Directory

The following is a brief description of the memorial schemes available at Solihull Cemeteries and Crematoria, they may not be available at all sites.

New schemes are continually being developed and therefore, please contact the appropriate cemetery office for full and up to date details.

The Books of Remembrance provide a permanent record and is a simple dignified memorial. The Books, which are in quarterly volumes, are made from the finest materials, bound in calf vellum and tooled in gold. Entries are made about nine times a year by an expert calligrapher. A page is reserved for each day of the year and the Book remains open every day at the appropriate page, this enables the memorial entries to be viewed on each anniversary usually, on the date of death.

The Books, at both Robin Hood and Woodlands, are housed in their respective Remembrance Books Rooms opposite the crematoria chapels. Personal copies can also be supplied in the form of Miniature Books of Remembrance. The Miniature Books are hand made and of the same design as the Books of Remembrance. They contain colour photographs of the crematorium and grounds and have sufficient dedicatory pages for one or more inscriptions. The Books are normally available four to six weeks after the date of ordering.

Sample copies may be viewed at the Cemetery and Crematorium Office.

The Gardens of Remembrance, (at all cemeteries), are primarily a memorial to all who have been cremated at Solihull’s Crematoria and are designed to create an atmosphere where visitors may find peace and tranquillity. Within these Gardens we have a limited amount of rose bushes, trees and shrubs that are available as forms of memorial, against which an inscribed plaque may be placed. The memorial agreements are for periods of five years, during which time the Council will be responsible for the care and maintenance of the plant, including replacement if necessary. Upon expiry of the dedication period, the option for renewal of the agreement is given.

A personal selection can be made from the plants available by arrangement with the Cemetery and Crematorium Office.

Above Ground Vaults are suitable for up to 2 sets of cremated remains and are currently available at Robin Hood Cemetery. The fee includes for the purchase of the lease and an appropriate container for the cremated remains. A Granite Tablet (see colour choice below) inscribed with up to 80 letters is priced separately. The Cemetery Staff will be pleased to assist with your selection. Alternatively the granite tablet can be purchased from a memorial stonemason of your choice.

Above Ground Vaults are available on a renewable lease of 20 or 40 years.

Please Note,
The cost of the lease is subject to the residency of the deceased person at the time of their death.

Above Ground Vault – Colour Choice Availability

• Black Granite
• Blue pearl
• Balmoral Red
• South African Dark Grey

Various motif designs, photographs, subject to availability, may be included on the granite memorial at additional costs.

Memorial Vase Blocks are available for commemoration, these having a container for placing flowers and a granite panel on which an inscription can be engraved. There are four choices of coloured granite panel, Black, Dark Grey, Karin Grey and Blue Pearl, samples of which can be seen at the Cemetery Office. Lettering is available in Gold and Silver. The memorial agreements are for periods of five years.

There are a number of options available in relation to the memorialisation of Benches and Seating within all Cemeteries and Crematoria sites. It is possible to have a suitably inscribed Memorial Plaque secured to an individual or Communal Bench or Seat, for renewable periods of 5 or 10 years. All seats and benches are sourced from sustainable teak.

The Memorial Plaque is manufactured from Cast Bronze, measuring approx 8” by 2.5” and can accommodate up to 60 letters and spaces on 3 separate lines of text.

In the Gardens of Remembrance at all Cemeteries there are lawns set aside where cremated remains may be scattered either with witnesses present or without. Witness scatterings take place by appointment on weekdays excluding weekends, Public and Bank Holidays. Alternatively cremated remains can be interred into either a family grave or a small plot specifically designed for such purpose and a memorial of an approved design may be placed. The memorial must be manufactured from a durable, quarried stone. Most Stone Masons are familiar with the sizes permissible and will submit, on your behalf, an application for approval in respect of placing the stone.

The plot will be turfed flat and grass cutting maintenance will be undertaken by the burial authority. The placing of railings round the plot, and also planting on the plot is not permitted. Temporary memorial markers are supplied by the Council and placed shortly after the first interment. (Please note, there are no new cremated remains plots available at Robin Hood.)

After burial, a memorial can be erected on the concrete beam foundation adjacent to the grave. The memorial must be manufactured from a quarried stone and comply with the regulations concerning memorial sizes. The Memorial Stonemason of your choice will submit an application form to the Cemetery Office seeking permission for the placing of the memorial on your behalf.

Please note that kerbed surrounds and wooden memorials are not permitted, temporary memorial markers are supplied by the Council and placed shortly after the first interment. This can remain in position for 12 months or until a permanent memorial has been erected.