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Norse Road Crematorium and Cemetery

Memorial Service Friday 29 September

Remembering our loved ones

Bedford Borough Council is inviting residents to come together to remember and celebrate the lives of loved friends and family members who have passed away.

The service will take place at Norse Road Crematorium, Bedford, MK41 0RL (What3words: windy.bubble.assets) on Friday, September 29, from 11 - 11.30am.  

You can find out more about the Memorial Service on our news pages.

Use the button below to join the Memorial Service online from 10.45am ready for the start of the service at 11am (username: loqe0064 and password: 206786)

Join the Memorial Service online

After the Memorial Service, we will share a recording on this webpage. 

Crematorium

Norse Road Crematorium is located at the same site as Norse Road Cemetery. The chapel has several interesting features and can easily accommodate up to 150 mourners. The crematorium has toilet facilities, along with hot and cold drink dispenser.

Garden of Remembrance 

The Garden of Remembrance is divided into four seasons of the year. Cremated remains may be interred in any season of the year if bereaved families wish. However it is usual for the cremated remains to be interred in the season of the death. The gardens are designed to be at their best during the season in which the death occurred. Staff at the Cemetery and Crematorium office are always on hand to discuss any memorial option which the bereaved may wish to purchase.

There are available wall plaques, kerb plaques, dedicated rose bushes with plaques, dedicated trees with plaques, columbaria with black granite fascia tablet and a recent introduction of the base block and tablet, where flowers may be left to a loved one next to the memorial plaque.

View the map of the Gardens of Remembrance (PDF).

For more information please contact us at: crem@bedford.gov.uk to make an appointment.

Exclusive rights of burial

Before a headstone can be erected onto a grave at Norse Road Cemetery, the exclusive rights of burial must be purchased. 

Adult Exclusive Rights of Burial Application form (Word, 36KB)

Child Exclusive Rights of Burial Application form (Word, 36KB)

Denominational areas

The main central section is a multi denominational area. People of all beliefs are buried side by side. There is a Muslim area which is set aside for the use of the Muslim community. There is also a separate infants section where small graves are provided. Again, this is a multi denominational section.

Mausoleums and burial chambers

There are a number of new and innovative types of burial systems now available at Norse Road. Mausoleums are provided for the interment of individuals above ground, with a plaque at the end of the chamber. We also provide concrete burial chambers which are similar to a normal interment, except that the grave is lined by the chamber and part of it is above the ground, where a number of memorial options are available. Norse Road Cemetery has developed a new section with various above ground chambers now available such as Mausoleums, Side Loading Mausoleums and Burial Chambers.

If you are interested in purchasing/reserving a mausoleum or burial chamber, please choose from:

To complement the wide variety of interment options, we also have a Woodland Burial section.

Opening hours

Vehicle access is permitted into the cemetery as follows:

  • November - February 8am to 4:30pm
  • April - September 8am to 8pm
  • October and March 8am to 6pm 

Last admittance to the grounds is 15 minutes before closing time

No vehicles will be allowed to remain after closing time.   Failure to exit the grounds on time, will result in the vehicle being locked in overnight and access not permitted until the following morning

The cemetery offers unlimited pedestrian access everyday 365 days per year, including bank holidays.

Please note; the book of remembrance room is closed, the books have been relocated to the side window of the cemetery building, under the archway.  Flowers may be left in the Garden of Remembrance. There is one public toilet available during the opening hours.

On rare occasions we may find it necessary to close all gates due to severe weather events, maintenance works or other circumstances where we deem it necessary to do so, however, this generally does not affect services taking place and is for the safety of visiting public.

Parking at the cemetery and crematorium

There are parking facilities for visitors to the cemetery and crematorium complex. 

The main car park is located near to the crematorium building and there is additional car parking to the front of the site - both car parking areas are well sign posted from the main entrance.  In addition to this visitors are permitted to drive around the site, parking appropriately using the driveways, in order to attend graves or as part of any funeral cortege.

View the site plan of the car parking facilities.

Conducted tours

Staff at the site are always ready to give conducted tours of the Crematorium and Cemetery. These tours can be for organisations or individuals.

We are committed to explain about all aspects of the Cemetery and Crematorium in order for people to make informed decisions, in particular about the types of funeral and commemoration they want after their own death.

Unfortunately, during these unprecedented times, we are unable to offer conducted tours of the crematorium and cemetery grounds.

Contact Bereavement Services 

The offices are closed to visitors. In all cases, please contact us via email or telephone. Face to face contact will be limited and only undertaken when an appointment has been pre-booked in advance. Appointments are limited and will be held outside within the cemetery grounds, maintaining social distancing. 

Email: crem@bedford.gov.uk
Telephone: 01234 718150

Bereavement Services
The Cemetery Complex
104 Norse Road
Bedford
MK41 0RL