Norwich City Council is carrying out a programme of memorial safety inspections across its cemeteries - this includes Earlham and Rosary cemeteries as well a some smaller closed churchyards. This is part of its ongoing responsibility to help keep visitors, staff and contractors safe.
The inspections form part of a routine rolling programme and are undertaken in line with the council’s legal duties and recognised industry standards. The current programme of inspections is scheduled to continue for the next 2-3 years as we estimate that more than 50,000 headstones will require checking.
Specialist contractors have been appointed to carry out inspections on behalf of the council. Trained personnel use recognised non-invasive checks to assess whether memorials remain stable and secure.
Where a memorial is identified as unstable, it will be marked with a yellow tag and band so it can be clearly identified and monitored. Where possible grave owners will be contacted by the council and given time to arrange any necessary repairs through an accredited stonemason.
The council recognises that memorials hold deep personal importance for families and loved ones so any follow-up action will be approached with care and sensitivity. Each case will be considered individually, with memorials only laid flat or removed where they are considered to pose a significant safety risk.
A council spokesperson said:
“Memorial safety inspections are an important part of our responsibility to protect everyone who visits our cemeteries.
“We understand how important these memorials are to families and loved ones, which is why we are committed to carrying out this work sensitively and respectfully, while also ensuring our cemeteries remain safe public spaces.”
Further information, including frequently asked questions about memorial inspections, repairs and grave ownership responsibilities, is available here.
For frequently asked questions about the testing please see our FAQ page.
