Choosing a memorial
A memorial is widely recognised as a way of commemorating someone's life, creating an historical record, and providing a focal point for family and friends to visit.
Choosing a memorial can be a difficult decision during what is already a difficult time.
The way you choose to remember a loved one is deeply personal.We're here to support and advise you, and provide guidance to ensure you have the right memorial for your loved one.
Choosing a memorial mason
To help you decide what kind of memorial stone you prefer, it may help to visit local cemeteries to see existing memorial stones.
Within all Sunderland cemeteries, memorial masons engrave their names to the base of the memorial stone. This gives you the opportunity to speak directly to the mason who has installed a stone that you would like for your loved one's grave.
You may also have some personal recommendations for memorial masons who have provided services to friends or family.
In addition, your funeral director may be able to help with advice regarding memorials as there is a huge choice of designs, shapes and colours available.
Memorial stone materials
Traditionally memorials are supplied in granite, marble and sandstone. Granite memorials are generally the most durable and resistant to the elements, and are available in many different colours. When inscribed with contrasting gold or silver lettering, the memorial can be a beautiful and unique lasting tribute.
Ornamentation or carvings on memorial stones can further provide a level of individuality to a memorial stone. Due to modern manufacturing techniques, memorial masons can offer a range of carvings from a simple floral emblem to a bespoke design which shows the interests or hobbies of a loved one.
Permissions and approval
Once you have decided on your memorial mason and chosen your memorial, you need permission from Sunderland City Council to install the memorial.
In purchasing a private grave, purchase includes the Exclusive Rights of Burial relating only to the right to determine who is interred within the grave and not ownership of the land itself. The land remains the property and responsibility of Sunderland City Council and as such permissions to install a headstone and the details of the proposed inscription is required. Your memorial mason will manage this on your behalf by completing a memorial application form which must be signed by the grave owner/memorial applicant and the memorial mason.
The holder of the Exclusive Rights of Burial is the only person who can apply for permission to install a memorial on a grave, except where the grave owner is deceased and interred in a grave which has an existing memorial, in such cases the applicant/organiser of the funeral can authorise an additional inscription to be inscribed to the existing memorial with the grave owner's details.
Should a family member/applicant/funeral organiser wish to arrange a memorial for a person who owned a grave and is interred without a memorial installed, they need to become the grave owner by virtue of a statuary declaration form which is to be signed by a solicitor.
Memorials may only bear the names/dates of those who are interred in the grave, however you may include family member names in such a format as "beloved father of David and Rebecca" or "loving husband of Sarah" in tribute to the deceased.
All memorial applications must meet the memorial specifications set out in the memorial specification document (available on request). Memorial applications that do not meet the required specification will be rejected and cannot be installed.
Should a memorial be installed that differs or does not meet the required specification to that of the submitted memorial application, Sunderland City Council reserve the right to have the memorial removed or altered accordingly, without notice.
All stone masons must be registered with Sunderland City Council and NAMM or BRAMM to operate in all Sunderland cemeteries.
Cemetery memorials - fees and charges
Your responsibilities
The memorial remains the property of the owner and does not in time revert to the council.
Should the memorial become unstable or cause damage to persons or property, any claim that may arise would be the responsibility of the owner and not the council. The council has no liability for damage for any reason whatsoever and memorials are installed subject to maintenance and upkeep, responsibility being that solely of the deed holder.
Insurance cover
Although the risk of damage to your memorial is very low, it is strongly recommended that you take out an insurance policy to cover any eventualities. Your chosen stonemason will most likely be able to assist you with purchasing the appropriate cover.
Standards
NAMM "National Association of Memorial Masons"
BRAMM "British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons"
Sunderland City Council insist on memorials being installed to the latest NAMM standards "National Association of Memorial Masons" BS8415 - 2018 please see the link below of the current code of working practice.
