Rules and Regulations
Headstones Crosses and Ledgers
All Churchyards within the Hereford, Worcester, Litchfield Diocese, the Church in Wales and Council run Cemeteries have regulations which govern what we can and cannot do in relation to memorial stones. The following is only a guide line.
Diocese
Headstones:
- Must not exceed 4’ in height (measured from ground level), 3’ in width and 6” in thickness.
They may be either:
- Shaped to be inserted directly into the ground
- On an integral base no more than 3’ wide or projecting more than 4” in any direction and not more than 9” high.
- On a vase base not more than 3’ wide or projecting more than 4” on either side or projecting more than 7” in front of the headstone or more than 4” high. The base should not be more than 1’” overall from front to back.
Crosses:
- The height of the cross (measured from ground level) should not exceed 5’ nor be less than 3’. The thickness of the shafts and arms should not exceed 6” or be less than 2 ½”.
- No cross shall stand on more than 2 steps. The step, or the lower of the 2 steps, should measure no more than 3’ in width and 1’3” from front to back and no less than 2’ in width and 1’ from front to back.
- The steps may be replaced by a boulder but the above measurements shown for the steps still apply.
Ledgers:
- Ledgers must not exceed 7’ in length and 3’ in width.
Materials for Memorials.
Natural materials only should be used, preferably those which are traditionally used in local buildings, e.g. stone or slate
In any individual churchyard the incumbent has authority at his or her discretion to allow the types of stone listed below.
Sandstone & Limestone
- Portland: Cream Limestone
- York: Greyish/Brown Sandstone
- Kilkenny: Blue/Grey Limestone
- Cambrian: Golden/Cream Sandstone
Slates:
- Welsh: Dark Grey (Limited Availability)
- Cambrian Slate: Green
Granites:
- South African: Dark Grey
- Karin: Light Grey
- Balmoral: Brownish/Red
- Indian Silver Grey: Light Grey
- Honed Black: Same colour as Welsh Slate
- Heather Blue: Blue/Grey
- Steel Grey: Fragmented Grey
All stones should be non reflective. Polished stones are not permitted.
Inscriptions:
- Inscriptions can be Hand-cut, Hand-carved, or Sandblasted
- Granite and slate can be gilded, painted silver or white
- Sandstone can be left natural or painted brown or black
Church in Wales
- No restriction as to Shaping or Finish
- An appropriate Headstone no more than 4' in height
- Or an appropriate Cross not more than 4' in height
- A simple Flat Tablet or Ledger
Faculty May be require on submission of application in regards to the memorial that the Incumbent feels may be out of the remit.
Cemetery Regulations
There are fewer restrictions on the type of memorial stone you can place in a cemetery. The following is only a guide line and our staff can give you a more concise list appropriate to the location specified by you. Cemeteries are no longer permitting kerb stones.
Ludlow Cemetery:
- There is no restriction on colour or type of headstone, either honed or polished stones are accepted however they must not exceed 3’ in height, 2’3” in width and 1’ in depth.
- Flat stones only in Cremation area only and a maximum of 18” x 18”
Church Stretton Cemetery:
- Only simple headstones and vases are permitted, either polished or honed.
Clun Cemetery:
- Restrictions are the same as the churchyard; however polished stones are allowed as well as honed.
Tenbury Cemetery:
- No restrictions to colour, shape or size. Finished can be either polished or honed.
Leominster/Hereford/Kington/Wigmore Cemetery:
- No restrictions on type of stone, however they must not exceed 7’ in height, 3’ wide and 3’6” depth.
Bridgnorth Cemetery:
- No restrictions on colour or type of stone.
Cleobury Mortimer Cemetery:
- Only simple headstones and vases are permitted, either polished or honed.
- There is no restriction on colour or type of headstone, either honed or polished stones.