I don't know if it helps but the vast majority of vaults are underground and are accessed by what looks like a huge grave stone or other covering.
For the catacomb type burials of the Victorian period the service was carried out at the chapel (either Anglican, Catholic or Dissenting at Brighton for instance) and the coffin was placed in its final resting place, so to speak, after the service.
In the case of the vault burials I have seen pictures where the doors were open and the coffin was being carried in. But this was only done for the largest of family vaults - and we do have a few really big ones. Vaults where the coffin had to be taken down steps or lowered then moved to a suitable position were treated like the catacomb types.
ETA: Many of the Victorian vaults I have seen don't actually have shelves in (though many do) and the coffins are just piled on the floor often collapsing and splitting over the years. A 'graveside' service which let the mourners see into this charnel house atmosphere wouldn't be particularly popular.
I think too that in Victorian times, unless you were very famous or came from a big family the actual graveside part of a funeral was very sparsely attended. Women didn't usually attend for instance even in country churchyards.
ETA2: Vaults are underground, mausoleums are above ground.
For the catacomb type burials of the Victorian period the service was carried out at the chapel (either Anglican, Catholic or Dissenting at Brighton for instance) and the coffin was placed in its final resting place, so to speak, after the service.
In the case of the vault burials I have seen pictures where the doors were open and the coffin was being carried in. But this was only done for the largest of family vaults - and we do have a few really big ones. Vaults where the coffin had to be taken down steps or lowered then moved to a suitable position were treated like the catacomb types.
ETA: Many of the Victorian vaults I have seen don't actually have shelves in (though many do) and the coffins are just piled on the floor often collapsing and splitting over the years. A 'graveside' service which let the mourners see into this charnel house atmosphere wouldn't be particularly popular.
I think too that in Victorian times, unless you were very famous or came from a big family the actual graveside part of a funeral was very sparsely attended. Women didn't usually attend for instance even in country churchyards.
ETA2: Vaults are underground, mausoleums are above ground.
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Thanks for the pointers; some useful stuff there!
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