About Us

The Town of Durham's municipal cemetery is located east of downtown on Route 155A (Main Street extension, or Lee Road), at the corner of Technology Drive.  Started in the 1930, the current cemetery replaced the Schoolhouse Lane graveyard near Town Hall.

The Cemetery Committee, made up of the three Trustees of the Trust Funds and three Town Councilors, is responsible for the sales of graves and the administration of cemetery matters.  Lawn mowing and maintenance is done by the Public Works department.  The Town sells graves and plots only, and does not undertake burials or installation/maintenance of headstones.  "The installation, care and maintenance of monuments and markers are the responsibility of the owner of the burial plot (or heirs and assigns)."  This includes any cleaning or re-setting of monuments or foundations which may have tipped.  All burials and installations must, however, be approved by the Committee Chair prior to work being started and please be sure to inform your monument/marker installer to notify the Cemetery Chair prior to installation.  Note:  "Appropriate monuments and/or markers are required to be installed on all burial plots or graves within six (6) months of the initial burial within that plot."

Please note that the Cemetery Regulations state:     "Non-natural grave decorations, including plastic or silk flowers, are discouraged and may be removed at the discretion of the Chair. Solar or battery powered lights are prohibited.  All dead or damaged plantings, broken pots, vases and other unsightly grave decorations will be removed and disposed of."

And: "The planting of flowers on graves should be to the side and in close proximity of the upright monument so as not to impede or interfere with grass mowing and trimming. The Town and Cemetery Committee are not responsible for damage to plantings from mowing and trimming activities." 

 Please carefully review the Procedures & Regulations found on this website.

All inquiries should be directed to the current Committee Chair:

Tom Bebbington

cemetery@ci.durham.nh.us (preferred contact)

State of New Hampshire laws regarding cemeteries (NH RSA Chapter 289) can be found here:   https://www.nhcemetery.org/nh-state-law

OLD CEMETERIES

The Town of Durham has over 75 old family burial grounds (also called gravesites, graveyards, cemeteries) located throughout the community, dating back to the late 1600s.  Many are on private property, and while some are visible or accessible from the roads, many are located in heavily wooded areas.  The Cemetery Committee does not oversee or manage these burial grounds.  If located on private property, permission of the property owner is required - see Section 289:14 of the above referenced state laws for specific information regarding burial grounds. 

For more information on specific burial grounds in Durham, contact the Durham Historic Association at DHACurator@comcast.net