Cemetery services
idverde maintain 7 Northampton Town cemeteries on behalf of the Council, which are Kingsthorpe, Dallington, Duston, Towcester Road, Great Houghton, Weston Favell and Billing Road.
Contacting the Cemeteries Office
If you have any problems, question, enquiry or wish to meet someone at one of our cemeteries, please contact the Cemeteries Office:
Cemeteries Office
Camp Hill Depot
Dayrell Road
Northampton
NN4 9RR
Telephone: 01604 436622 (option 1)
Email: [email protected]
The cemeteries office is open from Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 4pm.
If you would like to register a death, please do so by visiting our register a death page. Please keep in mind we have a separate webpage for registering a still birth.
West Northamptonshire Council managed Cemeteries
Listed below are the four active cemeteries owned by West Northamptonshire Council.
Kingsthorpe Cemetery is on Harborough Road North, NN2 8LU
Kingsthorpe Cemetery was opened in 1899 and now stretches over an area of 121,000msq. A beautiful period chapel is also located within the cemetery and can be used for services.
Kingsthorpe Cemetery offers the following types of grave sections:
- kerb section
- lawned section
- garden of rest
- children's section
- vaults
- mausolea
Towcester Road Cemetery is on Towcester Rd, Northampton, NN4 8LS
Towcester Road Cemetery was opened in 1902 and now stretches over an area of 74,000msq. A beautiful period chapel is also located within the cemetery and can be used for services.
Towcester Road Cemetery offers the following types of grave sections:
- kerb section
- lawned section
- garden of rest
- children's section
- cultural burials
Dallington Cemetery is on Harlestone Road, NN5 6AB
Dallington Cemetery was opened in 1878 and now stretches over an area of over 40,000msq with a new extension planned over the coming years.
Dallington Cemetery offers the following types of grave sections:
- kerb section
- lawned section
- garden of rest
- children's section
Duston Cemetery is located on Berrywood Road or Westfield Road, NN5 6RB
Duston Cemetery was opened in 1936 and now stretches over an area of over 13,000msq which includes a new extension opened in 2016.
Duston Cemetery offers the following types of grave sections:
- kerb section
- lawned section
- garden of rest
- children's section
To find out more about these grave types and what they offer please find the graves section further down this page.
We have three other cemeteries:
- Billing Road (NN1 5DE) - closed cemetery (No more graves available, however you’re still able to visit)
- Great Houghton (NN4 7AT) - restricted (only the remaining purchased spaces can be used)
- Weston Favell (NN3 3BU) - restricted (only the remaining purchased spaces can be used)
The cemeteries are open during daylight hours, this will be affected by the time of year. Access is not recommended when it’s dark outside. We offer a 7-day burial service. Fees may vary. For more information on Northampton Borough cemeteries, please contact the Cemeteries Office.
If you are looking for information on other cemeteries not owned by the West Northamptonshire Council, please contact your funeral director or the owner of the cemetery directly.
Town and Parish managed Cemeteries
Brackley Town Council
Brackley Town Council maintains Halse Road cemetery, which is in Halse Road, Brackley, NN13 6EH. Please visit Brackley town council's website for further information.
Towcester Town Council
Towcester Town Council maintains Brackley Road cemetery, which is in Brackley Rd, Towcester, NN12 6HJ. Please visit Towcester Town Council’s website for further information.
Daventry Town Council
Daventry Town Council maintains Welton Road Cemetery, which is in Welton Road, Daventry, NN11 0PP. Please visit Daventry Town Council’s website for further information.
Parish managed cemeteries
If you are looking for a cemetery that is managed by a parish council, you will need to find the contact details for the owner of the cemetery yourself by making an online search or by contacting a funeral director.
Types of graves
We have listed below the types of graves available within our cemeteries.
Graves within the Kerb section can be seen with a memorial headstone and often memorial edging over the grave space. We also allow plants within this space of the grave.
The grave holder or family is responsible for the planting and maintenance of these graves. Graves which are not maintained will end up being returned to grass.
When the grave has settled, usually after 6 to 12 months depending on the area, the kerb can be constructed. This work must be carried out by a memorial mason, please find more details below in the memorials section.
You can find available kerb section plots at the following cemeteries:
- Kingsthorpe
- Dallington
- Duston
- Towcester Road
Graves within the lawned section of our cemeteries are covered with grass. Memorial edging, or any planting over the grave space is not permitted. You will find a headstone or temporary marker cross at the top of the grave and a small patch reserved for planting flowers.
After a burial takes place, the grave will be put back to grass after approximately 24 weeks dependent on seasonal time of year. When the grave has settled, usually after 6 to 12 months, depending on the area, the permanent memorial can be constructed in the prepared area (the border). Please make sure you have the correct application forms and permits before starting any work on the memorial. you can find more information below in the memorials section.
Planting in the prepared area (the border) is welcomed. Extending the border into the grassed area is not allowed, this will cause issues when our team goes to cut the grass. Staff will move plants back into the border, without making the grave holder aware.
Plant containers and ornaments must also remain within the border to avoid damage to the grass and to help our teams with upkeep.
You can find available lawned section plots at the following cemeteries:
- Kingsthorpe
- Dallington
- Duston
- Towcester Road
The garden of rest is an area of the cemetery which is only for burying and scattering cremated remains (two people per plot). A full sized kerbed or lawned section plot not in the Garden of Rest may be bought as a family plot and will hold up to 10 sets of cremated remains.
Extending the border into the grassed area is not allowed, this will cause issues when our team goes to cut the grass. Staff will move plants back into the border, without making the grave holder aware.
Plaques and vases must not exceed 12 inches x 12 inches x 12 inches in height. You are not allowed to start work on memorials without having approval of the proper form and permit as well as having successful payment of fees. Memorial Masons will be able to help you with any forms or permits needed, please find more details below in the memorials section.
You can find available garden of rest plots at the following cemeteries:
- Kingsthorpe
- Dallington
- Duston
- Towcester Road
The children's section is different depending on the cemetery, some of our cemeteries children's sections are kerbed and some are lawned.
Children's sections are for children up to 12 years of age. If parents wish eventually to be buried with their child, an adult grave in the lawn or kerb section should be chosen. You can burry cremated remains within a child's grave.
You can find available Children’s section plots at the following cemeteries:
- Kingsthorpe
- Dallington
- Duston
- Towcester Road
Vault burials are designed to stop any external forces from disturbing the casket, examples of the external forces include flooding, the weight of the earth and heavy maintenance equipment. You can choose to have either one or two burials per vault.
We have available vaults at Kingsthorpe cemetery.
A mausolea is an above ground structure, designed to house and commemorate the deceased. Mausolea's serve as a lasting memorial for the individual or families. These are for single burials per chamber, but additional chambers can be pre-purchased.
We have available mausolea at Kingsthorpe cemetery.
We provide sections dedicated to cultural burials in our cemeteries. Most of our cultural burials take place within Towcester Road Cemetery. We can provide cultural burials for several cultures and religions. If you are looking for a cultural burial, please contact the cemetery office.
Fencing, raised edging, pebbles or other chips must not be placed within the borders of the graves as they are extremely hazardous when mowing and strimming the grassed area. This rule does not apply to the kerbed section.
Glass containers and china ornaments are not recommended as they shatter when the water in them freezes. They are also a hazard to visitors and the staff carrying out maintenance work.
Conifer, other trees, large bushes and shrubs must not be planted as they are likely to outgrow the area which would disturb the graves around it.
Memorials and Memorial Masons
Memorials
A memorial can be anything from a small stone with someone's name on it to a larger structure built in memory of the deceased. We would need a memorial application to be completed and approved before we allow a memorial within our cemeteries, this is so we are aware of all the memorials within our cemeteries that may need to be maintained.
Memorial Masons will help with the completion of memorial application forms. You will find the names of local masons in the Yellow Pages under 'Monumental Masons'.
We recommend that you get a maintenance contract from a Memorial Mason. The grave holder is responsible for the maintenance and repairs of their grave’s memorials, the work should be completed by their authorised Stone Mason that is registered with the Cemeteries Office. We take no responsibility for any items placed on the grave such as vases, ornaments and toys.
Memorial permits
We know how important memorials are as a lasting symbol of remembrance. We offer technical advice and help to make sure that all memorials meet cemetery regulations. To find out more about permits, please contact the Cemeteries office.
Temporary Marker
After a funeral, the grave will be marked with a temporary plain hardwood marker with the name of the deceased written across it. Your appointed funeral director can supply the temporary markers. This marker will be removed as soon as a permanent memorial is available.
The marker must not exceed 18" in height by 12" width.
Floral tributes
A floral tribute is a display of flowers placed as a sign of respect and remembrance for the deceased. After a funeral, the cemetery staff will place the floral tributes on the grave. The tribute will remain there until the family remove them, or the cemetery staff will remove them to maintain the grave. This will be done without warning the grave holder.
Searches and family trees
All records of burials within the cemeteries are held by the Cemeteries Office. The cemetery staff receives requests for information on burials to help with family searches and historical data. The main Cemeteries Office staff can provide searches for which a payment may be charged.
Frequently asked questions
If you wish to pre-purchase a grave, contact the Cemetery Office for a pre-purchase form and other information. Once the form is completed and returned one of our Cemetery Office staff can meet you in the cemetery if you would like to select a plot.
When the form is completed and returned, a plot number will be provided, and an invoice sent to you. On receipt of payment, the Deed of Exclusive Right of Burial will be sent to you.
When you buy a grave space in the cemetery, a Deed of Exclusive Right of Burial will be issued to the named grave holder. This deed gives the grave holder the rights as to who may be buried within the grave space and the right to put up a memorial.
Only the deed holders may authorise burial within a grave. When a grave holder dies the burial rights must be transferred. You will need to contact the Cemetery Office for further details.
A grave holder is the person whose name appears on the Deed of Grant. The registered grave holder or holders can authorise reopening the grave for further burials and putting up a permanent memorial.
When a burial takes place in an unpurchased grave, the authority keeps the burial rights. The grave will be used again over several years until it is full. Memorials are not allowed on an unpurchased grave.
The cemeteries are laid out in areas called sections. Each section has several separate graves.
Help us help you
If you are a registered grave holder, please keep the Cemeteries Office up to date with any changes of address or telephone numbers.
Last updated 25 April 2024