Tuesday March 17th 2026
Prestonpans Cemetery is nearing capactiy
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
New cemeteries in Prestonpans and Dunbar have been opened and will serve their communities for the next 60 years.
Drummohr Cemetery, located just off the B1361, is now providing burial lairs for the Prestonpans area. Its opening comes as Prestonpans Cemetery on Cemetery Road is nearing capacity for new lairs.
Newtonlees Cemetery in Dunbar, situated on the town’s eastern edge, will provide a range of burial options including dedicated areas for ashes and natural woodland burials. The new site lies opposite Deer Park Cemetery, which opened in 1953 and is also approaching the end of its capacity. Lairs will remain available at Deer Park until its remaining spaces have been fully allocated.
On reaching capacity, the existing cemeteries in Prestonpans and Deer Park will allow existing lair owners to continue to have full access for interments whenever required.
East Lothian Council adopted its Burial Ground Strategy in 2015, guided by the principle of providing burial space within local communities wherever practically possible. The council’s Amenity Services team is responsible for maintaining all cemeteries and burial grounds across the county, while the Bereavement Team can be contacted to make burial arrangements.
Eamon John, the council’s Head of Communities and Partnerships, said:
“I’m pleased these cemeteries in Prestonpans and Dunbar are now open and will be available to ensure families receive a courteous, professional, and respectful burial service for their loved ones.
“As with any new burial ground, the cemeteries will take time to become fully established. Their landscapes will continue to settle and mature over the coming seasons, and wildflower seeds have been sown to help create peaceful and natural environments.”
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