Invisible Landmarks: The Architecture of Crematoria in the North East

Given that seven out of deaths in the UK today result in cremation, it begs the question as to why, until recently, crematoria have been almost entirely absent from architectural histories. Although in many ways the ‘invisible’ buildings of the twentieth century, crematoria nevertheless tell us a great deal about the complex and changing attitudes to death and disposal. There are currently 274 in operation in the UK, the first opening in Woking, Surrey in 1889, but the majority dating from between 1950 and 1970.
As cremation slowly gained acceptance in Britain, this progress was reflected in its architectural expression and each crematorium can therefore be seen as a symbol of social change. Furthermore, crematoria and their surrounding Gardens of Rest and Remembrance were intended to created a new landscape for mourning. The crematorium presents a series of challenges to the architect. It is a building frequented by a large cross-section of religious, secular and ideological movements, all with different, but overlapping needs. From the outset the lack of a shared and clear expectation of what is required from a crematorium has given rise to the cultural ambivalence lying at the heart of many designs. Not surprisingly, architectural responses have often been ambiguous and evasive. At once utilitarian and symbolic, religious and secular, crematoria are fraught with complexity. Forty years ago the crematorium was a place for cremation and a brief committal ceremony. Now the ritual, the function and the remembrance all centre on the crematorium and setting.
This paper will explore the reasons why crematoria remain ‘invisible’ landmarks, despite their growing significance in today’s society. It will draw its examples principally from the North East.