I visited the cemetery twice recently to find a relatives grave. On both occasions the office staff were most helpful and gave me a map showing the grave location. Unfortunately, I was still unable to find the grave until a groundsman named Ian came to assist me. He eventually found the grave after much searching but I would never have found it without his help. Thanks to all the staff with a particular thank you to Ian. A good experience all round.
Very large cemetery that includes a crematorium and chapel. Some areas look overgrown, but have signs saying they are deliberate nature areas. Other parts look very nice with winding pathways and landscaped gardens.
So today my husband, myself and my sister made a trip to Kingston cemetery to pay our respects to 14 close relatives of our mother's side of family. We had a map and burial plot numbers, in sections: C,D and E. On entering through the gates the view was beautiful and very welcoming. Unfortunately for us, our family's graves were away from the well tended central avenue that runs from the main gate to the crematorium. We found our sections easily, but trying to "get" to the graves was IMPOSSIBLE. To discover the section, where your loved ones are laid to rest over grown with brambles, nettles, long grass, etc is very upsetting. It is in our opinion disrespectful. In the end we laid 8 flowers under a tree for the graves we couldn't reach. Surely everybody buried in this cemetery deserves the same rights to have their final resting place, whatever section it is in, to be neat and tidy.
Can completely sympathise with Carol Brian's review. Hadn't been to the cemetery since the covid outbreak and went this last Sunday to visit my father's grave in this so-called nature area. I knew exactly where it was but it took 10 minutes to find it - eventually espying one corner of the gravestone otherwise completely covered in brambles. Have a David Attenborough type video to prove it. Took 4 hours to clear with many brambles 10 to 12 ft long. I appreciate the weather has been very wet of late but this overgrown mess looks dreadful and reflects very badly on any duty of care ethos apparently shown elsewhere on the site. The strimmers were out in force on Monday but should have been employed there. After all it is a cemetery first and foremost - much as I applaud nature conservation, brambles have proved they don't need it.
WE VISITED TODAY so my wife could put flowers on her mum and dad's grave site there is a cage surrounding the site to enable essential BUILDING work to be carried out an employee called Warren was so helpfull and sympathetic he went behind and we were able to hand him the flowers THOUROUGH gentleman don't know how much WARREN IS PAID BUT HE DESERVES A PAY RISE THANK YOU WARREN FOR YOUR help 5 STARR absoloutly
Kingston Cemetery and Crematorium are very well looked after and presentable. The atmosphere is tranquil and welcoming to those remembering their loved ones, and it is also pleasant to walk through. I have been here on many occasions to remember family members that are no longer with us, and also have attended several services at the crematorium too. The staff are very well mannered and friendly and are always willing to help where they can. 10 out of 10 for them, would recommend them anytime.
went to pick up my mum's ashes today from them - not a pleasant experience and they could have helped make it less upsetting. The actual grounds however are beautiful. Just the people in the front office need training in how to show compassion and respect.
I visited the cemetery recently and I was shocked at the state of it. Where my parents are buried, the area is ‘laid to lawn’, so is reasonably tidy, and the grass is neatly cut. However, other areas are untidy and appear untended. There are some areas designated ‘conservation areas’, which, I feel, are just an excuse for leaving them to go wild and untidy.I think that this lack of care merely shows how little respect there is for the people who have been laid to rest there. To be frank, I was appalled at the state of it. I’ve read some of the reviews and it seems that some people have allowed themselves to accept very poor standards. Mrs J. Appleby.
The so called Wildlife and Conservation areas of the Cemetery are a joke. In my opinion it's just a way of saving money. I will be going back to see if the war graves are overgrown ,and will report them to higher authorities if they are. Rant over.
Lovely grounds with lots of wildlife. Very peaceful and well maintained to encourage animals but respectfully maintained for the bereaved also. A place I'd be happy to lay my family to rest.
