Recent burials at Yardley

[Alberta]

Yesterday I attended a burial at Yardley,the deceased lady was not a close relative.
She was 96 and was buried with her husband who died in the 1990s.
The headstone had been removed but the neighbouring ones were in place.
Before the coffin was lowered the ladys daughter went to the undertaker and asked if they were sure it was right as the foot of the coffin was facing where the headstone will go.
The undertaker told her that is the way it is done in Yardley.
If I had been a relative I would have wanted to know why before my mother was buried,,I have never heard this before and can think of no reason for it.
Has anyone heard anything like this.

 

[terryb18]

I've never heard of that either, I find it strange to say the least, after all that's why they are called headstones. Looking forward to an answer to this.

Terry

 

[Wendy]

Alberta, I don't know the answer to this one. I have sent an email to a friend who is a funeral director in Birmingham. I will let you know his answer.

 

[Wendy]

Alberta I spoke to my friend yesterday he came to the meet at the Jewellers Arms. He said yes it is correct Yardley do this as it is Christian to bury the body with the head facing west and the feet east. Unlike Muslim burials which face east. He says not all cemeteries practice this but Yardley does. This is why the graves all face the same direction but why the headstones are at the foot of the grave is strange. I wonder if on original burials a mistake was made with the position headstone so all others had to follow.

 

[Sparkhill Boy]

Hence the song "Don't let the sun go down on me" perhaps.

 

[Alberta]

Thanks Wendy,that is very interesting,something I had not heard before.
Cynical old me thought the undertaker didn,t want to admit he had made a mistake.
Alberta