The cemetery administration is performed by Maria McGwynn at the Town Hall. If you would like to discuss an interment in the cemetery, she can be contactedon 07831 273 809 (Monday to Friday 9 am to 5.30pm) or by email to maria.mcgwynn@chesham.gov.uk.
Our cemetery pages aim to provide a simple guide to our services. This information, and more, is also contained within our Guide to Chesham Cemetery. Please contact Maria to request a copy.
No interments can take place without written consent from the owner of the grave; this is the person named on the Exclusive Right of Burial.
Purchasing a Grave - Exclusive Right of Burial
The Exclusive Right of Burial is a deed of grant issued to a purchaser of a grave. The deed entitles the holder to determine who is buried in the grave and whether a memorial can be erected on the grave (subject to the Town Council’s specifications regarding memorials).
The Exclusive Right of Burial may be purchased when applying for an interment or for future use of a grave space for a period of 100 years. Grave spaces may be purchased by residents and non-residents of the town of Chesham.
The fees for non-residents of the town of Chesham will be double those of residents (download the Fees and Charges booklet PDF, 620 KB) except where a resident has passed away in a nursing home or hospice outside the town, having moved in the previous 24 months.
At the end of the 100 year period of the Exclusive Right of Burial, the owner, or his/her heirs, shall have the choice of renewing that right subject to the rules and regulations in force at that time.
When the owner of a grave dies, they may be buried in the grave. It will then be necessary to transfer the ownership of the grave.
Transfer of Ownership
The transfer of the ownership of the Exclusive Right of Burial requires the approval of the Town Council, and will require the production of evidence as to the ownership of the Right and full details of the proposed new owner. Any such transfer of ownership must be recorded at the Town Hall and there is a fee associated with it.
A transfer of ownership will need to occur when the owner of a grave dies. Transfer of ownership is based on the wishes of the owner and will be based on their wishes as expressed in their Last Will and Testament, Probate, or Letters of Administration. If the owner did not leave a will, a transfer will be completed by Statutory Declaration and issued to the next of kin of the deceased. The Statutory Declaration will need to be signed and witnessed in front of a Commissioner of Oaths (for a small fee).
Whilst this may seem daunting, our experienced staff will be able to talk you through this process. This flow chart (PDF, 66 KB) also helps to simplify the process.
Follow these links to find out more about the interment procedure and the interment of cremated remains.