Over the coming months the District Council will be inspecting and testing memorials in managed cemeteries and closed churchyards where we have a responsibility for health and safety. It is a legal requirement that all memorials are stable.
The process typically involves a visual inspection for damage and a gentle hand-pressure test to check for instability.
Following the test, if a headstone is found to be unsafe it will be laid down. We appreciate this is a sensitive matter and we will always notify the registered deed holder, who is responsible for the upkeep, repair, and overall safety of the headstone placed on their family grave.
Since the early 2000s, all new memorials erected in cemeteries have been required to use NAMM (National Association of Memorial Masons) approved fixings, including ground anchor / pin systems. These fixings are designed to significantly reduce the likelihood of a headstone becoming unstable, thereby decreasing the risk of failing future safety inspections.
If a memorial predates the introduction of NAMM fixings, or if a safety inspection indicates movement or instability, the deed holder will need to arrange for a qualified memorial mason to carry out any necessary repairs or reinstatement. We strongly recommend choosing a mason who is NAMM registered to ensure work meets the current safety standards.
