Each memorial gravestone is the responsibility of the person granted the right to have the memorial erected on the grave.

Erection and maintenance of gravestones are only granted by permit. This is for approved professional monumental masons and is subject to the cemetery:

  • regulations
  • fees
  • charges

All gravestones are safety-tested following fixing and re-fixing work. Thereafter on a five-year programme.

Your chosen monumental mason will be aware of these regulations.

You can get more information from the cemetery office by calling 020 8644 9437.

Headstone inspections

Headstone inspections are carried out on an ongoing basis. Testing is important to make sure that anyone who visits or works in our cemeteries or closed churchyards, is safe.

Across Sutton, we are responsible for:

  • 2 cemeteries
  • 4 closed churchyards
  • approximately 23,000 headstones and memorials

Inspection and testing

The headstone inspection process is managed as a five-year rolling programme, using a phased approach. Cemeteries and churchyards have been categorised into different phases. All headstone memorials will be inspected. Where necessary we will take the appropriate steps to ensure it is safe.

Why we carry out headstone inspections

Some headstones in our cemeteries and closed churchyards are aged and in poor structural condition. This may have the potential to affect public safety. We must carry out inspections to:

  • check headstones are safe, and
  • don't present a hazard or danger to members of the public, visitors, contractors or staff

Our Memorial Safety Policy and Procedures explains how we carry out headstone inspections.

Contact our cemeteries inspection team

Idverde ltd, Cemeteries Office, Cheam Depot, Cheam Park, Tudor Close, Cheam, SM3 8QS

You can contact us directly by: