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Burial graves

There are a number of choices when selecting a grave and cemetery

Erith cemetery

  • public earthen plots for adults (suitable for two interments of unrelated adults)
  • private earthen plots for babies or non-viable foetuses (suitable for one baby)
  • public earthen plots for babies or non-viable foetuses (babies will be buried with other non-related babies)
  • sarcophagi burial chambers (suitable for one to four interments)
  • mausoleum (suitable for one interment)
  • underground burial vaults memorial terrace (suitable for one to four interments). Some underground burial vaults also have room for cremated remains

Hillview cemetery

  • private earthen Muslim plots (suitable for one or two interments)
  • private earthen plots for all other denominations (suitable for one or two interments and six sets of cremated remains)
  • private earthen plots for babies or non-viable foetuses (suitable for one baby)
  • underground burial vaults memorial garden (suitable for one to four interments). Some underground burial vaults also have room for cremated remains

Sidcup cemetery

  • public earthen plots for babies or non-viable foetuses (babies will be buried with other non-related babies)
  • underground burial vaults memorial circle (suitable for one to four interments). Some underground burial vaults also have room for cremated remains

All private graves are purchased on a lease basis, the earthen graves offer 30, 50 or 75 years. The underground burial vaults, sarcophagi and mausoleum offer 50 or 75 years and the purchase fee include the first opening and memorial.

  • a deed of grant is issued to the purchaser (the owner) once the fees have been received and after the first interment has taken place
  • the fees for the graves are generally paid for on the purchaser's behalf by the Funeral Director
  • the owner of the grave is given the exclusive right of burial and only they can give permission for a burial to take place or a memorial to be fitted
  • the owner has the automatic right to be buried in the grave (space permitting)
  • after the internment of the owner, no further burials or memorial works can take place (with the exception of the deceased owner's name being added to the existing memorial) until a new grave owner has been registered

Public graves are owned by the Council and there will be unrelated persons buried. As there are no individual rights to the grave the cost is much lower than a private grave.

Extending grave leases

An extended lease provides the choice of exclusive rights of burial for a longer period than the established 30 years.

The benefits of purchasing a longer lease include:

  • an inflation-proof fixed charge
  • peace of mind for families and relatives for many additional years

Families who have an existing grave in Bexley also have the chance to extend their existing lease for set periods of 10, 30, 50 and 75 years. However, a revised lease period may not exceed 100 years in total.

Apply for a grave lease extension