Improvement Works Resume at Hailsham Cemetery

Additional improvements and repair works have resumed at Hailsham Cemetery in Ersham Road, and will take place over the course of the next few weeks.

The improvements will see the completion of the refurbishment of the New Garden of Remembrance section of the cemetery which, by the start of the pandemic in March 2020, was only partially completed. Now that COVID-19 restrictions are being eased, Council works staff have resumed work on the refurbishment, which should be completed by the end of April.

The refurbishment includes the removal of the central brick floor pattern, as the bricks have become loosened over time. The central path will also be re-laid  to connect the path over the removed central brick pattern.

The replacement of the existing weed membrane with a brand new one will also be carried out, as the original membrane has developed numerous holes, allowing for weeds and grass to grow through. Furthermore, works staff will be removing and replacing the beach stones that lay above the weed membrane for the memorial plaques to sit upon.

“Hailsham Cemetery is a quiet, secluded burial ground run by the Town Council and maintained for maximum peace for those visiting loved ones,” said Town Clerk John Harrison. “We want to ensure that our cemetery provides a fitting and appropriate place for people to visit their loved ones which is why we continue make improvements by carrying out any upgrades and repair work necessary on site. By doing this, we can ensure that the cemetery remains a place the community can be truly proud of.”

Hailsham Cemetery offers spaces for the burial of coffins, as well as two Gardens of Remembrance and a separate space available for the interment of cremated remains. The cemetery also includes an area for ‘meadowland burials’ – for unmarked ‘green’ burials in bio-degradable coffins with no monuments or headstones.

The cemetery grass is cut around the graves on a regular basis and to a generally high standard. The rest of the cemetery is maintained and repaired regularly by the Town Council’s Cemetery Superintendent, and the Town Council inspects and assesses the condition of the cemetery on a regular basis.

Taking into account current restrictions, the cemetery is open for graveside and ashes burials and, in line with the latest Government guidance, the maximum number of mourners/attendees allowed at graveside burial services is 30. Linked ceremonial events such as ash scatterings can continue with up to 6 people in attendance. Social distancing should be maintained between people who do not live together or share a support bubble.

If you are intending to visit and wish to enquire about where a particular burial plot is, please call the Burials Officer on 01323 841702 (9am-4pm, Monday to Friday) or by email (david.saxby@hailsham-tc.gov.uk), who will be happy to assist.