Genealogy Chat

Morning all,
Sorry I havent added back on til now - wasnt logged in last night.
No response yet, and unfortunately wont get an answer until next week, as emailed them from work.

If you write to the local council offices,Local Parks and Cemetries Dept,,,make polite a request include SAE, for a plan of the paticular cemetery most will send you a plan for *free,*,,,

n

had any reply yet, Karen?
do let us know!

Christine

A couple of weeks ago I posted this...

Last week the OH decided that he wanted to visit his paternal Grandmother's grave, she having died 10 years before his birth, and he wanted to take photos for his father who is too frail to visit himself.

OH knew the cemetry and when she died but had no idea where in the cemetry she was buried.

I pointed out that it wouldn't be easy unless we traipsed around the cemetry, like he has done countless times with me looking for my ancestors, or he searched the web to see if he could pay for a search of the burial records for the cemetry to identify the plot.

Anyway we did go yesterday (with me muttering that he really should have done some pre visit research) and would you believe it!!!!.....A quick word with the keeper and we were shown the burial record books that were kept in an outbuilding and open to all. Entries were alphabetically listed by surname and we found her plot number within a minute! Less than three minutes later we were at her graveside only to discover that she was buried next to her sister and they had a double headstone, something the OH didn't know.

..............If only all burial grounds were this easy and free to search

Chris

Request it specifically under 'Freedom of Information Act' - they can't charge that level for a photocopy of a document as fees are limited to reasonable standard charges.

I think Karen said Headington and Rose Hill- two different cemeteries so two maps.

That makes them £37.50 each-a bit steep!

They are maintained from the Oxfordshire Council Tax though

That's a great idea Christine.

I would do just that Karen - it might just shame them into helping you for nothing, or at least bringing the cost down to a reasonable amount.

Kath. x

Funnily enough, no response so far regarding the breakdown of costs....

Karen - maybe you could print off a few of these replies - take them to the powers that be -
show them what others are capable of!

Christine

It sounds like an interesting story for your local paper, fancy charging to find your relatives graves...shocking.

Must just be my local service then!
Trevor, what a great story that your ancestor is remembered every year. Would you be allowed to take a tape recorder in to have a lasting record of the service for future generations? That would be lovely.

omg that is disgusting,
i must be lucky then i spoke to the vicar of the church at a relatives funeral last year and he was most helpfull.He was facinated that i was doing my family history he went out of his way and made an appointment for me to come back he then showed me all my ancestors graves and there were alot spread over 4 parrishes .He also told me that 1of my relatives is mentioned in the remberance service every year (so im going to it this year) .I am in regular contact with the vicar now and he has been more than helpful .i now have maps with my ancestors graves all marked on it i wish you luck regards trevor

I wouldn't dream of paying that sort of money. The cemetery in Hartlepool where a lot of my rellies are buried are very helpful. They will give you a cemetery map and mark on it where your relly is buried.

A member of staff will escort you to the plot if you can't find it, and even if the plot you are looking for does not have a headstone, they will look at their records and find a plot nearby which does have one and then pace out the approximate place of your relly's plot for you, so you have a reasonable idea of where they are buried.

I have had lots of help from the groundsman and the office staff and have never paid a penny to them.

Well done Hartlepool.

Kath. x

Well i am amazed at such cost, i have recently helped 2 people who had requested photographs of headstones. On both occasions i went to cemetery office, admittedly i had the plot numbers, but i was given a map,and they even told me to grab of of the groundsman, who would actually escort me to the plot in question, which he did.
No cost at all.
This particular one was Newark Cemetery Nottinghamshire with a few thousand graves there,
Well done them

Thats ridiculous, I have maps of the five main cemeteries in Manchester sent to me no charge, Blackley, Gorton, Manchester General, Phillips Park and Manchester Southern. You would have to have the actual grave number but would be happy to send them to anyone to see where the plots are if anyone is interested.

Marilyn

Just asked for a breakdown of costs - wish me luck....

Wow! Where do you live Melanie? Maybe I need to move there... lol
It makes me wander now if he is trying to pull a fast one and see what he can get out of me for it....

Gosh .. that's a lot.

I have never been charged for a Cemetery plan and my local council will come out to the cemetery and show you if you have trouble finding a plot !!

Melanie

You could always email them for a 'breakdown' of costs!
Bet they'd be hard pushed to justify it!
I don't know of any council employees on large salaries - and photocopying is dead cheap!

Christine