York Cemetery is a small independent burial ground, owned, operated, and managed by York Cemetery Trust We are an “open Cemetery”, which means that people of any religion or no religion at all can be interred here. An “interment” is a burial in the ground of either a coffin or cremated remains. There is no requirement to be a citizen of York: we welcome everyone.
The Cemetery Manager and staff give their personal attention to every step of arranging and carrying out an interment. Whether you are interested in buying a grave for immediate use, re-using an existing family grave, planning a funeral service, enquiring about a memorial stone, or arranging maintenance of a grave, you will receive our full and careful attention. Please telephone Wendy Archbell, Cemetery Manager, on 01904 610578 or email admin@yorkcemetery.org.uk to make an appointment to discuss all aspects of the Cemetery business.
**Please note that after 1 March 2026 it will no longer be possible to purchase cremated remains plots in advance. All plot purchases after this date must be for immediate use.**
Funerals
You may hold a religious or non-religious memorial gathering at York Cemetery, and our Grade II* listed Pritchett Chapel with its elegant, classical, interior is a beautifully serene setting to hold a funeral or remembrance service. In addition, we have the newly completed Harriet Centre which has a kitchen area with seating and large sliding doors that open onto a patio area leading on to the wildlife pond. The building may be hired for as long as you need, from an hour to a full day, and we can provide a list of funeral directors, celebrants and caterers to assist your planning. Please contact the Cemetery Manager on 01904 610578 or email admin@yorkcemetery.org.uk to discuss the location and availability of plots.
There is limited parking at the Cemetery; at busy times it may be necessary to close the main gates when there are no more parking spaces available. The nearest car park is the pay and display in Kent Street (YO10 4AH).
Buying the Burial Rights to a Plot
York Cemetery is varied in its landscape and atmosphere and there are plots available in many areas and, of course, loved ones may be interred in an existing family plot within the grounds. New grave plots are available in both the Victorian and Modern Sections of the Cemetery. Old graves can be re-opened provided it can be established that the executors of the person to be interred have the burial rights, or have written permission of the person who does, and that it can be established that there is still space within the grave. Please contact the Cemetery Manager on admin@yorkcemetery.org.uk to discuss the location and availability of plots.
The pre purchase of the burial rights to a plot is now only possible for cremated remains graves.
Please note: ‘burial rights’ (i.e. the right to determine who may be interred in a grave) are those which the owner of a grave gains when purchasing or completing a transfer of a grave. The ground itself remains the property of the Trust and is subject to our regulations. For further information on this subject, please contact the Cemetery Manager on 01904 610578, or email admin@yorkcemetery.org.uk