Insecure installation blamed for Wombourne gravestone failures

An investigation by the Diocese of Lichfield into the high failure rate of memorial stones in Wombourne Churchyard has blamed poor installation by the original stonemasons.

The churchyard is officially closed and responsibility for maintenance falls on the district council. Around 40 per cent of gravestones in the churchyard failed safety tests carried out by South Staffordshire District Council. But the resultant temporary repairs have angered many local residents.

In November the Diocese of Lichfield announced that it would investigate the cause for the high failure rate and discover what could be done to ensure future gravestones are more secure.

The Archdeacon of Lichfield, the Ven Chris Liley, commissioned a report from an experienced stonemason who works in a different part of the West Midlands. As a result of his report, the Archdeacon commissioned more detailed studies from both the National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM), the professional body which represents stone masons; and the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM), which represents operators of burial grounds.

Both reports blame poor installation for the cause of such high failure rate. The report from the ICCM said that installers had "ignored" the recommendations of the NAMM Code of Practice to fit ground anchor systems to memorials.

"Most lawn type memorials appear to have been installed simply using cement in the joint between the memorial base and the foundation, making removal easy. Water then gets into the joint, freezes and the joint eventually fails," the report read.

"The design of the memorial is then such that it is susceptible to falling backwards, with no dowels then there is nothing to stop the memorial falling to the ground and potentially causing injury."

It blamed failure on the lack of dowels or ground anchors between the base of the memorial and the foundation, leaving the memorial with no support.

NAMM agreed, saying, "A lot of lawn memorials were loose at the joint between base and foundation and most showed evidence that the cement joint had failed some time ago.

"Many have been fixed on paving slabs, which unless abraded do not give the cement a good chance to stick. The bottom of the base should also be treated to give adhesion to the cement. The lack of drainage in flower container holes makes freezing a possible reason for this joint failing. In some cases very little cement was used on this joint."

The two organisations were also asked to investigate the testing method used by South Staffordshire District Council following concerns from some members of the local community that it had been excessive. Both reports indicate the Council conducted the tests to a high standard and in accordance with national guidelines.

The ICCM said it could "find no reason why SSDC should be criticised for the memorial safety work they have carried out".

"Indeed, they have gone further than many authorities to ensure all reasonable attempts were made to contact memorial owners, that proper notification was given both prior to and post inspection and that their staff were properly trained to national standards," the body said.

Ven Liley also praised the Council, saying it had "followed the process thoroughly".

The Diocese of Lichfield is now to consider licensing stone masons before they are permitted to carry out work in Church of England churchyards.