Bereavement Services
We seek to provide a caring and sensitive service for people at a difficult time. Bereavement Services Manager Janice Leeder and her team are able to give helpful advice and guidance relating to all aspects of funerals and memorialisation
Bereavement is a distressing experience. We have provided some useful advice for coming with the loss of a loved one. When someone dies it is a time of great sadness for everyone involved. It's also a time when there are many practical things that must be done. Please follow this link to the First Steps After a Death page for advice, guidance and help at this difficult time
History of the Crematorium
Great Yarmouth Crematorium was officially opened in August 1968 and carries out approximately 1,900 cremations annually. It has one chapel which seats 116 persons. We allow 25 minutes for the actual service and services are timed at 40 minute intervals to allow for the movement of mourners. However, if this is not long enough it is possible to book an additional service time for a nominal fee. Services can be recorded and there is an extensive music library of popular music and hymns sung by a choir and recorded in a cathedral provided by Wesley Music who specialise in music for Crematoriums. The chapel is provided with a loop system and has disabled access in all areas.
We receive many requests from people researching their family history. The registers for Great Yarmouth Borough Council Cemeteries are held at the Bereavement Services office. Our staff will happily conduct searches on your behalf and it is advisable to leave a list of details with them so they can give you all the relevant information. There is a small fee for this service. You may also find more information on our Genealogy page
All cemeteries managed by Bereavement Services are open during British Summer Time from 7.30 am to 7pm. During the winter months they are open from 7.30am to 4.30pm.
Normal Office Opening Times Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 4.15pm
The Crematorium is located within the grounds of Magdalen Cemetery, Oriel Avenue, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, NR31 7JJ (Map)
Service times are: 8:40am, 9am, 9:20am, 10am, 10:40am, 11:20am, Midday, 12:40pm, 1:20pm, 2pm, 2:40pm, 3:20pm and 4pm (Monday to Friday only)
Parking is available, however should you be arriving by public transport, you may wish to view our page about bus timetable information where Traveline and First buses will be able to provide you with the best connection for your arrival
Magdalen Lawn Cemetery, Oriel Avenue, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, NR31 7JH (Map)
Gorleston Old Cemetery, Magdalen Way, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, NR31 7BN (Map)
Yarmouth Old Kitchener Road, Great Yarmouth, NR30 4HU (Map)
Yarmouth New, Kitchener Road, Great Yarmouth, NR30 4HU (Map)
Caister Borough, Ormesby Road, Caister-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth, NR30 5NL (Map)
British Summer Time: Gates open at 07:30 and locked at 19:00
Winter Time: Gates open at 07:30 and locked at 16:30
Keys to the Dissenters Cemetery are available from St Nicholas Priory School, St Nicholas Road, Great Yarmouth, NR30 1NL, Tel: 01493 843552. Keys are available to the Jewish Cemetery from the Town Hall, at the time of collecting the keys you will need to provide photographic identification, proof you your address and a refundable deposit of £10.00
To perpetuate the memory of a loved one we provide a Rose Garden of Remembrance, Book of Remembrance, Memorial benches and trees. Please click on the following link to find out further details and application forms Memorial Options
A full service may be held in the Magdalen Cemetery Chapel followed by the burial, or alternatively a service could be held in a church or other venue and the coffin brought to a cemetery for burial only. The Crematorium Chapel is non-denominational and is available to all religions, sects and beliefs. Bereavement Services staff will prepare the grave for the burial and our staff will ensure that the service takes place safely and smoothly. Following the burial, when the mourners have left, the grave will be back-filled and reinstated with turf. The grave will be topped up and re-turfed or seeded if necessary. The grave will be maintained as part of the general maintenance of the cemetery.
Burials take place in graves, which are laid out in regular pattern within the cemeteries. A grave may either be un-purchased, which means that the rights to it remain with the Council, or purchased, which means that the right to bury in the grave and to place a memorial on it are transferred to the owner. The ownership of the land does not transfer – the Council owns all the land within the cemeteries. At the end of the period the lease may be renewed, otherwise the rights transfer back to the Council. A grave may be purchased in advance of need, or it may be purchased subsequent to the burial. The grave owner receives a Deed to the grave, which is a legal document and should be kept in a safe place. Bereavement Services should be contacted for advice on the procedures required if it is wished to transfer the Deed to a new owner.
To purchase a grave or arrange a burial of cremated remains can be done directly with our office. by telephone 01493 441974 or by e-mail to bereavement@great-yarmouth.gov.uk or through a funeral director.
Please click on the following links to find more about Cemetery fees and Cremation fees.
For help with paying for funeral expenses, please follow this link to the DirectGov funeral expenses page
To exhume a body the family must either get the permission of the Norwich Diocesan Registry if the grave is consecrated or if the grave is unconsecrated a permit must be obtained from the Home Office. There are fees payable to both, plus our exhumation charges. Please click on this link to view the Cemetery fees
Transfer of Exclusive Right of Burial
In all instances where the Exclusive Right of Burial is purchased there is a requirement for the right to be transferred to a new owner should the original owner pass away. The Exclusive Right of Burial is presently a 50 year lease and primarily gives the owner the right to state who will be interred in the grave and what memorial will go on the grave. The actual land remains under the ownership of Great Yarmouth Borough Council who will carry out maintenance on the land. In all instances where the right is purchased the registered grave owner will receive a Deed to the grave. This is a legal document and should be kept in a safe place. Bereavement Services must be contacted for advice if it is wished to transfer the Deed to a new owner or there is a change of address.
This is a well attended annual service and is welcomed year after year by many who have suffered bereavement in their lives. Ministers from both Great Yarmouth and Waveney Districts alternate in leading the service. The service includes hymns, an address by the person leading the service and selection of pieces by church choirs. Details of the next service will be advertised in the local press and on our website
The Council opens the doors of the Crematorium to the public each year. We invite the public to come along and look behind the scenes in order to expel any myths or fears. Our staff are in attendance and provide a history relating to the building and about the history of cremation. Visitors are given the opportunity to see the music room and how we play the music for each service via the internet. Visitors are then taken into the committal area which is the area where the coffin is retained prior to cremation. The cremators themselves will be open for inspection and any questions the public may have are willingly answered by our staff.
The books of remembrance are on view daily, providing a lasting memorial to loved ones. The name of the deceased and a suitable epitaph may be recorded under the date of death or on a day which may bring memories of a happier occasion, perhaps a birthday or anniversary. The pages are turned daily so that inscriptions may be viewed. The lettering is hand-written in the finest tradition of medieval illuminated manuscripts and the volumes are richly bound and tooled. Cards duplicating the inscription are available for purchase and details of prices can be found by clicking on this link. Cemetery fees
You have the opportunity to purchase a bronze memorial wall plaque. These will initially be secured on the inside wall of our Book of Remembrance Chapel. When this wall is full plaques will be placed on the walls of the Book of Remembrance Cloister. A sample is available for viewing on the chapel wall. There are a large selection of motifs available to choose from to enhance the plaque.
The Garden of Remembrance provides a peaceful and tranquil place in which to gather your thoughts. Bushes and standard roses all with a bronze memorial plaque are available for location in the garden. Polished sterling grey granite memorial vase kerb sets are also available. On the top of each memorial will be a gold coloured rose bowl for the placing of floral tributes.
Floral tributes placed next to plaques are removed by the gardeners on a regular basis in order to preserve the beauty of the grounds. Christmas wreaths are left until the last day of January. It is important to note that we do have a large wildlife population which includes many squirrels and so prickly foliage will help protect your floral tributes
We are always looking at ways to provide for the needs of the bereaved and with this in mind we welcome any suggestions and all feedback for dedications in the garden of remembrance
These are available to buy and dedicate in any of our cemeteries. Memorial benches and a suitable tree and location for either can be chosen you or with a member of our staff.
Future Investment by the Council
The Council are committed to ensuring that the area in which we live provides all with a healthy and safe environment and is also committed to reducing pollutants released into the atmosphere. Government legislation states that all crematoria in Britain must abate mercury emissions by at least 50% by the end of 2012. The Council are committed to meeting this target and have set aside funding for the continued improvement of our facility. Building works to extend the height of the crematory area will commence late Spring/early Summer. Following the extension to this area the new mercury abatement equipment will be installed in conjunction with 2 new larger cremators. A heat recovery system will also be commissioned which will provide much needed top up to our central heating system for the building. Extra piping will be introduced to the wreath cloister which will ensure that this area is more welcoming during the winter months. It is anticipated that there will be no disruption to services during the building and installation period.
Christmas and New Year Opening Times
We will be closed: 24 to 27 December
And open: 28 to 30 December
Closed: 31 December to 2 January 2012
Further Information
Find out more about Cemetery fees and Cremation fees.
Click on this link to find information about
independent funeralsPlease click here to download the
Code of Cremation Practice
Contact Us
Tel: 01493 441974
Fax: 01493 846817
Bereavement Services
Magdalen Lawn Cemetery,
Oriel Avenue,
Gorleston,
Norfolk,
NR31 7JJ
Open: Mon to Fri 8:30 am - 4:15 pm,
