Beckenham Cemetery, the oldest cemetery operated by Dignity, opened in 1876. It includes the resting place of cricketing legend, W G Grace; Thomas Crapper, the inventor of the flushable toilet and Frederick Wolseley, the inventor of the sheep-shearing machine.

During the Second World War the larger of the cemetery’s two chapels was devastated during air raids and had to be demolished. The chapel that survived the bombing was converted to include cremation facilities and opened in 1956.

As Beckenham cemetery is owned by a private company and not a local authority, there is no distinction is costs between council residents and non-residents. 

The cemeteries owned by the London Borough of Bromley include Bromley Hill, Biggin Hill, London Road, Chislehurst and Plaistow cemeteries; together with St Luke’s and St Mary’s cemeteries. 

As a council owned cemetery, there is a large distinction in prices between council residents and non-residents.

The prices of the new graves start in the low thousands and rise depending on the type and location of the plot. The interment (or ‘digging’) fee is also payable on every interment.