Blackburn With Darwen Council maintains cemeteries at Blackburn, Darwen (Old & East – situated either side of A666) and Pleasington, where there is also a crematorium.  

In Blackburn and Darwen Old cemeteries, no new graves are available but burials can be arranged in existing plots.  Pleasington has a woodland section for eco-friendly burials. 

The telephone number for all cemeteries is 01254 202021 and the email is cemeteries@blackburn.gov.uk

Pleasington Cemetery & Crematorium Darwen Old & Eastern Cemetery

Off Tower Road
Blackburn
BB2 5LE

 Cemetery Road, Darwen, BB3 2LS
   
Blackburn Cemetery  

313 Whalley New Road

Blackburn

BB1 9SR

 

Registration Scheme

Blackburn With Darwen Council operates a mason registration scheme. Only masons who have satisfied certain conditions and are BRAMM registered are allowed to work in council cemeteries.  This is to ensure good working practice and secure fixing of memorials to safeguard cemetery visitors. 

Cemetery Charges

Click here for a full list of fees and charges. 

 
Permitted Sizes

Please contact the council direct regarding maximum permitted sizes.

Foundations & Plinths

All new graves at Plesington and Darwen East cemeteries already have concrete plinths so headstones can be installed as soon as the burial has taken place.  

For memorials at in existing graves, the headstone must be fixed with a ground anchoring system.

Kerb Sets

No kerb sets are allowed by the council as they impede mowing and can create a trip hazard.

Additional Notes

Cemetery opening times in Blackburn With Darwen vary as follows:- 

Pleasington & Darwen (Old & Eastern)

April to September 9am-9pm

October 9am to 8pm

November to March 9am-4pm

Blackburn:

April to September 10am-830pm

October 10am to 8pm

November to March 10am-430pm

m to 8pm in October and 9am to 4pm November to March.

Application Procedure

Grave purchases can be arranged via a funeral director or by contacting the council directly on 01254 202021.

Graves can be pre-purchased by completing a form and making advance payment. These forms are available from the council.

For permission to erecct a memorial, a council registered mason must send in a plan of the proposed memorial for approval. This should detail dimensions, type of stone and inscription. There is a fee to pay for the right to erect a memorial. 

Cemetery Regulations

Cemetery Regulations updated in 2021 can be viewed here.