Joint Burial Committee

This page is an introduction to Eashing Cemetery and is intended for those considering options for buying plots and those making arrangements for burials.

Eashing Cemetery is located in a semi-rural part of Godalming with views over the Surrey Hills. The entrance is in Franklyn Road.

HISTORY
By the early 1890's Godalming's first publicly operated cemetery to the north of the town off Nightingale Road was fast filling up and in 1892 the minutes of the Godalming Church Vestry Committee record that there was less than 20% of the original graves unused.

Godalming's population had increased from 5,200 in 1855 to 10,500 in 1892 and it was decided to open a second cemetery. From a short list of 5 sites the largest comprising 20 acres on a hilltop to the south of the town off Eashing Lane was chosen and the land was purchased for £2,000. This new site had room for 20,000 interments and on 30 June 1893 authority was given for the Godalming Joint Burial Committee to borrow £5,000 to purchase the site and construct the necessary buildings. On 15 June 1900 the first burial took place. When Eashing Cemetery was being planned, it was estimated that it would be available for 100 years although, as many of the interments are now of cremated remains which take little space, it will not be full for many more decades.

Graham Stevens & Jean Beard - West Surrey Family History Society

PLOT PURCHASE OPTIONS
Eashing Cemetery is available for four main types of burial.

Traditional Burial A 9ft x 4ft plot is purchased in the main cemetery area, either in advance (an increasingly popular option to avoid increasing costs) or when organising the funeral. The location of the plot can be decided in conjunction with the Clerk to the Godalming Joint Burial Committee.

Ashes Plot A 2ft x 2ft plot is purchased in the main cemetery area to accommodate up to two lots of ashes. Often a small headstone or tablet is erected to commemorate the deceased.

Garden of Remembrance The Garden is solely for the interment of ashes. It is not necessary to purchase space in advance as ashes are placed in the next available plot.

Natural Burials A section of the cemetery has been designated for "green burials".  A garden designer has been commissioned to produce a plan for the area which will be developed using native trees and plants. Here only coffins made of sustainable natural materials are allowed and graves are laid out more informally. As with traditional burials, plots may be purchased in advance.

COMMEMORATION
The bereaved may place memorials of an approved kind on the grave or arrange for a tree to be dedicated elsewhere in the grounds. In the Garden of Remembrance a tablet may be placed in the memorial wall although its location is not directly linked to the location of the ashes.

Details of the charges for these services are set out in the Fees & Charges leaflet available from the Town Council offices.