There are six cemeteries maintained by Rochdale Borough Council, in addition to two crematoria. Of the five Rochdale council cemeteries, four of them continue to allow the purchase of new burial plots. Like many other local authorities, Rochdale does have restrictions on the types of memorials that can be placed there.
Rochdale Cemetery Chapel
To maintain what the council describe as a dignified, attractive and safe environment, memorials at Rochdale Council cemeteries are restricted to lawn type only. Kerb sets are not allowed, although there is some flexibility when it comes to grave ornamentation. Small vases, wreaths, flowers not exceeding thirty centimetres in height are allowed, providing they are within 45 centimetres of the grave foundation. The cemeteries department does reserve the right however to remove any ornamentation that is sharp, spiked, glass or a tripping hazard.
Middleton Old Cemetery, situated in a heritage area close to Middleton Parish Church, is the one site where new burial plots are no longer available. It is about a mile away from what is now commonly known as Middleton Cemetery at Boarshaw Road, which although the newer cemetery opened as long ago as 1912. There are 24 war graves at Boarshaw Road, six from the First World War and eighteen from the Second. The cemetery has Green Flag status and an active Friends group who take part in the running of it.
Middleton Cemetery is where one of the two crematoria operated by Rochdale Council is situated. There is a chapel, memorial gardens and remembrance rooms, where there are options for the placing of commemorative plaques. It is the same at Rochdale Crematorium, situated in Rochdale Cemetery. It is at Rochdale Cemetery & Crematorium where the administrative staff of the Rochdale Council cemeteries department are based. The office there is open from 8.30am to 12 noon and 1pm to 4.30pm Monday to Friday for both telephone and visitors enquiries. Their contact number is 01706 645219 and they can be contacted by email bereavement.services@rochdale.gov.uk. About one hundred metres from the cemetery’s Bury Road entrance is an aptly named pub, the Cemetery Hotel.
Dearnley Cemetery (in Littleborough) and Heywood cemetery both have new plots available, although these cemeteries have fewer facilities. At Dearnley there are no toilets and the chapel at Heywood was gutted in a fire in February 2021. Both the roof and interior of the chapel, built in 1856, were completely destroyed leaving just the external walls standing.
The newest of the Rochdale Council cemeteries is Denehurst, situated in the picturesque setting of Denehurst Park close to Rochdale FC’s Spotland stadium. Although opened as recently as 2015, the facilities are still basis with no toilets. To maintain a uniform approach, the council has laid out foundations for memorials in advance of the plots being purchased.
Alberti, Lupton & Co. are registered with Rochdale Borough Council and have a permit to work in their cemeteries. We are a family run monumental mason business that has been in existence for over 110 years spanning five generations. We are Greater Manchester’s oldest family run mason and any work we do in Rochdale Council cemeteries will be carried out to NAMM (National Association of Memorial Masons) standards. If you are considering a new memorial or renovation of an existing one in any of the Rochdale Council cemeteries do not hesitate to contact us and we will be pleased to help you.