All further information may be obtained at the office.
The local authority forbid any gratuity being received by their servants.
The local authority reserves a right, from time to time, to make any alteration in the foregoing charges and regulations.
In connection with the above rules, a scale of fees of the charges for interments must be prepared as well as for headstones, foot-stones, ledgers, and tombs, or for enclosing any grave with kerbing, iron-railings, posts and chains, &c.
The practice of allowing persons to plant small shrubs and trees upon the graves of their friends, should be deprecated, as not only do they tend eventually to make a cemetery look untidy but they are placed so close to the graves that when they grow up their roots often split open a vault or walled grave, and even damage valuable tombstones.
Trees which are suitable for cemeteries, and which would thrive even in a town atmosphere, are the weeping willow, cypress, yew, cedar, juniper, birch, ash, weeping elm, and a considerable number and variety of drooping and other deciduous trees. These should, however, be planted under the control of the local authority, as otherwise a cemetery would soon be overrun by them.
The regulations issued by the Secretary of State for the Home Department in January 1863, for burial grounds provided under the Burial Acts, may be of use for reference, and are given in extenso:
(1.) The burial ground shall be effectually fenced, and, if necessary, under-drained to such a depth as will prevent water remaining in any grave or vault.
(2.) The area to be used for graves shall be divided into grave spaces, to be designated by convenient marks, so that the position of each may be readily determined, and a corresponding plan kept on which each grave space shall be shown.
(3.) The grave spaces for the burial of persons above 12 years of age shall be at least 9 feet by 4 feet, and those for the burial of children under 12 years of age, 6 feet by 3 feet, or if preferred, half the measurement of the adult grave space, namely, 4¹⁄₂ feet by 4 feet.