An Architecture of Reluctance: British Crematoria, Past, Present and Future

Hilary Grainger

Research Interests

Late nineteenth and early twentieth century architecture and design, the late Victorian architect Sir Ernest George, architecture and design of British crematoria.

Current Research

Current research arises from issues identified in my book Death Redesigned: British Crematoria, History, Architecture and Landscape. I am preparing a chapter for Death our future: Christian Theology and Funeral Practice, it assesses developments over the last ten years and is intended as a major work to engage, inform and equip Christians for facing dying, death, bereavement, funerals and memorialisation.

Research is also continuing for three refereed conference papers. The first two address different issues surrounding 'The Anatomy of Mourning: at Coychurch Crematorium, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, designed by the International Modernist Maxwell Fry and the third is entitled 'The Final Journey: Transport and Cremation in Britain'. The work on Maxwell Fry has been accepted for publication by the international journal, Mortality. A paper delivered in January 2007 is being prepared for publication in The Garden History Review later this year. Another paper on Gardens of Remembrance is to be delivered in Oxford in February 2008 for the Oxfordshire Gardens Trust. Another lecture, 'Death Redesigned: British Crematoria is to be delivered at the University of Leeds in May 2007.

Finally, work continues on the final stages of my manuscript of a monograph for Yale University Press on The Architecture of Ernest George.