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Original poster

Would you live next door to a graveyard?

87 replies

Gumbo · 22/07/2007 19:49

DH and I have been looking at a house we really like and are considering buying. The only problem is that it's right next door to a graveyard. (And I don't mean a few headstones in a churchyard - I mean a full-on cemetery.)

Personally I don't have an issue with it at all (at least the neighbours will be quiet). Also, it's locked at 18:00 each day, so there shouldn't be yobs hanging around in it. DH, however, is more concerned and a bit unsure about it.

Would you buy a house next door to a graveyard? And do you think such a location would devalue the house?

OP posts:

FuriousGeorge · 22/07/2007 21:09

Yes.I'd not have a problem with that at all.MIL's house backs onto a cemetary & it is very quiet.

As someone has already pointed out-it isn't the dead that you have to worry about.But I would check out the area at night & have a chat with the local police just to make sure that undesirables aren't breaking in at night.

I'd never buy a house next to a pub though.

LadyMacbeth · 22/07/2007 21:20

How much does the cemtary encroach on yourliving space? I mean, do several of your windows overlook it? is it right next door or are there a few trees/paths between your house and the cem?

It wouldn't bother me massively but I would be slightly concerned about its desireability when it comes to re-selling.

Dd1's bedroom is directly oppposite a small raised churchyard and I love having it there - just looking over at it makes me feel very peaceful - there's something kind of restful about having dead people as neighbours - makes you more accepting and thoughtful about the cycle of life etc (I sound stoned but I promise you I'm not).

LadyMacbeth · 22/07/2007 21:22

Just re-read that and think I might need to head off to bed...

fishie · 22/07/2007 21:28

it depends what sort of situation it is in generally, is it inner city? are there other houses near? is it busy?
i live in cemetery land here, there are about five within half a mile. they are secure day and night, usually it is a big issue for the management, nobody wants a drunk kipping on their auntie mabel's grave.

Original poster

Gumbo · 22/07/2007 21:31

Thanks for all the 'check it out at night' suggestions - excellent idea! I also had thought about talking to the police about the track record of it, so I'll follow that up.

LadyMacbeth, there's a line of trees between the house and the cemetery so it can't be seen from the garden; but the house itself is 4 storeys, so there's plenty of opportunities to view it from upstairs!

OP posts:

namechanger123 · 22/07/2007 21:35

Right, just so you all know, I am a regular mumsnetter, but, I have changed my name for this particular post.

I would absolutely NO problem with buying a house near a grave yard.

I was born and lived IN a house in the graveyard until I was 17.

I feel that it taught me alot about respect etc, and my father always made sure that whilst I was growing up I knew that it was the living I had to be afraid of, not the dead.

I loved it, mainly because we lived in a very old rambling house with weird noises (old windows and old fashioned chimneys) and the house was very very quiet on a night.

expatinscotland · 22/07/2007 21:37

May I ask why a namechange? Nothing to be ashamed of living in a graveyard.

namechanger123 · 22/07/2007 21:38

When I say graveyard I mean MAHOOSIVE ones, they are the biggest in this area.

expatinscotland · 22/07/2007 21:39

As I said, there are plenty of people in this city not just living next to a cemetary, but directly over an old one - this is a densely packed population and land space is extremely valuable.

Original poster

Gumbo · 22/07/2007 21:39

Blimey Namechanger! Did your friends find it wierd?

OP posts:

namechanger123 · 22/07/2007 21:39

Ohhhhhhh I'm not ashamed, I just don't wanted to recognised as there are not many people who know that.

Also, gemmiegoatlegs, I LOL when I read about bits of dead people in her washing.

NONE of the ashes of the cremated people actually come out of the furnace, they are specially designed with certain filters etc.

namechanger123 · 22/07/2007 21:41

Not at all gumbo.

In fact one of my funniest memories was when I was little, one halloween I looked out of the kitchen window and there were lanterns bobbing up and down behind the gravestones as people went on their way.

Strangely enough, no-one ever called at our house though.

The house is up for sale now and every time I look at it I have wonderful memories, I would love to buy it, but, dh won't hear of it

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 22/07/2007 21:41

Can I just add, it is cemetery from the Greek sleeping place.

Pixiefish · 22/07/2007 21:44

My dad is an undertaker and until very recently the house I lived in was next door to his chapel of rest and also just over the river from the local church and graveyard. Not a problem although when I offered it to a friend to rent as she was in fairly dire straits accomodation wise she wouldn't go and live there- i honestly can't see a problem

namechanger123 · 22/07/2007 21:46

I loved living where I did, there was a fireplace in every bedroom but, there was only one gas fire in the whole house and we had to light it for hours before we could go and sit in that room.

They were old fashioned sash windows and in the winter it was so cold that we used to get ice on the inside of the windows. Hence, now I don't feel the cold

lilysmum2007 · 22/07/2007 21:48

our garden backs onto a graveyard and before we moved in i thought it would bother me but it doesnt. very quiet and nobody overlooking our garden.....ideal for no tan lines!!!

jajas · 22/07/2007 21:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bozza · 22/07/2007 21:53

Wouldn't bother me.

littlemissbossy · 22/07/2007 21:56

Wouldn't bother me living next to a graveyard, but living next to a church with all that bell ringing would - may sound lovely at first but the novelty would soon wear off IMO

expatinscotland · 22/07/2007 21:57

Good point about the church bell, lilmiss!

namechanger123 · 22/07/2007 22:02

After a while, you don't hear them.

Now I find myself straining to hear them on a sunday morning and when I do hear them, find them very relaxing.

MrsCarrot · 22/07/2007 22:05

We walk/cycle in our local graveyard most weekends, it's a lovely green space with beautful trees, and best of all, it's peaceful! The park is always full of everyone from school so it makes a nice change.

It is a large urban one and the houses around it are worth as much as the ones on the other side of the road as far as I know. Some friends of ours even have a gate into it but I guess they might not all be as pleasant as this. Can you do a bit of research?

Hulababy · 22/07/2007 22:06

I wouldn't want to live right next door to a grave yard. Think I would find it eerie, especially at night or in the winter.

expatinscotland · 22/07/2007 22:09

Also you might find the home is actually built over old burial ground.

Helennn · 22/07/2007 22:10

Seem to be the odd one out here, but I thought I had better be honest!! I used to clean a house that backed onto a graveyard, I always found it a very depressing house, and I am fairly sure the owner suffered from SAD. I'm not sure if it was the house itself or its proximity to the graveyard that made it feel depressing, but I definitely would not live there. Also, might be worth checking if there are any empty plots near the house, I wouldn't fancy watching funerals taking place on a daily basis!!

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