Welcome to Forest Hill Cemetery
Nestled in the tranquil village of Forest Hill in South Oxfordshire, the Forest Hill Cemetery offers a peaceful and historic resting place surrounded by the natural beauty of the English countryside. Located just a short walk north of the Parish Church of St Nicholas, and on the eastern side of Main Street, this cemetery is a place of quiet reflection and local heritage.
The site is well-maintained and easily accessible, offering visitors a serene environment to pay respects and explore the stories of those who came before.
Whether you're visiting to honor a loved one, research family history, or simply enjoy the peaceful surroundings, Forest Hill Cemetery stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the community it serves.
Please contact the Parish Clerk with a request for burial in the Cemetery.
Cemetery Charges
The burial charge is £350 for parish residents, single or double depth plots.
The interment of ashes charge is £175 for parish residents, single or double depth plots.
There are no fees for the burial of a child up to the age of 18 years, of *resident families of the parish.
*A resident is a person or family, in the case of a child, currently
living in the parish or having resided in the parish in the past for
longer than 12 months.
If neither of the above applies to the applicant the council will review the application on a case by case basis.
Cemetery Rules
The Cemetery is a public space which means it is available for all to
visit. It is a place of remembrance, peace, and quiet reflection.
The following rules and conditions have been agreed by Forest Hill with Shotover Parish Council.
- Within the areas of the Cemetery in current use, there is no choice
of position. The Council will allocate the next available plot. Unless
reserved or bought in advance, previous to April 2017, then only
adjacent to the burial plot of a loved one already buried.
- A memorial headstone or plaque can be erected only when EXCLUSIVE
RIGHT OF BURIAL has been purchased. This is the legal way by which a
family acquires 'ownership' of a grave or ashes plot.
- No headstones or memorial plaques are to be erected or placed
without prior notification to the Parish Council from the Funeral
Directors. All headstones and memorial plaques must be supplied by a
qualified Stone Mason with their own insurance and must be BRAMM
registered. They must comply with current Health and Safety Regulations
and be provided with adequate footings to avoid settlement and possible
collapse.
- The size of a burial headstone must not exceed: Headstone - height
27" x width 23" x depth 3". Base - width 24" x depth 12" x height 3".
Foundation base - width 30" or 36" x depth 18" x height 3".
- When cremated remains are buried in a plot, a standing headstone is
not to be laid. A flat stone, with a maximum measurement of 18" x 15",
or a wedge tablet, with a maximum measurement of 18" x 15" x 5", can be
laid.
- Inscriptions on headstones and memorial plaques are to face east.
- A flower vase may be incorporated into the memorial. This must not be made of glass or any other breakable material.
- Tributes and additional objects left on a grave at the time of the
interment will be permitted to remain for six months from the date of
the interment. After this time the Parish Council reserves the right to
remove them, after consultation with the family. All dead flowers and
wreaths will be removed if left on a grave for an unduly long time.
- No kerbs or edging of any description to be placed on or around the grave space.
- The Parish Council reserves the right to remove any vases,
receptacles, or edging which do not conform to the cemetery regulations.
- All headstones, memorial plaques, and vases must be maintained,
cared for, or kept in a state of tidiness or good repair by the person
erecting or placing the same.
- Families are encouraged to look after the graves and memorials. The
Cemetery is an open public space, therefore the Council cannot be held
responsible for any damage or theft from graves, memorials, or tributes.
- All grass cuttings and dead flowers must be put into the far corner of the Cemetery adjacent to the field and wall.
- The Parish Council is responsible for the gates, shed, grass mowing on unused grave areas, and hedge adjacent to the top field.
- Permission to place a memorial bench in the Cemetery must be
obtained from the Parish Council and placed in an agreed place only.
- Permission to plant a memorial tree in the Cemetery must be obtained from the Parish Council and planted in an agreed area only.
- Dogs are permitted to visit if kept on a lead and under control. All
fouling to be cleaned
up.
