Renfrewshire Council

Cemeteries

Cemeteries, cost of internment, woodland burials, crematorium, war memorials, arranging a burial or headstone, change of details, cemetery records, monument and headstone inspections.

On this page:


Cemetery arrangements during Easter weekend 2024

There will be no burials on:

  • Friday 29 March
  • Saturday 30 March
  • Sunday 31 March
  • Monday 1st April

However, cemeteries will remain open for public access as normal.

The Cemeteries Admin Office will be closed on Friday 29 March and Monday 1st April. It will open again at 8.45am on Tuesday 2 April. 

You can contact Cemetery Staff on 0300 300 0380 during opening hours.


Cemeteries in Renfrewshire

We provide a burial service and maintain nine cemeteries within Renfrewshire. 

CemeteryLocationTown
AbbeyAbbey RoadElderslie
ArklestonArkleston RoadRenfrew
BishoptonHouston RoadBishopton
BroomwardOld RoadElderslie
HawkheadHawkhead RoadPaisley
HoustonHouston RoadHouston
InchinnanOld Greenock RoadInchinnan
KilbarchanBridge of Weir RoadBrookfield
LochwinnochLinthills RoadLochwinnoch

Cost of lairs and interment

There is no charge for interment fees, lair purchase and headstone permits and foundation for a child under 18 years of age.

Cost of a lair

Cost for lairs
TypeCost
New lair (Renfrewshire resident)  £999.50
New lair (Resident is from outside of Renfrewshire with an exemption for any person who has lived in the district for 50 years or more)£2998.50

 Interments and associated services

Internment fees
TypeCost
Adult over 18 (Renfrewshire resident)£913.00
Adult over 18 (from outside of Renfrewshire)*£2739.00
Cremated remains (Renfrewshire Resident)£258.00
Cremated remains (from outside of Renfrewshire)*£774.00
Registration of transfer£29.15
Issue of certificate other than original£29.15
Search fee (excluding VAT) £39.60
Headstone foundation charge£250.00

*There is a surcharge of +200% for someone from outside the district with an exemption for any person who has lived in the district for 50 years or more.


Woodland burial site at Lochwinnoch Cemetery

Our woodland burial site at Lochwinnoch cemetery offers a return to nature for those who wish to be buried in a woodland setting among birds, mammals and wildflowers. 

The area is managed for the benefit and development of the wildflowers, trees and wildlife. It is an informal setting sloping down to the River Calder. It isn't suitable for those who wish a burial in a formal layout with regularly maintained grass.

Each lair holds one burial. You can buy lairs beside each other for family members who wish to be buried together. These lairs cost the same price as conventional lairs.

Memorials are not permitted. Once a section is filled up, suitable trees will be planted there. 

There are two small commemorative walls at the entrance to the woodland burial site. Lair holders can arrange the placing of name plaques and messages on the commemorative walls.

While the use of environmentally friendly coffins such as cardboard or wicker is preferred, we do not exclude burials in traditionally made coffins.


Woodside Cemetery and Crematorium

Woodside Cemetery and Crematorium is a privately run business. You can contact them at 0141 889 2260.


War memorials

We are responsible for the maintenance of numerous war memorials in the towns and villages of Renfrewshire. 

With the exception of those memorials located within cemeteries, most can be visited at any time. 

A memorial to the Victoria Cross medal winners from the Renfrewshire area was unveiled on 26 June 2007 in Hawkhead Cemetery.

Main war memorial locations

The main war memorial locations in Renfrewshire are in:

  • Hairst street, Renfrew
  • Bowfield Road, Howwood
  • Bishopton Road, Houston
  • Houston Square, Johnstone
  • The Cross, Kilbarchan
  • Abbey Cemetery, Elderslie
  • Kilbarchan Road, Bridge of Weir
  • Harvey Square, Lochwinnoch
  • Hawkhead Cemetery, Paisley
  • Paisley Cross, Paisley.

Arranging a burial

If you are arranging a funeral through an undertaker, the undertaker will contact our office on your behalf to provide the information we require for the burial. 

Some interments such as cremated remains can be arranged privately.


Arranging a headstone

Lair holders are entitled to have a memorial erected at their lair. Normally, monumental masons submit a memorial application to the council on behalf of the lairholder. The monumental mason can then proceed with the installation of the memorial. Certain styles of memorials may not require a foundation.

For further information please use our contact details at the bottom of this page. The lairholder remains responsible for all future maintenance of the memorial.


Change of details / transfer of title deeds

In order to maintain accurate records, it is important lairholders or other family members advise our office of any changes in lairholder name, address, etc. 

Upon the death of the lairholder, the lair should be transferred to maintain a point of contact for any issues which may arise regarding the lair or memorial.


Checking cemetery records

The records for all our cemeteries are held at the cemetery office in Renfrewshire House. 

Depending on the accuracy of the information you provide and the volume requested we may be able to provide this free of charge, however, there may be a charge for this service

If you want to find out where someone is buried, you should use the contact details below.


Monument and headstone inspections

Work is ongoing within our cemeteries and churchyards to carry out inspections of memorial monuments and headstones, with any found to be dangerous or unsafe being laid flat.

This follows the introduction of guidance by the Scottish Government to ensure memorial safety following the tragic death of a child in a Scottish cemetery.

All work will be carried out as sensitively and respectfully as possible. It is unfortunately not possible to reach lair owners in advance of an inspection and work being carried out, but marker notices and signage at each cemetery are in place to provide lair holders with information to contact us for details on how to ensure their memorial meets the required safety standards.

You can contact us for more information via 0300 300 0380 or email ei@renfrewshire.gov.uk.