EASHING CEMETERY

THE CEMETERY

Godalming Town Council continues to invest in the development and maintenance of Eashing Cemetery. As well as the Traditional Burial area, in 2009 a Natural Burial Area was created and a new Garden of Remembrance, for the burial of cremated remains, was opened in 2018.

If you would like to purchase a burial plot or find out more about the burial options in Eashing Cemetery please complete the enquiry form at the bottom of this page.

HISTORY

By the early 1890’s Godalming’s first publicly operated cemetery (Nightingale Cemetery), located in the north of the town was fast filling up so it was decided to open a second cemetery.  From a shortlist of 5 possible sites the largest, comprising of 20 acres on a hilltop to the south of the town off Eashing Lane, was chosen and the land was purchased in 1893 for £2,000.

The Joint Burial Committee borrowed £5,000 to purchase the land, construct the buildings and set out a cemetery with 20,000 grave spaces.  The first burial took place on 15 June 1900, at the then burial rate it was estimated that Eashing Cemetery would be available for 100 years.

Originally the cemetery was not the same shape and layout as it is now. During the 1930’s, in order to allow new housing to be built on Ockford Ridge, the Joint Burial Committee conducted a land swap with the council. This land swap left the original cemetery lodge outside of the cemetery and the entrance to the cemetery now off of Franklyn Road instead of Eashing Lane.

With the original cemetery lodge now outside of the cemetery, in 1931 the Joint Burial Committee built a new house at the relocated entrance to the cemetery. However, over the years this new lodge fell into disrepair, so in 2007 the Joint Burial Committee decided to refurbish it. As part of the redevelopment two new homes, as well as a new cemetery wall, railings and gate entrance, were constructed.  The project was completed in 2009 when the then Mayor of Godalming opened the refurbished lodge. Present at the ceremony was the daughter-in-law of Mr Thomas Steele who, in 1931, was the first Cemetery Keeper to live in the ‘New’ Lodge; his grave can be found in Eashing Cemetery.

Although in 1900 it was believed that the cemetery would be available for 100 years, the availability of alternatives to burial, such as cremation, has resulted in a marked reduction in the rate of burials in all cemeteries, not just Godalming’s. It is now believed that Eashing Cemetery may well still be open to burials at the end of this century.

ENQUIRY FORM

If you require any further information or you are considering buying a burial plot at either of our cemeteries then please contact us using the form below or calling us on 01483 523575 – Thank you.