Newmarket Cemetery

Opening times

1 April to 30 September, 8am to 7pm every day (including public holidays)
1 October to 31 March, 8am to 4.30pm every day (including public holidays)

Address and location map

High Street
Newmarket
Suffolk
CB8 9JW

Google Maps - Newmarket Cemetery

What3words for the main entrance, opposite the Mare & Foal statue, is ///obvious.shrug.vocals

Site services and access

Interment times

An interment can be booked Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) subject to availability.

The latest times that an interment can be booked vary and are seasonal:

1 April to 30 September, full burial new grave 3.15pm or an interment of ashes 4pm.
1 October to 31 March, full burial new grave 2pm or an interment of ashes 2.45pm.

Chapel

Newmarket Town Council have closed this building for the foreseeable future.

Toilet facilities

There is an accessible toilet facility on site which is only open for funeral services.

Vehicle access and parking

Unless attending a funeral service, no private vehicles are allowed in the cemetery other than blue badge holders. Parking is also available outside of the main entrance.

Dogs

All dogs must be kept on a lead at all times. We ask that bins are used for all dog waste to help keep the cemetery tidy for all who wish to visit and safe for our colleagues to work in.

Grass cutting and grounds maintenance

We aim to cut the grass on the lawn type grave areas on a fortnightly basis during the grass cutting season, end of March to October.

The frequency of cutting is dependent on the weather conditions and also takes into account interments taking place.

Clippings arising from cutting operations are not collected. On occasions some unsightliness or nuisance is unavoidable, but paths should always be left broadly clear of cuttings so as not to compromise their safe use.

Within each cemetery there are clearly defined areas which are cut less frequently for conservation reasons to enhance biodiversity.

To report a problem or issue with grounds maintenance, please complete our Tree and grounds maintenance enquiry form.

Further information on graves

The grave must be deep enough to allow for the depth of coffins or caskets that are buried and any future burials in that grave. All burials must comply with legal the requirements.
Generally, graves are prepared at least one full day before the funeral and are covered for safety with a lock down cover system. After the mourners have left the cemetery the grave is entirely backfilled on the day of the funeral and the area around the grave made good.
If you notify us in advance people can wait while the grave is filled in.
Following an interment it is natural for the ground to settle. This movement may be greater than normal following heavy rain. The ground staff will routinely top up the grave if movement occurs.

New and existing graves

Lawn type graves are available to buy in Newmarket Cemetery for burials or for the interment of ashes. We do not sell graves for pre-purchase. For new burials, the next grave along will be allocated. Please contact us on 01284 757068 or email cemetery.services@westsuffolk.gov.uk for further information.

Burials can still take place in family graves that have been purchased in the past, subject to the original terms on the deed and the permission of the deed holder.

If you have a family grave, we can also arrange for the interment of cremated remains into the grave, again with the permission of the deed holder.

There are also sections of the cemetery specifically dedicated for the interment of cremated remains.

The forms required to arrange an interment, fees and charges, together with the cemetery regulations can be found below.

Further information:

Graves are only sold for a set period of time, they cannot be sold in perpetuity. However, as a remaining lease period reduces, owners have the opportunity to buy further periods as long as the total ownership as any time does not exceed 100 years and the appropriate fee is paid.

When a grave is bought an Exclusive Rights of Burial is purchased in that grave for a set period of time. If the lease is not renewed the burial rights will run out. No further interments may then be allowed in the grave. Like wise, as the right to erect a headstone is linked to the Exclusive Rights of Burial we would not allow work to be conducted on the headstone if the lease has expired.

Arranging an interment

To arrange an interment please download the Notice of Interment form together with the Pre-interment Agreement. Both must be completed prior to us granting a right of burial.

All interment bookings will incur a chargeable fee. Please refer to our Newmarket Cemetery fees document.

The interment fee is charged to cover the administration of the booking, preparation and completion of the interment at the time of committal and the maintenance of statutory registers and records following the interment.

There are no restrictions on who can be interred within the cemeteries that we manage.

Cemetery fees and regulations

See Newmarket Cemetery fees for a list of fees and services offered. Those who do not pay their council tax to Newmarket Town Council will be charged a non-resident rate, currently double the standard fees.

This site is subject to cemetery regulations, Newmarket Cemetery regulations. For a printed copy please contact us on 01284 757068.