Resources for funeral directors
This page contains resources for funeral directors for our burial services.
For Putney Vale Crematorium resources please click here
Please note that Battersea New (Morden) Cemetery is now administered from the on site office shared with North East Surrey Crematorium.
Please select a drop down item from the list below.
This list is based on frequently asked questions received from funeral arrangers/directors and the public.
| Frequently asked questions | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Permitted number of mourners in chapels | Putney Vale – Up to 80 in chapel based on general health and safety
Wandsworth Cemetery – Up to 40 based on general health and safety |
| Can other friends and family attend the a burial service from outside the chapel | Yes, however we do not have external speakers. Please also note that for Putney Vale, East chapel is currently closed for important works and we do not have an overflow facility for extra mourners |
| How long is permitted for the service in chapel | 30 minutes is allowed including the entry and exit of mourners.
An additional slot is available for a fee which will allow for a service of up to one hour and 15 minutes – including entry and exit of mourners. All services start at the time of the appointment. Service overruns are chargeable. |
| Use of face coverings | Advisable |
| Back filling of graves by mourners | Back filling of a grave by mourners is permitted however this will be managed by the attendant and grave digging staff. A limited number of mourners will be permitted to back fill at any one time and any request by staff to move away from the grave must be followed. |
| Family lowering of a coffin into a grave | Two family members may assist in lowering a coffin into a grave but only with four experienced funeral bearers taking up the corner positions. However this is also subject to your companies health and safety policy and risk assesment |
| Are you offering weekend burial bookings | Yes. Saturdays only at 11am subject to staff availability |
| Public toilets | Normal advertised times (for Putney Vale, toilets are available at the crematorium building only) |
Notes on bookings and when paperwork is required.
For burials at Putney Vale, Wandsworth and Battersea new cemeteries please follow the below procedure for booking a burial.
Bookings for burials are only taken from funeral directors.
- Call the relevant office to book a mutually convenient day and time.
- Fill in the interment form with as much information you can.
- Email the interment form to the relevant office within 24 hours of booking to confirm the booking. Email addresses are printed on the relevant form.
- As soon as possible complete the form and get the grave owner/s to sign the form (or the applicant for burial if the grave owner is to be buried) and re-email the form along with the green certificate.
- We no longer require original documents.
- The coffin size is required three clear working days before the day of the funeral.
Please note that any type of coffin with straight edges, where there is no or little taper is deemed a casket and an additional fee is payable. Caskets are not permitted to be buried in new graves at Putney Vale or Wandsworth cemeteries due to limited space.
From 1/1/2022, For Putney Vale and Wandsworth cemeteries, where a memorial is removed to allow for a burial, the memorial must be removed from the cemetery and stored at the grave owner/families expense.
Coffin/casket burials
Please note that any type of coffin with straight edges, where there is no or little taper is deemed a casket and an additional fee is payable. Caskets are not permitted to be buried in new graves at Wandsworth cemetery due to limited space.
Back fills
Where a back fill is required the office must be notified at least three days prior to the day of the funeral. Where no or little notice is received it may not be possible to offer a back fill to the family.
Voluntary (family) bearers
In the light of health and safety we only permit a maximum of two voluntary bearers to assist in the carrying of and the lowering of a coffin – and only where there are four competent members of funeral home staff also carrying and lowering. Voluntary bearers must only take up the middle left and middle right positions. Health and safety is our up most concern and if the attendant overseeing the burial has any concern we reserve the right to stop a burial from taking place until suitable people are in place to carry and/or lower a coffin into a grave.
Payment of fees
In most cases we will only accept the payment of burial fees from the funeral director by cheque or credit/debit card. With agreement of the Bereavement Services Manager local and regular funeral homes may be invoiced for fees. We usually do not take fees direct from a family – however if this is required we will only accept credit/debit card transactions up to the day before the day of the burial. No cheques are acceptable for burial fees from members of the public.
Putney Vale and Wandsworth cemeteries
Please note that all forms must be signed by the grave owner/s or where the grave owner is to be buried an applicant for the burial.
Morden cemetery
Interment of Cremated Remains – For graves in the cemetery only. For the burial of cremated remains in the circular areas please contact the office on 020 8337 4835.
Please note that all forms must be signed by the grave owner/s or where the grave owner is to be buried an applicant for the burial.