GRAVE SURROUND

Abstract

 A grave surround comprises a set of elongate, generally planar kerbing elements. The kerbing elements can be reconfigured by being unfolded or assembled from a compact state, in which the set of kerbing elements is collapsed, into an extended state in which the elements are oriented relative to each other to form at least a portion of the surround. The grave surround further comprises a set of fixings, each fixing of the set comprising at least one groove that is dimensioned to receive one or more of the kerbing elements in edge-on relation. The fixings are thereby attachable to the kerbing elements to lock the relative orientations of the kerbing elements when in the extended state.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a grave surround. The invention relates particularly to a temporary grave surround that can be assembled during the backfilling of a grave or erected around a freshly-filled grave soon after a burial.

[0002] A grave is typically backfilled immediately after a burial, leaving a mound of soil protruding above the surrounding ground. This protruding soil needs to settle down into the grave before a permanent memorial, usually constructed from heavy stone, can be installed. A permanent memorial typically comprises an upstanding grave marker such as a headstone and often also comprises a surround that lies on the ground around the grave.

[0003] It is widely accepted that a period of twelve months or more is required for the soil in the grave to settle before a permanent memorial can be installed. In the meantime, it may be desirable to fit a temporary grave surround to mark the boundaries of the plot, to confine the soil of the mound and to leave the grave tidy. It is also common to place a temporary grave marker in the soil beside the grave to identify and to commemorate the person who is buried there.

[0004] In general, attempts to provide a temporary grave surround have either been do-it-yourself (DIY) creations or bespoke products. DIY grave surrounds tend to be poorly finished, crude and fragile; they can therefore quickly deteriorate and collapse, and grave markers can fall over. Bespoke grave surrounds, on the other hand, are labour-intensive and require skill to assemble; they are also expensive, especially in the context of temporary use. Furthermore, known grave surrounds comprise large components that are difficult to transport. Consequently, large vehicles may be required to transport them, which may not be readily available and can further increase costs.

[0005] There have been many proposals in the prior art for bespoke grave surrounds. For example, DE10359895A discloses a grave enclosure with a border that forms a closed frame. The border includes several hollow tubular profiles that can be connected to one another. Adjoining tubular profiles are connected with a connecting element. Once the border is assembled, the grave enclosure is anchored to the ground.

[0006] Although this modular system is beneficial in some respects, the large number of components makes assembly complex and fiddly. Furthermore, the tubular nature of the profiles imposes an aesthetic constraint as the profiles must be arranged to fit together telescopically.

[0007] Similarly, ZA200208395B discloses a modular surround for a grave. The surround comprises a pair of end pieces and a pair of side pieces that are pre-formed from a mouldable material. Each end piece includes foot elements, and each side piece includes corresponding recesses for inter-engaging the foot elements to form the surround.

[0008] The grave surround of ZA200208395B has fewer, larger components than that of DE10359895A. Those components are made from tiles, granite or marble. In view of their consequent weight and size, transportation of the components and assembly of the surround becomes difficult.

[0009] In an even bulkier solution, GB966174A discloses tombstones and grave surrounds that are assembled from units of concrete connected together using inter-engaging components. However, like ZA200208395B, this is a permanent grave surround that would not be suitable for installation until the soil has settled.

[0010] GB190109824A is a relatively simple proposal that discloses ornamental plates for the borders of graves. The borders comprise plates and ornamental pilasters that are secured together with dowels. However, this is a permanent border limited to mouldable materials that are formed using a custom mould.

[0011] GB261870A discloses a border for graves and comprises a rectangular frame made of four L-section members joined together at each corner. The frame members are laid to fit the edge of the grave, with one flange of the L-section resting upon the ground and the other flange projecting down into the grave, preventing soil from falling in. However, GB261870A is a permanent grave border made from concrete or artificial stone and it must be installed before the grave is backfilled with soil. Also, the border disclosed in GB261870A could do nothing to prevent soil from a protruding mound spilling out of the grave plot.

[0012] Against this background, the invention resides in a collapsible grave surround. The surround comprises a set of elongate, generally planar kerbing elements that can be reconfigured from a compact state, in which the set of kerbing elements is collapsed, into an extended state in which the elements are oriented relative to each other to form at least a portion of the surround, and a set of fixings, each fixing comprising at least one groove that is dimensioned to receive one or more of the kerbing elements in edge-on relation.

[0013] Conveniently, fixings may be attachable to the kerbing elements to lock the relative orientations of the kerbing elements when in the extended state. The kerbing elements may be connected together in longitudinal end-to-end succession. The kerbing elements may be joined by hinges between adjoining ends. Each hinge may define a hinge axis that is parallel to planes of the kerbing elements joined by that hinge. Elegantly, successive hinges along the set of kerbing elements may be in mutual opposition about the kerbing elements.

[0014] The set of fixings may comprise fixings having intersecting grooves that define L-shaped recesses for receiving two kerbing elements in mutually orthogonal relation. Advantageously, the set of fixings may comprise fixings that are traversed by substantially straight grooves for receiving either one kerbing element or two kerbing elements that are in mutually coplanar alignment.

[0015] The grooves of the fixing elements may have a depth that is equal to or greater than a width of each kerbing element in a planar direction. The or each groove may open onto an underside of the respective fixing and each fixing may have a height from the underside to an upper side that is greater than said width of each kerbing element.

[0016] At least one of the fixings may have a through-slot that opens upwardly and downwardly. Conveniently, the grave surround may further comprise a grave marker that has an upright pillar insertable into the through-slot as a sliding fit. The pillar of the grave marker may have a tapered lower end.

[0017] The or each groove may have a wall with a portion cut away to increase a local width of the groove.

[0018] At least one of the fixings may be an inscribed monument.

[0019] The grave may comprise two or more sets of the kerbing elements. The sets of kerbing elements may be substantially identical to each other; and wherein one of those sets may be rotated about an upright axis relative to another of those sets when the sets are brought together to form the grave surround.

[0020] In summary, a grave surround of the invention comprises a set of elongate, generally planar kerbing elements. The kerbing elements can be reconfigured by being unfolded or assembled from a compact state, in which the set of kerbing elements is collapsed, into an extended state in which the elements are oriented relative to each other to form at least a portion of the surround. The grave surround further comprises a set of fixings, each fixing of the set comprising at least one groove that is dimensioned to receive one or more of the kerbing elements in edge-on relation. The fixings are thereby attachable to the kerbing elements to lock the relative orientations of the kerbing elements when in the extended state.

[0021] In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a single plot grave surround in a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view corresponding to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first section of kerbing in a folded state;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the kerbing shown in Figure 3 but in an unfolded state;

Figures 5A to 5I are a sequence of perspective views showing steps involved in assembling the grave surround shown in Figure 1;

Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views of a corner post used to assemble the grave surround shown in Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a front view of the corner post of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line IX of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a side post used to assemble the grave surround shown in Figure 1;

Figure 11 is a front view of the side post of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on line XII of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a headpost footing used to assemble the grave surround shown in Figure 1;

Figure 14 is a front view of the headpost footing of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view taken on line XV of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a side view of the headpost footing of Figure 13;

Figures 17 to 21 are perspective views of grave marker variants of the invention;

Figure 22 is a side view of the grave marker variant shown in Figure 21;

Figure 23 is a perspective view of a double plot grave surround in a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 24 is an exploded perspective view corresponding to Figure 23;

Figure 25 is a perspective view of a first section of the double plot grave surround kerbing in a folded state;

Figure 26 is a perspective view of the kerbing shown in Figure 25 but in an unfolded state;

Figures 27A to 27K are a sequence of perspective views showing steps involved in assembling the double plot grave surround of Figure 23;

Figure 28 is a perspective view of a footpost used to assemble the grave surround shown in Figure 23;

Figure 29 is a front view of the footpost of Figure 28; and

Figure 30 is a cross-sectional view taken on line XXX of Figure 29.

[0022] Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, Figure 1 shows a single plot grave surround 10 according to an embodiment of this invention and Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the grave surround 10 of Figure 1. It can be seen from Figure 2 that the grave surround comprises two L-shaped sections 22, 24. The sections can be brought together in mutual opposition to form a rectangular border or kerbing 14. As shown in Figure 2, free ends of each section include double rabbet joints 20 to enable interengagement of the sections.

[0023] The surround 10 further comprises a set of fixings that can be pushed onto the kerbing, receiving elements of the kerbing with the kerbing in edge-on relation to the fixings. The set comprises two groups of fixings the first of which is a group of corner posts 12 that lock corners of the grave surround 10, characterised by intersecting grooves 44, 46 in their undersides that define L-shaped recesses 48 to receive corner portions of the kerbing 14. The second group of fixings comprises a pair of side posts 16 and an optional headpost footing 18, which are characterised by substantially straight grooves 52, 64 that cross or traverse their undersides to receive straight portions of the kerbing 14. The side posts 16 lock sides of the grave surround 10 whereas the headpost footing 18 is a largely decorative accessory that can be attached to an end of the grave surround 10. Nevertheless, the headpost footing 18 can also be used to support a grave marker 38 such as a cross, as will be explained. The various fixings can be pushed onto the kerbing in any desired order.

[0024] Turning next to Figures 3 and 4, these drawings show a first section 22 of the kerbing 14 in, respectively, compact and extended states. The first section 22 constitutes half of the total kerbing 14 of the completed grave surround 10. In this example, the compact state is a concertina folded, collapsed state, and the extended state is an unfolded state. The compact state allows for simple transportation of the first section. Yet, the advantageously hinged construction of the first section allows easy reconfiguration into the extended state.

[0025] In the unfolded state shown in Figure 4, the first section 22 is L-shaped, including a long leg 26 and a short leg 28 that are connected at their intersection by a joint 30, in this example a hinge. Each leg 26, 28 of the first section 22 comprises at least one elongated, planar, plank-like member 32 or element that is arranged to lie on, extend along, and upstand from the ground beside a grave. Specifically, the long leg 26 of the first section 22 comprises two such elements 32 that are connected in longitudinal succession by another joint 30, also exemplified here by a hinge. Conversely, the short leg 28 comprises one such element 32 whose length approximately equates to that of each element 32 of the long leg 26.

[0026] Where the joints 30 are hinges as illustrated, the hinge axes are parallel to each other and to the plane of the elements 32 that are joined by the hinges. Moreover, the hinge between the short leg 28 and the long leg 26 is on an inner side of the elements 32 whereas the hinge between the two elements 32 of the long leg 26 is on the outer side of those elements 32. This opposition between the hinges allows the elements 32 to be collapsed into layers in a concertina fashion into the compact folded state shown in Figure 3, and to be opened out into the unfolded state shown in Figure 4 in which the short leg 28 is orthogonal to the long leg 26.

[0027] Moving on now to Figures 5A to 5I, these drawings show steps involved in assembling the single plot grave surround 10 around a grave at a burial site. Firstly, it will be noted that the first section 22 of the kerbing 14 is mated with a corresponding second section 24 to complete the fully rectangular kerbing 14. Specifically, the first and second sections 22, 24 are identical to each other except that the second section 24 is rotated by 180° with respect to the first section 22 about an upright axis.

[0028] The aforementioned double-rabbet joints 20 at the free ends of the first and second sections 22, 24 are mutually complementary to inter-engage when the sections are brought together. Supplementary brackets can be fixed across the joints 20 if required. These joints 20 allow the free ends of the sections 22, 24 to interlock and sit flush with one another to form the rectangular kerbing 14 shown in Figure 5B. The rectangular kerbing 14 comprises two long sides 34 that are mutually parallel and two short ends 36 that are also mutually parallel and orthogonal to the sides 34.

[0029] Once the kerbing 14 been assembled in this way, the headpost footing 18 is pushed onto one end of the kerbing 14 as shown in Figures 5C and 5D. Next, as shown in Figures 5E and 5F, the corner posts 12 are pushed onto each corner of the kerbing 14 to stabilise the kerbing 14 by locking the sides 34 and ends 36 together in mutually orthogonal relation. Specifically, the corner posts 12 lock the hinges between the long 26 and short legs 28 of the sections and the rabbet joints between the sections. The corner posts 12 also conceal those joints 30 between the sides 34 and ends 36 of the kerbing 14.

[0030] Further to increase the rigidity of the kerbing 14, side posts 16 are pushed onto each side 34 of the kerbing 14 at a position midway along the length of each side 34. Thus, the side posts 16 lock and also conceal the hinges that join the elements 32 of each side 34. This can be seen from Figure 5G and again in Figure 1 which shows the grave surround 10 assembled.

[0031] Subsequently, a grave marker 38 is pushed into and through the headpost footing 18 as shown in Figure 5H until the lower end 80 of the grave marker 38 penetrates the ground as shown in Figure 5I. For this purpose, the headpost footing 18 has an upright through-channel or slot 66 that opens upwardly and downwardly to accommodate an upright pillar 74 of the grave marker 38.

[0032] The abovementioned components of the grave surround 10 are apt to be made of wood, apart from hinges and brackets that are apt to be made of metal. However, plastics materials, which may be reinforced by fibres or otherwise, could be used for any of those components.

[0033] Moving on now to Figures 6 to 9, these figures show one of the corner posts 12 used to assemble the grave surround 10 of Figure 1. The corner post 12 could have any desired decorative shape but in this example is substantially cuboidal, with side faces 40 of substantially equal size, and is upwardly elongate. A peripheral upper edge 42 is bevelled for decoration and to smooth the edge.

[0034] To engage its respective corner of the kerbing, each corner post 12 has two downwardly-opening grooves 44, 46 in its underside that intersect orthogonally to form an L-shaped recess 48. Each groove 44, 46 has an open end that penetrates a respective side face 40 of the corner post 12 and a closed end that is defined by a wall of the other groove 44, 46. The grooves 44, 46 are slightly wider than the thickness of the elements 32 that form the kerbing 14. The grooves 44, 46 are preferably deep enough that the underside of the corner post 12 can lie flush with the underside of the kerbing 14 as shown when assembled in Figures 5E and 5F, hence also lying against the ground in use.

[0035] An inner corner of the L-shaped recess 48 is cut away at the intersection of the grooves. The resulting local increase 47 in the width of the grooves 44, 46 accommodates any hinge or bracket that may be present at the corner of the kerbing 14 to which the corner post is attached.

[0036] Turning next to Figures 10 to 12, these figures show one of the side posts 16 used to assemble the grave surround of Figure 1. Like the corner post 12, the side post 16 has a substantially cuboidal body save for a bevelled upper edge 50 but in this case, a straight, downwardly-opening, open-ended groove 52 extends across the underside of the side post 16 from one side face 49 to another. Again, the groove 52 is slightly wider than the thickness of the elements 32 that form the kerbing 14 to allow the side post 16 to be pushed onto the kerbing 14. Preferably, the groove 52 is deep enough that the underside of the side post 16 can be flush with the underside of the kerbing 14 as shown in Figure 5G, hence also lying against the ground.

[0037] As best appreciated in Figure 12, one side of the groove 52 is cut away or rebated and has an additional central recess 54. These formations increase the width of the groove 52 locally and are shaped to accommodate the hinge between the elements of the long leg 26 of each section 22, 24 of the kerbing 14.

[0038] Figures 13 to 16 show the headpost footing 18 used to assemble the grave surround 10 shown in Figure 1. Like the corner post 12, the headpost footing 18 has a substantially cuboidal body but in this case, side faces 62 of the headpost footing 18 are wider than its end faces 58 and the body has bevelled upper 56 and side edges 60. Like the side post 16, the headpost footing 18 has a straight, downwardly-opening, open-ended groove 64 that extends across the underside from one end face 58 to another. Again, the groove 64 is slightly wider than the thickness of the elements 32 that form the kerbing 14 to allow the headpost footing 18 to be pushed onto the kerbing 14 and is preferably deep enough that the underside of the headpost footing 18 can be flush with the underside of the kerbing 14, as shown in Figure 5G, and so can lie against the ground.

[0039] As with the side post 16, one side of the groove 64 is cut away or rebated and has an additional central recess 70 to accommodate a hinge between elements of kerbing 14 if needs be. This provision is not necessary in the single-plot embodiment where the headpost footing 18 is placed on a one-piece short leg 28 of a section 22, 24 but could be helpful to cover a joint 30 between elements 32 in the double-plot embodiment to be described later.

[0040] An upright channel or slot 66 also extends through the headpost footing 18 to accommodate a grave marker 38. In this example, the slot 66 is defined between an upright groove in an outer side of the body of the headpost footing 18 and a plate 68 that is attached to the body to span the groove 66.

[0041] Turning now to Figures 17 to 21 that show grave marker variants 72, 82 of the invention, the grave markers shown 72 in Figures 17 to 20 comprise an upright pillar 74 and an optional inscription panel 76 that can bear information about the person buried in the grave. The pillar 74 is pushed into the upright slot 66 of the headpost footing 18 as shown in Figure 5H.

[0042] The grave markers 72 shown in Figures 17 to 19 have a cruciform shape comprising an additional cross-piece 78 is fixed to the pillar 74. Conversely, the grave markers 72 shown in Figures 19 and 20 have a tapered downward end 80 that can penetrate the soil beneath the headpost footing 18 as shown in Figure 5I.

[0043] Figure 21 shows a grave marker 82 shaped in the form of a monument like a headstone that can bear appropriate inscriptions and/or decorations. Like the side post 16 and the headpost footing 18, side faces 84 of the grave marker 82 are wider than its end faces 86 and a straight, downwardly-opening, open-ended groove 88 extends across the underside from one end face 86 to another. As before, the groove 88 is slightly wider than the thickness of the elements 32 that form the kerbing 14 to allow the headpost footing 18 to be pushed onto the kerbing 14. Also, the groove 88 is preferably deep enough that the underside of the headpost footing 18 can be flush with the underside of the kerbing 14.

[0044] The remaining drawings show a double plot grave surround 90 according to an embodiment of this invention, including its fixings and accessories. Figure 23 shows the completed double plot grave surround 90 and Figure 24 shows an exploded view of the grave surround 90. It can be seen from Figure 24 that the double plot surround 90 comprises two C-shaped sections 94, 96. The sections can be brought together in mutual opposition to form a square or rectangular kerbing 14. In this example, as shown in Figure 24, free ends of each section include joints 98, exemplified here by hinge leaves, to enable interconnection of the sections.

[0045] As with the single plot grave surround 10 of the previous embodiment, the double plot surround 90 further comprises two groups of fixings that can be pushed onto the kerbing of the surround. The first group is a set of corner posts 12 like those shown in Figures 6 to 9, and the second group comprises a pair of side posts 16 like those shown in Figures 10 to 12, an optional headpost footing 18 like that shown in Figures 13 to 16 and an optional footpost 92. As with the headpost footing 18, the footpost 92 is an accessory that can be attached to an end of the grave surround 90. Again, the various fixings can be pushed into the kerbing 14 in any order.

[0046] Turning next to Figures 25 and 26, these drawings show a first section 94 of the kerbing 14 in, respectively, compact and extended states. The first section 94 constitutes half of the kerbing 14 of the completed grave surround 90. In the unfolded state shown in Figure 26, the first section 94 is C-shaped, comprising a central portion 100 and two legs 102. Each leg 102 is connected to a respective end of the central portion 100 by a joint 30, in this example a hinge.

[0047] The central portion 100 and each leg 102 of the first section 94 comprise one or more elongated, planar elements 32 that are arranged to lie on, extend along, and upstand from the ground beside a grave. The central portion 100 comprises two such elements 32 that are connected in longitudinal succession by another joint 30, also exemplified here by a hinge. Conversely, each leg 102 comprises one such element 32 whose length approximately equates to that of each element 32 of the central portion 100.

[0048] Where the joints 30 are hinges as illustrated, the hinge axes are parallel to each other and to the plane of the elements 32 that are joined by the hinges. Moreover, the hinge between each leg 102 and the central portion 100 is on an inner side of the elements 32 whereas the hinge between the elements 32 of the central portion 100 is on the outer side of those elements 32. This opposition between the hinges allows the elements 32 to be collapsed into layers in a concertina fashion into the compact folded state shown in Figure 25, and to be opened out into the unfolded state shown in Figure 26 in which each leg is orthogonal to the central portion 100.

[0049] Moving on now to Figures 27A to 27K, these drawings show steps involved in assembling the double plot grave surround 90 around a grave at a burial site. Firstly, it will be noted that the first section 94 of the kerbing 14 is mated with a corresponding second section 104 to complete the fully square kerbing 14. Again, the first and second sections 94, 104 are identical to each other except that the second section 104 is rotated by 180° with respect to the first section 94 about an upright axis.

[0050] The aforementioned joints 98, or hinge leaves, at the free ends of the first and second sections 94, 104 are mutually complementary to inter-engage when the sections are brought together with the free ends flush with one another to form the square kerbing 14 shown in Figure 27B. The hinge leaves can then be interlocked by inserting a hinge pin between them.

[0051] Once the kerbing 14 been assembled in this way, the footpost 92 is pushed onto one end of the kerbing 14 as shown in Figures 27C and 27D. Next, as shown in Figures 27E and 27F, the corner posts 12 are pushed onto each corner of the kerbing 14 to stabilise the kerbing by locking the sides 34 and ends 36 together in mutually orthogonal relation. The corner posts 12 also conceal the joints 30 between the sides 34 and ends 36 of the kerbing. Side posts 16 are then pushed onto each side 34 of the kerbing at a position midway along the length of each side 34. Thus, the side posts 16 also conceal the hinges that join the elements of each side 34, as can be seen in Figures 27G and 27H. Thereafter, the headpost footing 18 is pushed onto the kerbing at an end 36 opposed to the footpost 92 as shown in Figures 27I and 27J. Subsequently, the grave marker 38 is pushed into and through the headpost footing 18 as shown in Figure 27K and again in Figure 27A.

[0052] Figures 28 to 30 show the footpost 92 in isolation. Like the headpost footing 18, the footpost 92 has side faces 114 that are wider than its end faces 108 and has bevelled upper 106 and side edges 112. Again, the footpost 92 has a straight, downwardly-opening, open-ended groove 110 that extends across its underside from one end face 108 to another, that groove 110 being slightly wider than, and about as deep as, the elements 32 of the kerbing 14. Similarly, one side of the groove 110 is cut away or rebated and has an additional central recess 116 to accommodate a joint such as a hinge between elements 32 of the kerbing 14.

[0053] Many variations are possible within the inventive concept. For example, the free ends of the sections of the kerbing 14 can abut and be secured together with brackets or hinge leaves. More generally, any of the elements of the kerbing 14 can be joined to neighbouring elements 32 of the kerbing 14 using any suitable fixings, fastenings or adhesives. Similarly, any of the fixings or other accessories can be fixed to the kerbing 14 by friction, by adhesives or by fastenings such as nails, bolts or screws that extend through a fixing or accessory and into an element 32 received within a groove.

Claims

1. A grave surround, comprising:

a set of elongate, generally planar kerbing elements that can be reconfigured from a compact state, in which the set of kerbing elements is collapsed, into an extended state in which the elements are oriented relative to each other to form at least a portion of the surround; and

a set of fixings, each fixing comprising at least one groove that is dimensioned to receive one or more of the kerbing elements in edge-on relation.

2. The grave surround of Claim 1, wherein fixings are attachable to the kerbing elements to lock the relative orientations of the kerbing elements when in the extended state.

3. The grave surround of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the kerbing elements are connected together in longitudinal end-to-end succession.

4. The grave surround of Claim 3, wherein the kerbing elements are joined by hinges between adjoining ends.

5. The grave surround of Claim 4, wherein each hinge defines a hinge axis that is parallel to planes of the kerbing elements joined by that hinge.

6. The grave surround of Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein successive hinges along the set of kerbing elements are in mutual opposition about the kerbing elements.

7. The grave surround of any preceding claim, wherein the set of fixings comprises fixings having intersecting grooves that define L-shaped recesses for receiving two kerbing elements in mutually orthogonal relation.

8. The grave surround of any preceding claim, wherein the set of fixings comprises fixings that are traversed by substantially straight grooves for receiving either one kerbing element or two kerbing elements that are in mutually coplanar alignment.

9. The grave surround of any preceding claim, wherein the grooves of the fixing elements have a depth that is equal to or greater than a width of each kerbing element in a planar direction.

10. The grave surround of Claim 9, wherein the or each groove opens onto an underside of the respective fixing and each fixing has a height from the underside to an upper side that is greater than said width of each kerbing element.

11. The grave surround of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the fixings has a through-slot that opens upwardly and downwardly.

12. The grave surround of Claim 11, further comprising a grave marker that has an upright pillar insertable into the through-slot as a sliding fit.

13. The grave surround of Claim 12, wherein the pillar of the grave marker has a tapered lower end.

14. The grave surround of any preceding claim, wherein the or each groove has a wall with a portion cut away to increase a local width of the groove.

15. The grave surround of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the fixings is an inscribed monument.

16. The grave surround of any preceding claim, comprising two or more sets of the kerbing elements.

17. The grave surround of Claim 16, wherein the sets of kerbing elements are substantially identical to each other; and wherein one of those sets is rotated about an upright axis relative to another of those sets when the sets are brought together to form the grave surround.

Drawing