Moving remains
You can arrange to move the remains of a person who has been buried, or whose ashes have been interred, at any of our three cemeteries.
The process of moving a person's remains from a grave is called an exhumation. For various reasons, exhumations take a long time to arrange and can be expensive.
Apply for an exhumation licence
Exhumation of a grave can only take place once the Home Office has issued a licence. The licence contains certain conditions that must be observed.
Visit the GOV.UK website to apply for an exhumation licence.
If the grave is within consecrated grounds (which means it has been blessed by the Church of England), permission also has to be obtained from the church beforehand. The representative for the Church of England is the Bishop of Southwark, who can be contacted online via the Diocese of Southwark website.
Exhumation costs
- Single coffin: £5,560
- Subsequent coffins: £910
- Single cremated remains: £547
- Subsequent cremated remains on the same day: £227.50
If the exhumation goes ahead, an Environmental Health Officer is required to be present to ensure that there is no risk to public health and all conditions are complied with.
If you have any questions, contact our Bereavement Support Service by calling 020 7525 7270 or emailing us at bereavementservice@southwark.gov.uk.
Interment costs
The information below details the costs involved with reopening existing graves followed by interment.
1. Simplicity interment fee suitable for maximum coffin dimensions 6ft 6 inches by 26 inches:
- Resident fee: £2,321
- Non-Resident fee: £4,525
2. Classic lawn interment fee suitable for maximum coffin dimensions 6ft 8 inches by 28 inches:
- Resident fee: £2,632
- Non-Resident fee: £4,950
3. Supreme lawn interment fee suitable for coffin dimensions over 6ft 8 inches by 28 inches up to 7 feet by 34 inches:
- Resident fee: £3,255
- Non-Resident fee: Not available
4. Traditional kerb interment fee suitable for above grave type only. Maximum coffin dimensions up 6ft 6 inches by 28 inches:
- Resident fee: £2,632
- Non-Resident fee: Not available
5. Adult interment Saturday supplement direct to grave (only up to 11:30am):
- Resident fee: £880
- Non-Resident fee: £965
6. Additional interment (second deceased in same grave same day):
- Resident fee: £560
- Non-Resident fee: £560
7. Interment of cremated remains:
- Resident fee: £650
- Non-Resident fee: £680
8. Interment of cremated remains Saturday supplement:
- Resident fee: £378
- Non-Resident fee: £416
9. Additional interment of cremated remains into a grave or cremated remains grave same day as another interment:
- Resident fee: £89.25
- Non-Resident fee: £89.25