Cemetery fees

All bookings are subject to 3 days' notice (7 days for treble or quadruple depth) and additional fees may apply for shorter periods. The fee includes preparation and excavation of grave, matter and presentation where required, and attendance by cemetery staff, backfilling on day of service, all administration, entries in burial registers and cemetery plan marking and a contribution towards cemetery maintenance.

The fees do not include removal of any memorial or planting for which the applicant must arrange at their cost, prior to the commencement of excavation. All graves have a maximum coffin size (width and length) than can be accommodated and where any grave has been pre-purchased alternative arrangements may have to be made for any coffin exceeding these dimensions, which may include buying another grave.

Where any plants that cannot be easily removed remain, the authority reserves the right to cancel or postpone the funeral and/or make an additional charge for the removal of any tree or shrub. Where any planting is of such a size that removing it would affect the stability of any surrounding memorial or ground, the burial may be refused.

Fees and charges for 2025 to 2026

Full grave

Service offered

Resident

Non-
resident

Interment fee post 24 weeks gestation up to 18 years: max grave length 1.8m (coffin length 1.65m).

£0

£0

Interment fee pre 24 weeks gestation: max grave length 1.8m (coffin length 1.65m).

£0

£700

Interment fee 18 and above to single or double depth

£955

£1,910

Interment fee 18 and above to treble depth

£1,230

£2,460

Interment fee 18 and above to quadruple depth

£2,700

£4,540

Two full burials undertaken at the same time, add to the interment fee

£230

£460

Cremated remains

Service offered

Resident

Non-
resident

Cremated remains interment to a maximum depth of 900mm, additional depths may be necessary if the grave is to be re-used. Prices on application

£235

£470

2 sets of cremated remains at the same time to a maximum depth of 900mm, additional depths may be necessary if the grave is to be re-used. Prices on application

£295

£590

Other fees

Service offered

Resident

Non-
resident

Extra digging. For example, for internal boarding, framework or covers. From

£310

£310

Cost for less than 3 days' notice where the council incurs additional costs. Additional costs include hiring in equipment and providing staff from elsewhere.

“Notice” means that a fully completed applicant must be deposited with Bereavement Services before Medway Council will start making any arrangements and note that it may not be possible to make all necessary arrangements within this shortened timeframe where resources are unavailable.

£225

£225

Public Health (control of disease) Act 1984

Service offered

Resident

Non-
resident

Arrange funeral under the Public Health (control of disease) Act 1984, including full property search

£700

N/A

Arrange funeral under the Public Health (control of disease) Act 1984

£330

N/A

Grave purchase

The fee includes the Exclusive Rights of Burial for the registered owner for the agreed time period, maintenance of any grave space that is not covered by a memorial and the first memorial permit with a 'Right to Erect'.

The fee does not include the rights of ownership of the land, nor any right to place a non-approved memorial. All Right to Erect are for a maximum period of 30 years, renewable at the fee in place at the time of renewal.

All graves have a maximum possible width, consideration should be given at the time of purchase as to likely future coffin sizes. Coffins exceeding the available grave space cannot be accepted, even where the grave has been pre-purchased.

Grave selections

Service offered

Resident

Non-
resident

Grave selection next-in-line

£70

£70

Grave selection

£195

£195

Adult grave purchase

Service offered

Resident

Non-
resident

Exclusive Right of Burial (<30’ x 84’): Adult graves 30 years

£1,300

£2,600

Exclusive Right of Burial (<30’ x 84’): Adult graves 50 years

£2,030

£4,060

Exclusive Right of Burial (<30’ x 84’): Adult graves 99 years

£3,950

£7,900

Additional grave space for any coffins larger than 30’ wide and/or 84’ long

£750

£1,500

Child grave purchase

Service offered

Resident

Non-
resident

Exclusive Right of Burial (6’ x 3’): Child graves 50 years

£850

£1,700

Exclusive Right of Burial (6’ x 3’): Child graves 99 years

£1,350

£2,700

Cremated remains grave purchase

Service offered

Resident

Non-
resident

Exclusive Right of Burial (3’ x 3’): cremated remains graves 30 years (includes selection)

£730

£1,460

Exclusive Right of Burial (3’ x 3’): cremated remains graves 50 years (includes selection)

£1,185

£2,370

Exclusive Right of Burial (3’ x 3’): Cremated Remains graves 99 years (includes selection)

£1,920

£3,840

Extension of grave ownership

Service offered

Resident

Non-
resident

Extension to Exclusive Right of Burial (EROB): Full grave 20 years

£800

£1,600

Extension to EROB: Full grave 49 years

£1,990

£3,980

Extension to EROB: Full grave 69 years

£2,720

£5,440

Extension to EROB: Cremated Remains grave 20 years

£525

£1,050

Extension to EROB: Cremated Remains grave 49 years

£805

£1,610

Extension to EROB: Cremated Remains grave 69 years

£1,260

£2,520

Woodland burials at Chatham Cemetery

Service offered

Resident

Non-
resident

Memorial Tree (inclusive of 3 year maintenance) EROB and internment not included

£1,075

£2,150

Cemetery miscellaneous

Service offered

Resident and non-resident

Use of Cemetery Chapel (duration of service: 45 minutes)

£125

Children – use of Cemetery Chapel 0 to 18 (duration of service: 45 minutes)

£125

Private use of Cemetery Chapel

£275

Service times are 90 minutes in total (inclusive of chapel and graveside) where additional time is required each additional 45-minute period, or part thereof: (this cost may be trebled if prior warning not provided)

£160

Heating of Cemetery Chapel: October to April (per service)

£40

Re-open walled grave – from:

£370

Exhumation – from:

£1,650

Exhumation of cremated remains – from:

£590

Alterations or Transfers of Exclusive Right of Burial (EROB) and duplicate EROB’s (for spouse, deduct £20.00)

£70

Genealogical search fee per surname and subject to date of Register entry

£26

Marking / identification of grave plot prior to visit – special request (minimum 5 days' notice)

£75

Medway eco-surround

These are intended as being temporary grave surrounds until a formal memorial is erected. The fee includes fitting and removal. Materials are recycled.

Service offered Price
Eco-surround: renewal of lease 1 year £75
Wooden Cross (and other temporary marker) 1 year permit £32
Woodland burial plaque (10 year) £320
Woodlands burial plaque – extension of lease £185

Cemetery memorial permits

Includes issue of permit, installation inspection and safety inspections during the 30-year period that the Rights to maintain a grave are in place.

Service offered Price
Permit for cleaning, planted areas etc £0
Additional inscriptions (no charge if undertaken in-situ and memorials not removed or detached from grave) £100
30-year permit for the erection of all memorials £410

Charges include VAT where applicable.