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Dig and deepen?
• PARISH churchyards coped with the interment of the deceased until they became overcrowded as London expanded in the 19th century.
The ground had been reused and the bones removed were stored in a charnel house. Hamlet muses on the skull of Yorick, unearthed when a grave was prepared (he knew him well). That problem was solved by allowing commercial cemeteries, such as Highgate and Kensal Green, to operate.
These are almost full now, hence the concern that grave space is running out. There is no need to use common lands as suggested by Peter Cuming (Letters, January 3) as a method of reusing old graves has been devised. This is “Dig and deepen” where the remains are removed, the grave deepened, the bones reinterred, and the vacated space made available for further use. The previous burial must be at least 75 years distant, and anyone with legal interest can object and prevent such reuse. Though cremation is used for 72 per cent of disposals, a substantial demand exists for burial spaces, and must be provided. Ashes are sometimes strewn on football fields, but to date no fans have been interred there. The ground takes time to settle once used and a dip in the pitch would make shots at a goal hazardous.
SKIP MURPHY
Prince of Wales Road, NW1
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