Crematorium and Cemeteries in Newcastle

Opening Times

The Hall of Remembrance at the West Road Crematorium and the cemeteries run by the council across the city are open during the following times:

April to October

Monday to Friday, from 9am to 6.45pm
Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays, from 10am to 4.45pm

November to March

Monday to Friday, from 9am to 3.45pm
Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays, from 10am to 3.45pm

The Books of Remembrance entries can also be viewed online.

Locations

The Council manages ten cemeteries in Newcastle upon Tyne and we are a Corporate Member of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management. Cemeteries may be viewed and inspected at any reasonable time by contacting the Bereavement Services office on 0191 211 6941.

West Road Crematorium and Cemetery (opened 1934)
West Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE5 2JL

Accessibility information about West Road Crematorium and Cemetery from DisabledGo

All Saints Cemetery (opened 1857)
Jesmond Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 1NL

Heaton Cemetery (opened 1890)
Benton Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE7 7DS

Elswick/St Johns Cemetery (opened 1856)
St Johns Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 7TE

Hollywood Cemetery (opened 1943)
Hollywood Avenue
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE3 5BS

Jesmond Old Cemetery (opened 1836)
Jesmond Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 1NL

Friends of Jesmond Old Cemetery

Lemington Cemetery (opened 1906)
Union Hall Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE15 7JS

North Gosforth Cemetery (opened 1878)
Coach Lane
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE13 7AS

St Andrews Cemetery (opened 1857)
Tankerville Terrace
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 3BU

St Nicholas Cemetery (opened 1858)
Nuns Moor Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 9AP

A map of the cemetery locations can be downloaded in pdf format from the following link: Cemetery and Crematorium Location Map.pdf

Cemetery Records

We regret that we are currently unable to put our cemetery records online as many records are in handwritten registers. If you are trying to locate a grave within our cemeteries please contact us at bereavementservices@newcastle.gov.uk with the name of the deceased, date of death and, if possible, the address the person was living at, at the time of their death. If this information is not available a fee will be applied to reflect the work required for a more extensive search.

For all enquiries regarding record searches, please submit your request in writing to: Bereavement Services, Newcastle City Council, Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8QH; or email: bereavementservices@newcastle.gov.uk. Please note that there is a fee for each search request.

Being Responsible in our Cemeteries

All persons in the cemeteries should conduct themselves in a decent, quiet and orderly manner as prescribed in the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977.

Any person who contravenes the above is liable to be fined.

No person shall drop, throw or otherwise deposit and leave in the cemetery any waste paper or refuse of any kind, except in the bins provided.

Cremated remains shall not be scattered in the cemetery without prior consent of the Council.

Planting of trees on graves is strongly discouraged, as they can grow very rapidly, can cause damage to memorials and may encroach on adjacent grave spaces. Please ask for advice form the Bereavement Services staff about the type of planting that may be suitable for graves.

For safety purposes children under the age of 12 years are only allowed in the cemeteries when accompanied by a responsible adult.

Information for dog owners

We do allow dogs into the cemeteries if they are on a lead and under the strict control of the owners. Under the city-wide public spaces protection order (made under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014), a person who is in charge of a dog that defecates on land to which the public has access, and who fails to immediately remove the faeces, is guilty of a criminal offence.

The maximum fine for someone who doesn't clean up after their dog is £1,000. The current fixed penalty is £100.

Use of vehicles in cemeteries

In order to preserve the tranquil environment in our cemeteries and for the safety of visitors, vehicles are only allowed within the grounds during a service or where disabled access has been granted. Please be aware that not all of our cemeteries have vehicular access.

For safety purposes the speed limit within the cemetery grounds is 5mph.

To maintain the appearance of our cemeteries we request that you do not drive on the grassed areas.

There is a car park at the West Road Crematorium.

Grounds Maintenance

Graves on lawn sections are seeded with grass after settlement has occurred and conditions are suitable. A 12-inch floral strip is left at the head of the grave for planting. In the ordinary sections the graves are left for the families to tend as the wish.

After a burial, settlement of the soil will occur possibly two or three times, causing the area to sink. Very wet weather can also cause noticeable sinkage. Cemetery staff will automatically top up the grave a week after the burial and for up to two months after the burial. You may request this service at any time by contacting the Bereavement Services Office.

Floral Tributes will be removed from graves approximately two weeks after the burial. Christmas wreaths will be removed from graves before the end of February. If you require floral tributes to be removed from graves any earlier, please contact the Bereavement Services office.

Litter bins within the cemeteries will be emptied at least twice per week.

There will be a member of staff on duty during opening hours on weekends at the West Road Crematorium.

We are constantly working towards improving our grounds and services for the benefit and comfort of the bereaved. We are always pleased to receive helpful comments that may lead to an improved service.

Who is responsible for a memorial?

Whilst the burial authority is responsible for maintaining the cemetery in a safe condition, the deed holder has a responsibility to maintain the memorial in a safe condition throughout the lease period of the Right to Erect and Maintain a Memorial. If the deed holder fails to do this, the cemetery staff may take action to make the memorial safe.

Bereavement Services staff carry out routine inspections of memorials in the cemetery and when one is identified as being unstable and likely to fall and injure someone it might be cordoned off, laid flat or have a temporary support installed. You will receive a letter in these circumstances and it will be your responsibility to arrange suitable repair. Should your memorial still be under guarantee the memorial mason will be responsible to carry out repair at no extra cost to yourself. Should you ignore the notice sent to you your memorial may well be laid flat and when the lease expires you will not be allowed to renew it until repairs are made. Should no repairs be carried out and after further notification the memorial may be lawfully removed from the cemetery.

Your memorial mason also has a responsibility to provide a memorial of merchantable quality and to erect it in a safe manner, according to Newcastle upon Tyne City Council Cemetery Regulations. We recommend that adequate insurance is taken out on your memorial.

Hazardous Gravestones

Under the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977 the Council has the power to take immediate action to make dangerous memorials safe. This may be done by laying the memorial flat, or cordoning off the grave area.

If you own or tend a memorial and you are concerned about its condition please contact Bereavement Services.

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Crematorium and Cemeteries in Newcastle