Memorial/Headstone Testing in the Sibfords Churchyard and Burial Ground
Sibford Gower Parish Council manages the Burial Ground adjacent to the Churchyard. Following the official closure of the Churchyard in 2013, responsibility for its maintenance and all associated costs transferred to the Parish Council.
A key priority in managing both the Churchyard and the Burial Ground is keeping the site safe for visitors, which includes ensuring all headstones and memorials are secure. As routine safety testing is now due across all grounds, the Parish Council has updated the Burial Ground Regulations to clearly outline the inspection process and any required remedial actions.
These updated regulations were formally approved at the Parish Council meeting on 4th August 2026 and are available in full on the council website: https://sibfordgower-pc.gov.uk/sibford-burial-ground/
Should a memorial/headstone be identified as a Category 1 (Red) and fail the inspection, staff will need to take immediate action to make that memorial/headstone temporarily safe or cordon it off until permanent repairs can be made by the grave owner. These actions will be based on a number of factors and the best solution will be administered by the Parish Clerk based on the assessment of the memorial/headstone and the surrounding area. These actions may include:
- Laying the memorial/headstone flat – A warning sign will be placed near to the memorial/headstone.
- Staked and Banded – The memorial/headstone will be fastened tight to a wooden post which will act as a temporary support. The banding will also hold a warning notice. The stake and band will be re- inspected every 12 months to ensure neither have deteriorated.
- Monolith Conversion – This involves digging out a depth roughly one third of the overall height of the memorial/headstone from the last joint in order that it can be sunk into the ground and made safe. The memorial/headstone will have a suitable material wrapped around the part under the ground and a memorial/headstone warning notice will be added to the grave. Due to foundations it may be necessary for the memorial/headstone to be moved slightly forward into the grave space to avoid existing foundations.
- Cordoned Off – In some cases it may be necessary to cordon off a particular memorial/headstone or an area containing a number of memorials/headstones due to their safety. Warning signs will be attached to any cordon placed around a memorial/headstone or group of memorials/headstones.
- Removal – In extreme cases it may be necessary to remove a memorial/headstone from the grave and place it somewhere securely within the curtilage of the Churchyard/Burial Ground if none of the above options are suitable.
Memorial Safety Testing Details:
- Schedule: Testing will begin in September.
- Memorials under 50 years old: Maintenance remains the responsibility of the grave owner. The Parish Council will attempt to contact owners directly if any safety issues are identified with these memorials/headstones.
- Memorials over 50 years old: Responsibility falls to the Parish Council, which will arrange and fund any necessary repairs or stabilisation work.