Haltemprice Crematorium undergoes ‘extensive’ restoration
The renovation has protected the heritage and distinctive look of the building whilst improving the experience for the bereaved by providing state-of-the art facilities
Following a fire on 1 October 2020, the owners of Haltemprice Crematorium, The Crematorium and Memorial Group (CMG), have undertaken a “complex and extensive” programme of work to restore the grade-listed building.
The renovation has protected the heritage and distinctive look of the building whilst improving the experience for the bereaved by providing state-of-the art facilities.
The roof of the building was severely damaged during the fire, so CMG have worked closely with the conservation team at East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Historical Environment Records Agency to replace it with period-appropriate timbers and slates.
The interior of the chapel has been completely renovated including new flooring and decorating throughout. The pews and pew cushions have been restored by specialist craftsmen and the traditional radiators have been replaced by under-pew heating to provide greater comfort.
To modernise the crematorium, CMG have installed the latest audio-visual tribute equipment that can access thousands of musical recordings to help families personalise the funeral. A traditional chapel organ has been introduced for families that prefer live music if they wish to appoint their own organist.
The renovated chapel also now has webcasting and recording facilities, a service that has proved to be of particular importance during the pandemic, as it allows mourners to participate in the funeral that cannot attend in person.
The chapel has also been improved with a new lighting system. It includes a feature whereby families and funeral directors can choose to only illuminate those areas occupied by the congregation and those leading the service.
The programme of work also provided an opportunity to install the latest cremation equipment to minimise any disruption to services in future.
Jonathan Spalding, manager of Haltemprice Crematorium, said: “We are committed to working with local funeral directors to help families have a respectful funeral for their loved one.
“Fortunately, nobody was injured as a result of the fire, and whilst it was a tragedy, it did provide us with the opportunity to completely review our end-of-life services. We have worked tirelessly to restore and transform Haltemprice Crematorium so that it now rivals our flagship, purpose-built facilities in other parts of the country.”