Buying a grave

You can buy a plot for a grave in most of the 21 council owned cemeteries in Barnsley.  We can advise you about available plots and the types of graves that are suitable for the location.  When you buy a grave this gives you the right to inter the deceased person in the plot. You don't own the land, and if you want to put a memorial or headstone on a grave you'll need to apply to us for permission.  Please see our price list of our charges for grave plots, burials and memorials. 

We can also supply headstones and memorial plaques, and these can be tailored to your own designs. You can see a selection from our range at Barnsley Crematorium. We can also help with a range of interest-free payment options. Please contact us for more information.

We only allow stonemasons who are accredited with us to carry out work on headstones in our cemeteries. 

When you buy a grave, we’ll issue you with a 'Deed of Grant' to name you as the registered grave owner in our cemetery records. This is an important document and you should keep it in a safe place, as you’ll need to produce it to have a grave dug.  The name on the deed will be the title of the person on the grave.  

We’ll also give you a grave reference number and place a temporary grave marker on the plot, to help you to locate it.  

The plot will be yours for 99 years, after this time you may be able to buy an extension. 

Transferring grave deeds to another person 

If you're the registered grave owner, you can transfer the grave deeds to another person. Please ask us for an application form to do this.

Grave deeds can also be transferred to another owner after you die, through your will.  

If a person dies without transferring the grave deeds to someone else in their will, or you don't have the paperwork, you'll need to make a statutory declaration. We're able to draft this for you. You'll need to appoint a solicitor who will confirm the statutory declaration. We need this to transfer the deeds to you.  

You'll need to register as a new grave owner with us so that we can update our cemetery records with the name and details of the new owner. 

Grave plots

We’ll try to accommodate your wishes to buy a grave that is nearby another family member, if possible.  

Our standard graves are for two people, but in certain ground conditions extra depth can be dug for more people. Please ask for a deeper grave at the time of purchase, there is an extra charge for this service.

Buying a cremation plot 

All of our cemeteries have plots available that will take up to four sets of cremated remains. We offer a range of excellent quality and competitively priced urns and memorials for the burial of cremated remains. Please see our price-list for further details. 

Notice period for burial 

We require four to five working days notice for a grave to be marked and dug prior to burial.  If you have appointed a funeral director, they'll usually notify us on your behalf.  If you're arranging the funeral yourself please contact us by:

  • emailing bereavementservices@barnsley.gov.uk
  • calling (01226) 206053. Lines are open from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday and Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm (excluding Bank Holidays)