Sometimes the quietest farewells are the most meaningful.
Families in Tunbridge Wells choose graveside services when they want something personal and intimate.
At Welham Jones, we arrange these services across West Kent.
What is a graveside service?
It’s a ceremony at the burial site where family and friends say their final goodbyes. Takes place at the cemetery, beside the grave. Can follow a church funeral or stand alone.
At Kent and Sussex Cemetery in Tunbridge Wells, families hold the entire service outdoors at the graveside if they want [1]. Cemetery staff sort everything, they prepare the ground, stay throughout, and place flowers on the grave afterwards.
We’ve arranged hundreds over our 10 years serving Tunbridge Wells. Each one different.
The ceremony happens outdoors. No church. No chapel. Just the burial plot and people who cared.
Time-wise, you’re looking at 20 to 45 minutes instead of an hour or more. But brief doesn’t mean it lacks meaning, you can say a lot in half an hour when the words matter.
Fewer formalities, smaller groups. More dependent on weather, sure. But somehow it feels more grounded. More real.
Tunbridge Wells Cemetery opened back in 1873 [2]. Now it’s over 28 acres with more than 44,000 burials. Generations of local families chose this place. There’s proper history here.
Find comfort with personalised funeral arrangements in Tunbridge Wells created with care.
The service includes whatever matters to you. Prayers, readings, music, tributes. Some families keep it simple and quiet. Others want bagpipes, specific poems, hymns that meant something to the person.
Your call entirely.
Kent and Sussex Cemetery and Crematorium is in Hawkenbury, easy to reach from town [3]. The cemetery chapel seats 55 with room for 10 more standing[1]. Plenty of families skip the chapel though and do everything outside.
Cemetery staff handle the practical bits – prepare the grave, stay around, reinstate everything after[1].
Location: Kent and Sussex Cemetery and Crematorium, Benhall Mill Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells TN2 5JJ [Map]
Last year Tunbridge Wells had over 2,000 cremations but only about 110 burials [4]. Burial’s become less common. But for families who choose it, the cemetery’s a dignified place.
We handle the arrangements. All of them.
Before the service: We collect your loved one and look after them. Sort all documentation, death certificates, cemetery permits, burial permissions. Book the date and time. Arrange the officiant (vicar, celebrant, whoever you want). Provide the hearse and pallbearers. Coordinate with florists if needed.
On the day: One of our funeral directors oversees it all. We arrive early, position the coffin properly, guide mourners, work with the officiant to keep things running smoothly.
After the service: We complete the burial. Some families stay and take part. Others leave before the grave gets filled. Both are fine. We handle it carefully either way.
Our Classic package covers everything for a dignified graveside service. Costs £4,610* plus your choice of coffin and third-party cemetery fees [5].
We support families with compassionate planning for traditional funerals.
Some families do a full service in church, then go to the cemetery for a brief committal. Others hold everything graveside and skip church completely.
Neither’s wrong.
Graveside-only works well when your loved one wasn’t religious. When you want fewer people there. When budget’s a concern (graveside services cost less than full church funerals). When weather’s decent. When they valued simplicity.
Burial numbers have dropped compared to cremation [4]. But for those choosing burial, a graveside service offers something personal.
Most follow a similar pattern:
Welcome (2-3 minutes): Officiant greets everyone.
Prayers or readings (5-10 minutes): Religious or not. Family members read poems, scripture, whatever’s meaningful.
Eulogy (5-8 minutes): Someone shares memories.
Music (3-5 minutes): Optional. Live, recorded, or sung.
Committal (3-5 minutes): Officiant speaks the committal words as the coffin lowers. In some traditions, mourners place flowers or soil on the coffin.
Closing words (2-3 minutes): Officiant wraps up.
Total: usually 20-40 minutes.
The cemetery chapel welcomes all denominations and doesn’t display fixed religious symbols. Everyone’s welcome regardless.
Funeral costs break into three bits:
Our charges cover professional services, collecting your loved one, caring for them, sorting paperwork, providing hearse and staff, coordinating everything. Classic package: £4,610* [5].
Coffin costs (see here) range from £520* for cardboard coffin up to over £2,000 for premium solid wood. Most families spend £600-£1,000. We’ve got cardboard and eco-friendly options too.
Third-party fees:
Optional extras:
We give you a full written estimate before you commit to anything. No hidden charges.
Graveside services cost less than traditional funerals because there’s no church fees, no separate venue hire, no extra transport between locations.
Our Welham Jones Direct funeral package is £3,700*, includes the basics: care, choice of date and time, funeral director, hearse, pallbearers. Then add your chosen coffin and cemetery fees.
The town started with water. In 1606, Lord North found a chalybeate spring – iron-rich water people reckoned could heal [6]. The Pantiles and this spring became what Tunbridge Wells was known for [7].
Growth was rapid – 5,929 people in 1831, then 8,302 by 1841. Kent’s fastest growing town [8].
King Edward VII gave the “Royal” prefix in 1909 [7].
We’ve been here over 25 years. Know the roads, the cemetery, the local churches. When you work with us, you’re dealing with people who actually live here.
Cemetery’s in Hawkenbury, north of town centre.
By car: Head north on Calverley Road/A264. Keep going onto Forest Road, turn left onto Benhall Mill Road. Free parking on site.
By bus: The 285 runs from central Tunbridge Wells and the train station straight to the crematorium [9].
By train: Tunbridge Wells station’s in the town centre. Grab the 285 bus or a taxi (10 minutes or so).
After a graveside service, families sometimes meet up nearby. Dunorlan Park’s close to the cemetery, historic park with ornamental gardens, listed Grade II by English Heritage [7].
The Grove’s another peaceful spot. A landowner gave this park to the town back in 1703 [6].
For indoor gatherings, town centre’s 10-15 minutes away. The Pantiles has cafes and restaurants that work for funeral receptions. We can sort catering if needed.
We’re your neighbours, not some corporate chain.
Ring us and you’ll speak to someone who knows Tunbridge Wells. Who’s probably done services at the same cemetery where your loved one will be laid to rest.
We’ve got the resources of a big company, multiple locations, modern facilities, full vehicle fleet, experienced staff. But we run it as a family business. When you meet us to arrange a graveside service, you’ll probably sit with the same person who’ll be there on the day.
We don’t pass you around departments. We listen to what you need and figure out how to make it happen.
You can trust our trusted Tunbridge Wells funeral director to handle all aspects of your loved one’s farewell.
The cemetery chapel takes all denominations and doesn’t display fixed religious symbols [1]. Church of England, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, whatever, we’ll work with you to arrange appropriate rites.
For Christian services, a vicar or priest usually leads the committal. Jewish funerals often have mourners placing soil on the coffin, we bring shovels for that. Muslim burials need to happen fast, typically within 24 hours. We work efficiently to meet those requirements.
Not everyone wants religious elements. A humanist or civil celebrant can lead a secular service that focuses on the person’s life instead.
These often include personal tributes, favourite music, readings from literature or poetry, moments for quiet reflection.
When families have mixed religious backgrounds, we help find middle ground. Might mean including both Christian and Hindu prayers. Or a civil ceremony with one religious reading. Depends what works for your situation.
Celebrate your loved one with warmth through our celebration of life services in Tunbridge Wells.
British weather’s unpredictable. Rain, wind, cold can make outdoor services uncomfortable.
The cemetery chapel gives you an indoor backup. We can switch the service inside at short notice if needed.
For light rain, we’ve got large umbrellas. If the forecast looks terrible, we’ll chat about postponing a day or two.
Yes, if their parents reckon it’s appropriate.
Graveside services are usually shorter and less formal than church funerals, which can actually suit young children better. They don’t have to sit still for ages.
Our take: prepare them beforehand. Explain what’ll happen. Let them ask questions. Give them the choice whether to come or not.
Traditional funeral dress means dark colours, black, navy, grey, dark brown. Comfortable shoes matter, especially if the ground’s wet.
Some families ask for different dress codes, bright colours, football shirts for a keen supporter. Follow whatever the family’s requested.
Winter services need warm clothing. You’ll be standing outside 30-40 minutes. Summer services, the cemetery hasn’t got much shade. Hat and water might be sensible, particularly for elderly guests.
Yeah. It’s your family’s service.
Personalisation might mean playing their favourite songs, having grandchildren read poems, displaying photos, releasing butterflies or doves (we arrange this if required).
Some families get order of service booklets printed. We sort that from £127* for 30 copies.
You don’t need to sort a memorial headstone straight away. Most families wait a few months.
Cemetery has regulations about what memorials are allowed. We’ll explain the options and put you in touch with memorial masons. For more information about our Tunbridge Wells memorial maker services, click the link.
You’ve got 12 months from burial to get a memorial installed.
Cemetery grounds get maintained by contractors and the Friends of Tunbridge Wells Cemetery group. Families can put flowers down anytime.
Cemetery’s open 9am to 8pm or sunset, whichever’s earlier [2].
Lots of families hold a reception after a graveside service.
We can arrange catering at local venues. Budget roughly £35 per person for basic buffet.
Death doesn’t stick to office hours. Neither do we.
Telephone: 01892 300330 (24-hour line)
Email: tunbridgewells@welhamjones.co.uk
Visit us: 39 Crescent Rd, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2LZ [Map]
Offices open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Weekend appointments available.
An actual person from our team answers the phone.
They’ll ask basic questions: What happened? Where’s your loved one now? When do you want to meet?
We’ll arrange to sit down together, usually within a day or two. Takes about 90 minutes.
You’re not committed till you’re ready. Take your time. Ask whatever you need to.
Some people prefer arranging their own graveside service in advance.
Pre-planning doesn’t mean pre-paying, though that’s an option if you want. We can just record your wishes and file them.
Losing someone’s hard. Sorting funeral arrangements whilst grieving feels overwhelming.
We can’t take away your pain. But we can remove the practical worries and create a meaningful graveside service.
We have been serving Tunbridge Wells families from our funeral home since 2015, we’ve learnt every family’s different. Every loss is unique. We listen to what you need and figure out how to make it happen.
Ring us anytime: 01892 300330
*NOTE: Prices as off October 2025.
[1] “The Cemetery Chapel,” Kent and Sussex Crematorium, https://kentandsussexcrematorium.com/our-services/cemetery/the-cemetery-chapel/
[2] “Kent and Sussex Crematorium and Cemetery,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_and_Sussex_Crematorium_and_Cemetery
[3] “Deaths, burials and cremations,” Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, https://tunbridgewells.gov.uk/community-and-leisure/burials-and-cremations
[4] “Council Leader tours crematorium,” Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, https://tunbridgewells.gov.uk/news/2022/december/council-leader-tours-crematorium
[5] “Prices & Charges,” Welham Jones Funerals & Memorials
[6] “A History of Tunbridge Wells,” Local Histories, https://localhistories.org/a-history-of-tunbridge-wells/
[7] “Royal Tunbridge Wells,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Tunbridge_Wells
[8] “History of Tunbridge Wells,” Visit Tunbridge Wells, https://visittunbridgewells.com/inspire-me/history-heritage/history-of-tunbridge-wells/
[9] “Kent and Sussex Cemetery and Crematorium in Tunbridge Wells,” Fenix Funerals, https://fenixfuneral.co.uk/locations/cemeteries/kent/tunbridge-wells/kent-and-sussex-cemetery-and-crematorium-tunbridge-wells-kent/
How long does a graveside service last?
Most run between 20 and 45 minutes. Shorter than a traditional church funeral but enough time for prayers, readings, eulogies, and the committal.
Can we have a graveside service if we've already had a funeral?
Yeah. Some families do a church funeral with loads of guests, then later have a private graveside committal for immediate family only. Or you might have a cremation followed by burial of ashes with a graveside ceremony.
Do we have to use Kent and Sussex Cemetery?
No. It’s the main cemetery in Tunbridge Wells, but you can choose burial elsewhere. Some families prefer their local parish churchyard. Others pick a natural burial ground. We arrange graveside services at any cemetery in West Kent and South East London.
What if relatives can't attend the graveside service?
We can arrange video recording to share with distant relatives. Or some families do the graveside service, then have a memorial gathering later when more people can come.
How quickly after death does the burial happen?
For non-religious families, typically 3-5 weeks after death. Gives time to arrange everything and for relatives to travel. Religious traditions differ, Jewish and Muslim burials happen within 24-48 hours. We work to your timeline.
Can we scatter ashes at the graveside instead of burying a coffin?
Yeah. If your loved one was cremated, you can hold a graveside service when scattering or burying their ashes. Cemetery’s got designated areas for ash interment.
What happens if someone can't afford a graveside service?
The Department for Work and Pensions has Funeral Expenses Payment for eligible people. Local charities sometimes help too. Don’t let money worries stop you ringing.
Are graveside services only for burials or for cremated remains too?
Graveside services work for both burial of a coffin and interment of cremated remains. Some families bury an urn with ashes. Others scatter ashes in the cemetery’s garden of remembrance.
Address:
39 Crescent Rd
Royal Tunbridge Wells
TN1 2LZ
How to find us: Map
Phone: 01892 300330
Email: tunbridgewells@welhamjones.co.uk
Business Hours:
Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm
Saturday and Sunday: appointment only
For community deaths outside those hours, we also provide a 24/7 response, 365 days of the year.
