Golders Green Crematorium

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Golders Green Crematorium and Mausoleum was the first crematorium to be opened in London, and is one of the oldest crematoria in Britain.<ref name="cremeu"/><ref name="garden">Template:NHLE</ref> The land for the crematorium was purchased in 1900, costing £6,000 (Template:Inflation) and the crematorium was opened in 1902 by Sir Henry Thompson, founder of the Cremation Society.<ref name="garden"/>

Golders Green Crematorium, as it is usually called, is in Hoop Lane, off Finchley Road, Golders Green, in northwest London, near Golders Green Underground station. It is directly opposite the Golders Green Jewish Cemetery. (Golders Green is an area with a large Jewish population.) The crematorium is secular, accepts all faiths and non-believers; clients may arrange their own type of service or remembrance event and choose whatever music they wish.<ref name="cremeu">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The crematorium gardens are listed at Grade I in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.<ref name="garden"/>

History

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The Bedford Chapel at Golders Green Crematorium
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Horder Japanese Garden Pond

The lawfulness of cremation in Great Britain was not established until 1885. The Woking Crematorium had already been built in Woking and proved successful. At that time, cremation was championed by the Cremation Society of England.<ref name="srgw-demon-co-uk">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This society was governed by a council, at that time led by Sir Henry Thompson (president and founding member). There is a bust to his memory in the West Chapel of Golders Green Crematorium. Out of this Society was formed the London Cremation Company (which has its offices on the premises), who desired to build a crematorium within easy reach of London.

The crematorium in Golders Green was designed by the architect Sir Ernest George and his partner Alfred Yeates.<ref name="ehlb">Template:NHLE</ref> The gardens were laid out by William Robinson.<ref name="garden"/> The crematorium is a red brick building in Lombardic style and was built in stages, as money became available.<ref name="garden"/><ref name="ehlb"/> The crematorium opened in 1902 and was built in four phases (1901–1910, 1910–1911, 1912–1916, 1926–1928).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> By 1939, the site was largely completed, although since then some buildings have been added. Since November 1902 more than 323,500 cremations have taken place at Golders Green Crematorium, far more than any other British crematorium. It is estimated that the crematorium now averages around 2,000 cremations a year. The funerals of many prominent people have taken place there over the last century.

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Into the Silent Land by Henry Alfred Pegram

The chimney of the crematorium is located within the tower and the building is in an Italianate style.<ref name="cremeu"/> The Template:Convert of gardens are extensively planted, and produce a beautiful and tranquil environment for visitors. There are several large tombs, two ponds and bridge, and a large crocus lawn. Another notable feature is a special children's section, which includes a swinging bench. There is also a 'communist corner' with memorials to notable members of the Communist Party of Great Britain. There are two cremation chapels and a Chapel of Memory. There are also three columbaria containing the ashes of thousands of Londoners and residents of neighbouring counties.

Fourteen holders of the Victoria Cross have been cremated here,<ref name=blvch>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and there are locations and memorials for many other military personnel of all ranks, and from many countries. Largest among them is the Commonwealth War Graves Commission memorial, commemorating 496 British and Commonwealth military casualties of both World Wars who were cremated here. Designed by Sir Edward Maufe, it was unveiled in 1952. Built in Portland stone with names listed on three bronze panels, it stands at head of an ornamental pond at the western end of the memorial cloister.<ref name="CWGCCem">http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/casualty/2043720/GOLDERS%20%GREEN%20CREMATORIUM Template:Dead link</ref>

At Christmas, a Christmas tree is erected in the field in front of the main buildings. Although the crematorium is secular, a nativity scene is also placed near the Chapel of Memory.

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The Freud Corner at Golders Green Crematorium

Notable monuments

The crematorium gardens are listed at Grade I in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.<ref name="garden"/> The Philipson Family mausoleum, designed by Edwin Lutyens, is a Grade II* listed building on the National Heritage List for England<ref>Template:NHLE</ref> and the crematorium building,<ref name="ehlb"/> the wall, along with memorials and gates,<ref>Template:NHLE</ref> the Martin Smith Mausoleum<ref>Template:NHLE</ref> and Into The Silent Land, a sculpture by Henry Alfred Pegram<ref>Template:NHLE</ref> are all Grade II listed buildings. The largest sculpture portraying someone cremated here is the statue of Indian industrialist and friend of Gandhi, Ghanshyam Das Birla.

Visiting

A map of the Garden of Rest and some information on persons cremated here is available from the office. Staff are available to help in finding a specific location.<ref name="ehlb"/>

Notable cremations

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Ashes at Golders Green Crematorium

Among those whose ashes are retained or were scattered here, are: Template:Div col

  • Richard Addinsell, English composer, ashes scattered in communal section of crocus lawn.<ref>Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 508-509). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.</ref>
  • Larry Adler, American harmonica player<ref>Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More than 14000 Famous Persons, Scott Wilson</ref>
  • Kingsley Amis, British writer, one of the Angry young men
  • Boris Anrep, Russian artist
  • Pegaret Anthony, British artist<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • Alex James, footballer
  • Sid James, South African-born actor, Bless This House and Carry On film series star<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • Tommy Vance, British broadcaster<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • Conrad Veidt, German actor, following cremation in the US<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • Vesta Victoria, music hall performer<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • Dame Barbara Windsor, Carry On film series, EastEnders actress<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Ashes taken elsewhere

Among those cremated here, but whose ashes are elsewhere, are: Template:Div col

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  • Lily Elsie, actress (location of ashes unknown)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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|CitationClass=web }}</ref> His ashes were scattered in York.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> ashes buried at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Stanmore.<ref>Stedman, Jane W. "Gilbert, Sir William Schwenck (1836–1911)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, September 2004, online edition, May 2008, accessed 10 January 2010 Template:ODNBsub</ref>

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  • Szmul Zygielbojm, Polish-Jewish political activist who committed suicide in London, in 1943, as a protest against international indifference towards the Holocaust. His ashes were transferred to New York in 1961 by fellow members of the Bund Jewish Organization.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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References

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Further reading

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