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Maintained forever by Corporation

ColinB

ColinB

gone but not forgotten
We visited Brandwood End Cemetery today, to take photographs of a headstone for one of our members, whilst there we noted at least 100 well looked after graves around the cemetery, they were all planted the same (Geraniums, I think) and most of them had a plaque stating "Maintained forever by Corporation", the few graves I looked at dated from 1903 up to 1940.
Was this an option that could be purchased at the time, if the one dated 1903 had been maintained for 107 years that must have cost the Council a fortune over the years.

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BTW Anyone wishing photographs of graves etc at Brandwood End Cemetery send me an IM, I'll see what I can do for you.

Colin
 
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Hi Colin and Shortie: Colin, you posted this link for the Friend of Brandwood End Cemetery sometime ago. https://www.fbec.org.uk/index.php It's a great site. I would think, although don't know at all, if the service mentioned "Maintained for ever by Corporation" is not in effect anymore as according to the Guest Book on the Friend's site, Brandwood was in a pretty bad state a few years ago but now has an active group of people who have the future of the cemetery very much in mind. There are 85,000
burials in this cemetery according to the Friend's site. There are quite a few military graves as well. It would be very interesting to find out what is behind the above sign.
 
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I only had a quick look at about 6 graves, they all had the plaque shown, and there did not seem to be any connection. They were randomly located around the cemetery, and stood out among the other graves around them. I have e-mailed the FBEC, so perhaps they can tell me.
Jennyann, there has been a great improvement over the last couple of years, some parts of the cemetery are well maintained, but it does show signs of neglect in others.

Colin
 
I wouldn't know about Brandwood, I can only speak from my experience of Lodge Hill.
My hisband's grandfather purchased a plot at Lodge Hill that has a brick lined vault to hold up to 8 coffins. We do tend the grave, but every winter and summer some additional planting is added (usually wallflowers over the winter). We have the deed (and I suspect the billl) somewhere, and my husband has always said it was bought with maintenance " in perpetuity", so I have always assumed that grandpa paid extra to have that service. There are no plaques on the grave, so I assume that the gardeners have a plan with this type of rave marked.
Ironically, although the vault can take 8 coffins, every one has been cremated since the plot was purchased - including grandpa. The last time the grave was opened, you could see the little line of jars at the bottom of the vault.
 
I have just had a reply from the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery, there was a maintenance option which could be purchased at the time, and although the practice was discontinued some while ago they still continue to maintain graves covered by the contract, however the Bereavements Dept. have recently re-introduced a similar scheme where graves will be maintained for a yearly fee.

Colin
 
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