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Coordinates: 51°34′38″N 000°11′37″W / 51.57722°N 0.19361°W / 51.57722; -0.19361 (Golders Green Crematorium)

Golders Green Crematorium

Golders Green Crematorium and Mausoleum was the first crematorium to be opened in London, and one of the oldest crematoria in Britain. Golders Green Crematorium, as it is usually called, is in Hoop Lane, off Finchley Road, Golders Green, London NW11, five minutes' walk from Golders Green tube station. It is directly opposite the Golders Green Jewish Cemetery (Golders Green is an area with a high Jewish population). The crematorium is secular, accepts all faiths and all kinds of non-believers; clients may arrange their own type of service or remembrance event and choose whatever music they wish.

History

Cremation was not legal in Great Britain until 1885. An experimental facility was built in Woking (next to the cemetery) and the results were satisfactory. At that time cremation was championed by the Cremation Society of England.^[1] 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. Out of this Society was formed the London Cremation Company plc (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. The gardens were laid out by William Robinson. The crematorium is a red brick building in Lombardic style and was built in stages, as money became available. The current crematorium was finished around 1939, although since then some buildings have been added. The crematorium opened in 1902. Since November 1902 more than 300.000 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. At Golders Green the funerals of many prominent people have taken place over the last century.

The crematorium's buildings have an Italianate style, and include a notable tower, visible in the photograph, which contains the chimney from the crematoria. The 12 acres (4.9 ha) 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 notables of the Communist Party of Great Britain. There are two cremation chapels and a chapel of remembrance. There are also three columbaria containing the ashes of thousands of Londoners.

There are grave locations for 14 holders of the Victoria Cross cremated here, and there are locations and memorials for many other military personnel of all ranks, and from many countries.

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 remembrance.

Visiting

A map of the Gardens of Remembrance and some information on persons cremated here is available from the office. The staff are very helpful in finding a specific location. The columbariums are now locked, although they can still be visited (accompanied). There is also a tea room.

Cremations

Among those cremated here, but whose ashes are elsewhere, are:

• Stanley Baldwin, British Conservative politician, ashes removed to Worcester Cathedral
• Ernest Bevin, British Labour politician, ashes removed to Westminster Abbey
• Neville Chamberlain, British Conservative politician, ashes removed to Westminster Abbey
• Bebe Daniels, with her husband, Ben Lyon, at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Hollywood
• T. S. Eliot, ashes at rest in St Michael's Church in East Coker
• Gary Holton, actor best known as the star of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, his ashes rest in Maesgwastad Cemetery
• Kenneth Horne, comedian and businessman, star of Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh, Beyond Our Ken and Round the Horne, ashes have reputedly been moved to an unknown location
• John Inman, actor, star of Are You Being Served?, location of ashes unknown
• Henry James, ashes removed to family plot in Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Leonid Krasin, ashes buried in the Kremlin Wall Necropolis
• Rudyard Kipling, ashes removed to Westminster Abbey
• Alice Liddell (see Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)
• Vivien Leigh, ashes were scattered on the lake at Tickerage Mill pond, near Blackboys, Sussex
• Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, ashes buried at the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore
• Arnold Ridley, author and actor, ashes rest in Bath Abbey Cemetery
• H. G. Pelissier, actor, composer and satirist, ashes rest in Marylebone cemetery
• King Prajadhipok of Thailand, ashes removed to Chakri Throne Hall in the Grand Palace, Bangkok
• Wendy Richard, actress, Are You Being Served? and EastEnders, ashes reputedly still to be scattered
• Richard Bowdler Sharpe, zoologist, founder of the British Ornithologists' Club Assistant Keeper British Museum
• H. G. Wells, ashes scattered at sea

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

Gallery

The Philipson Mausoleum by Edwin Lutyens	The Smith Mausoleum by Paul Phipps	The Memorial Garden	The Childrens Garden
Memorial plaques to Marc Bolan and Keith Moon	The statue of Ghanshyam Das Birla	The Vase with the ashes of Sigmund and Martha Freud	Urn with the ashes of Anna Pavlova

References

Further reading

• Jupp, Peter C. & Hilary J. Grainger, Golders Green Crematorium 1902-2002: A London Centenary in Context, London Cremation Society, 2002, ISBN 978-0954352905
• Meller, Hugh & Brian Parsons, London Cemeteries: an illustrated guide and gazetteer, The History Press, 2008, ISBN 978-0-7509-4622-3.
• Beach, Darren, London´s Cemeteries, Metro Guides, 2006, ISBN 1 902910 23 0.

External links

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC): Golders Green Crematorium
• LondonCemeteries: Golders Green Crematorium

Transport

The crematorium is easily reached with public transport:

• Bus: 82, 102, 113, 210, all have stops nearby
• Train: There is no station close by, Hampstead Heath or Hendon are probably the closest
• Underground: Golders Green (five minutes walk)

• The crematorium has a small car park