The coffin

Purchasing or making a coffin

Coffins can be made from traditional woods, biodegradable material, wicker, bamboo, cardboard or a cloth burial shroud. Alternatively you may wish to make or paint the coffin yourself.

There are many different coffin suppliers and the cemetery office can provide you with an information sheet, even if you would like to arrange for an unusual coffin, such as a skateboard, or a guitar. The cemetery office will need to know in advance of the burial date, the outside measurements of the coffin (width, length and height) in order that they can prepare the grave to the appropriate size.

Transportation of coffin

You will need to consider how you will transport the coffin from the house or hospital to the cemetery. Vehicles that have been used in the past are an estate car, transit van, hired traditional or horse-drawn hearse, or even a motorcycle hearse sidecar. Further information is available from the cemetery office.