how do i find a grave

[pippy17]

thanx for your reply peter.
the plot number is 704 sa now the lady on the phone said that she thinks it is an s before the a but looks more like a squiggle! Is the office open on a friday as this will be the only time i can get there now because of work.
It was a burial so we know that he hasnt been buried with another person like i know they used to with the babies but it was an unpurchased plot and there are alot of babies buried there. I would appreciate any information . thanks again pippy 17

[Ray T]

Does the cemetery have a Sexton on duty? I ask this as I've just gone through the same process myself. I had a very prompt and helpful reply from Cheshirewestandchester which, apart from giving me the grave number at Neston, advised that if I were to contact the Sexton, who would be on duty between certain quoted times, he/she would show me to the grave.
Ray 

[Pepsi62]

Hi Pippy17,
Not sure that plot number 704SA is correct - there is not an area SA. Maybe it is 704A in which case it may be more difficult to find - that area is a bit sparce with headstones.
Suggest you visit the Cemetery Office and confirm the plot number. They can also tell you if there is anybody else in the same grave and can give you a plan. They are open each weekday.
With no headstone it is more tricky - suggest you ask for the names of people in adjacent graves to help you pinpoint the right one.
There is nobody on duty at the cemetery since the chapel closed many years ago - if you are lucky there may be maintenance staff around but they are not there every day.

Peter

[Steviemurf]

Hello Pepsi62

Could you supply the following dimensions please Peter.

What is the width of a grave cut?  What is the length of a grave cut?  What is the standard gap between each grave, side by side?  And what is the distance between each grave from the 'toe to head' of the next row of cuts? And finally, what is the distance from the edge of the path to the first grave in?

Thanks Peter, I'm Poppy17s brother.  I have been to the cemetery office today and have a copy of the grid plan.  Like you said, it will be difficult to locate, but with the values above I can work out where plot 704A is.

Thanks for your help and best regards.

Steve

[Pepsi62]

Hi Steve,
I really don't know what the grave sizes are or even if they are standard. What I would do is go with a tape measure and measure some graves and spaces from a similar location and try and work it out from there.

Peter

[Steviemurf]

Hello Peter

FOUND HIM!  The cemetery office was very helpful this  morning and I had a copy of the relevant part of the grid plan.  Took about 30 minutes this afternoon to locate his approximate plot.  We were blessed in that there are two head stones two cuts to his right, McGowan 706 and Kelly 707.  So a simple 'guestimate' two to the left of McGowan put me on the spot.

Are we allowed to mark the grave with anything?  Probably difficult as he's not alone in there.  There are of course other infants with him, although I don't know how many.  It would be nice, now we've found him after nearly 51 years, to mark his grave somehow; what are the rules?

Many thanks anyway Peter, and thanks to the other folk who contributed to us finding our lost brother and son.

Kind regards

Steve

[ScouseBoy]

Stevie,  My guess is that either 700   or 701  will be next to  a pathway.

On the question of size of plot,  if there is babies only section, it is likely the size of plots in that section will be shorter. 

[Pepsi62]

Hi Steve and Pippy17,
Very pleased that you have found him - it is nice to get a result.

We are lucky here in that the Cemetery Office have good records and are quite helpful.

I don't know the official rules for marking a grave but the Cemetery Office will also tell you. What I have 'unofficially' done myself at other graveyards is place a 450mm square paving stone and a small vase. This then allows the groundsmen to mow around it.

Peter

[never give up]

Just read this thread and it's good to see you have got a positive result, good detective work by the way. You will have to get in touch with the cemetery office for their rules and regulations regarding the placement of headstones etc, each one is different. We have had a similar experience tracing our Grandfathers grave, we found it with a bit of help from the vicar and the church attendant, we then asked what the rules where regarding headstones and markers and the regulations where incredible, height, width, material, spacing from edge of surrounding fences and graves, even the angle of the gravestone..