The picture I posted was taken a couple of years ago, yes, North Lanarkshire Council, in line with all other district councils in Scotland, is responsible for the upkeep of the churchyard. To give credit where it is due, since I brought the neglected condition of this burial ground to the attention of the Head of Cemeteries and Parks (or whatever his title is now) much has been done to preserve what is left. A ten foot hedge has been cut down, so drug addicts, drunks, vandals etc can now be seen by passers by, something that those sort of low-life don't like, so they have moved elsewhere. The monumental inscriptions have been transcribed too, so that helps researchers who can't go there in person.
I didn't see the TV programme, I'll try and find it.
I do know that there is now a chance that coffin plates could be found, a fantastic bonus for the genealogist. That was the case when Airdrie burgh exhumed half of Chapel Street burial ground in the 1930s. The burgh engineer kept a meticulous record and also recorded the MIs. Many coffin plates were found, some dating back almost to 1800, but no headstone or perhaps a worn inscription. So without the coffin plates, the information would have been lost for ever.
It's worth noting that it was very common here in Scotland for gravediggers to unearth bones while opening family plots, and to just throw the bones away. There is much evidence for this. Has no one ever heard of charnel houses?
Many places only rent out graves, if the heirs don't pay the rent out the bones go and the grave is re-let. Have a look at the famous cemeteries in Paris - Per Lachase, Montparnase, Montmartre etc. The rented plot is called a concession, purchased for 50 - 99 years or in perpetuity.
The graves are walled inside, like vaults, no earth in them, just a heavy slab to cover them over with. So if the rent doesn't get paid the grave can easily be cleared out. As far as I know they bones are cremated.
The cemetery officials spend about 10 years trying to contact the owners - some of whom have been dead for about 100 years - or their heirs and successors, every chance is given but if after the alloted time no one comes forward the plots are re-sold. People are dying to get them!
Little plaques are put on the tombs, announcing the fact that proceedings are underway.
So unless you know a good curse, (like Shakespere's) there is no guarantee your bones wont be moved.
