« Reply #124 on: Friday 19 January 07 01:51 GMT (UK) »
Selina
If a member of the public is hurt by the stone falling over - it is the church or cemetery that they sue, not the descendents; so it is in the interest of the church etc to make sure they are safe (and it makes it easier to cut the grass if they move them to the outer wall)
Chris in 1066
It may interest the forum members to know that common sense has at last prevailed and councils are now being forced by courts to re-instate those headstones they have laid flat (for safety reasons) at their own expense.
This means that any council or church cannot simply lay headstones flat if they consider them unsafe but must now ensure safety by securing the stone so that it cannot fall .
Cheers
Guy
Ah I would like to respond to this as in my area I know of people who very recently, received the notice that the stones were being removed but that to secure them or re-site them was going to be a cost to the relatives.
I am not too knowledgible about this subject but I do understand that in the case of old tombstones the plot was purchased by the family either from the church or landowner. Also the stone or monument was probably erected by the stone mason. However, I am told, today that even though the mason carves out the stone it is the job of the local council to errect it in municipal grave yards. Having said that, if it is true why are the council now wanting relatives to pay for re-siting etc of stones less than four years old when the fall of the stone was probably due to bad workmanship by the Council workers. What I cannot get my head round is that plots were purchased and should remain the property of descendants for ever! But that does not seem to happen anymore.
Pennine
Bell, Brodsworth, Felkirk, Wath-Upon-Dearne, Yorkshire<br />Bright, Eyre, Jessop, Wilkinson, Sheffield, Yorkshire<br />Fielding, Lound Retford, Lincolnshire and Sheffield, Yorkshire<br />Law, Felkirk, Wath-Upon-Dearne, Yorkshire<br />Lister, Flockton, Wath-Upon-Dearne, Yorkshire<br />Mitchell, Langsett, Nr. Penistone Yorkshire.<br />Walton, Cudworth, Barnsley Yorkshire.<br />Stanger, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Yorkshire.<br />Gratwick, London and Kent<br />Fahy, Limerick, Southern Ireland
