Cemeteries and Crematoria

NEWS

THREE COUNTIES CREMATORIUM

Work has started on the new 2.5m crematorium to serve Braintree and district. The facility will be known as Three Counties Crematorium reflecting the fact that it will serve parts of Essex, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

Located at High Garrett just north of Braintree the crematorium is set in a ten acre field with a backdrop of fine native trees and hedgerows with a distinctively East Anglian landscape. Access to the site is via the A131 Braintree – Sudbury road and a pleasant driveway soon to be tree lined.

The architect is Hugh Thomas already noted for his crematoria at Bury St Edmunds, Banbury and Garden of England, this is Hugh’s first project for Memoria. The crematorium is ideally placed to serve Braintree, Sudbury, Haverhill, Witham, Halstead and Coggeshall the major part of the catchment is rural market towns and villages.

Chris Johns, Operations Director at Memoria commented "I am delighted with this project and particularly pleased to be working with Hugh Thomas again with whom I formed a good working partnership when we opened West Suffolk Crematorium in 1989. The new facility will have all of the hallmarks of the Memoria brand, quality, service and accessibility"

The crematorium is expected to open in January 2009.

WEAR VALLEY CREMATORIUM

The new crematorium to serve Wear Valley is already well underway at Coundon between Durham and Darlington. Situated on the A689 in a completely rural location and away from other developments Wear Valley Crematorium is the fifth to be built by Memoria in as many years.

The design draws on the experiences gained at Sherwood Forest the first crematorium to be built by the group. A distinctive layout and interior fit, reflecting the classic Memoria colour scheme lemon and blue will be complimented by oak and beech furniture. Once again the services of Catherine Matthews of Norwich have been engaged to add the finishing touches. The landscaping features memorial ponds and rockeries linked by tree planted lawns and pathways. A full range of memorials will be provided including the stone book.

The site will serve Bishop Auckland, Shildon, Newton Aycliffe, Barnard Castle, Spennymoor, Critch and surrounding districts. Like the facility at Braintree this will also serve a very rural area where current journeys to crematoria are lengthy or difficult.

Memoria Chairman, Howard Hodgson, commented ‘’We are very proud indeed to be able to provide a facility of such high standards into this community. This new crematorium reflects our ability to provide a consistent and truly national coverage. As part of our growth we continue to explore such opportunities across the U.K.’’

On this occasion the architects are Artech of Great Yarmouth bringing Philip Baldry’s total of crematoria designed to seven a record in the industry. Philip’s first design was Basingstoke in Hampshire.

Wear Valley Crematorium opens in January 2009

Sherwood Forest Crematorium in the News Again

This BBC news item features the Sherwood Forest Crematorium at Ollerton.

 at Ollerton (April 2005)

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