Restoring grave with unknown ownership

[ajf101]

Hello, I thought this might be a common question but I've not been able to find anything on Google.

In the course of my family history research I found the grave of a distant aunt, who died in 1898, buried in a prestigious position in Brompton Cemetery. The engraving is virtually impossible to read however and it's in bad shape.

I naively thought, "wouldn't it be good if this could be restored". But I have no idea how to go about this. I have no idea of the grave ownership. The person in question died a spinster, and the lady she worked for paid for her grave. But she too died a spinster, with property going to various nephews and friends. I reckon it would be next-to impossible to work out where the grave ownership has been passed.

Is it at all practical to get a restoration done when ownership is unknown? Is it worth caring about?

[rosie99]

Have you tried contacting the cemetery and asking them what the position would be 

[ajf101]

Unfortunately they stopped responding when I said I wasn't the owner.

[bearkat]

This may be helpful

https://www.memorialsofdistinction.co.uk/useful-guides/can-anyone-put-a-headstone-on-a-grave

[Rosinish]

I have no idea of the grave ownership. The person in question died a spinster, and the lady she worked for paid for her grave. But she too died a spinster, with property going to various nephews and friends.

Is the lady who paid for the grave, buried there too?

If not, it may be worth sending another email or a chat with them, with all known details, emphasising the owner is also deceased i.e. no ownership known & you'd like to restore the stone & ask them how you'd go about it?

Annie

[Guy Etchells]

I agree with Annie, it would be worth getting back in touch with the cemetery and explain the full circumstances, the grave owner has died, the person buried in the grave is an ancestor of yours and you wish to have the stone restored/replaced at your expense.
I would suggest before you do that, you contact a stone mason close to the cemetery and get an estimate of the costs involved, you may find it costs more than you would be prepared to pay.

The cemetery may not allow you to go ahead or they may tell you the grave has been re-registered since the owners death even if you do go ahead the grave owner may demand the "new" stone is removed. If it was me I would give it a try.
Cheers
Guy