of the land so I really don't know.
Good question

So ownership of the grave goes back to the council after 100 years, so I expect you are right and they could reclaim it. Not a nice thought really.

But your mum is still alive and contactable. In 200 years the authorities won't be able to find your descendent to ask if the space can be used .

I live in a village and we have a crematorium but no graveyard even though we have a tiny church.

Ah, cross posted. So now the question is, are strangers buried together? .

Yes 😢
www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/06/re-using-graves-means-uk-cemetery-will-never-run-out-of-space

@SunshineCake

Ah, cross posted. So now the question is, are strangers buried together? .

What does it matter provided all are remembered on the headstone/marker? They are already right next door to strangers and surrounded by them.

I'm not sure they are on the headstone though. Looks like the new grave just goes on top. I can't imagine the new grieving family would want a stranger's name on their nans headstone.

I agree. I have never seen a gravestone with two completely different families names. Of course could have happened since I've not seen every gravestone but I find it hard to believe it would happen.

Next door and surrounded is nothing like being buried in the same plot.

I believe that when you buy a grave you buy a “lease” for the land, I think it’s for 100 years. After that point I presume the church/council would write to the last known contact and see if they would like to pay for an extension of lease. If not the plot could be used (presumably they would take any headstone down)

Not sure what would be left in the grave after 100 years?

@SunshineCake

Next door and surrounded is nothing like being buried in the same plot.

It is.

Plus, they are just... shells.

I don't believe the grave is particularly important. The person is around us, in the places they lived and in the memories of things we did.

My family bought a huge plot, I think it stops with the generation in front of me, so aunts, uncles, grandparents etc.
It's half the church yard and enormous black or white marble graves.

I think we'll agree to disagree as over my 18:15 post, SoupDragon.

I still worry about space because eventually the plots with room for a few more will be full unless the body and coffin really does disintegrate to nothing.

I think after 100 years the ground and coffin will have collapsed enough to bury on top op.

A local disused church near us has been sold for development and they were able to rip up all the gravestones because the graves were over 100 years old and no relatives came forward. They’re just piled up at the back corner of the graveyard. Not sure what happened to the bodies/bones.

.

@HoneyRoar I hate the sound of that.

I'm currently in the process of checking where my relations graves are via Ancestry and Find a Grave. I don't like the thought of them being disturbed like that.

Plots are reserved and paid for in advance. If the intention is to bury a second or cremations the first coffin will be deeper. No mixing of strangers afaik. Occasionally headstones are removed or placed around the walls but burials are usually undisturbed.

I can believe it @Honeyroar if you google high speed 2 and graveyards there are numerous entries about the graveyards dug up in London and Birmingham to make way for the project - some graves from around 1880 too - not that long ago.

I am planning to get around this with a "green burial". Basically, in a woodland with a tree plonked on top of me. More nutrients for the plant and no-one can walk over my grave. Win-win.

I am sure I have read about a new road being built and bones were found in a place it wasn't known to be a burial ground. Probably a few years ago now.