Mortlake Crematorium

The crematorium stands beside the Thames near Chiswick Bridge and displays Italian architecture combined with Art Deco details and a brick cloister with careful masonry work. The site includes several chapels, gardens with trees and flower beds, and maintained paths along the riverside.

Construction took place between 1936 and 1939 as the first British facility of its kind authorized by its own Act of Parliament. Funding from four London boroughs allowed completion despite economic uncertainty in the years before the war.

The handwritten commemoration volumes follow a calligraphic tradition and can be accessed through digital terminals or online. These books form a continuous archive that allows families to look up entries for their loved ones.

The facility serves four London boroughs and is managed by elected representatives from the borough councils. Visitors will find parking on site as well as accessible routes to the chapels and gardens.

The children's memorial garden created in 2015 draws on Doris Stickley's narrative about water bugs and dragonflies symbolizing transformation and continuation. The design uses plants and water features to make this metaphorical story tangible for grieving families.

Location: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

Inception: 1939

Official opening: 1939

Address: Townmead Road

Phone: +442088768056

Website: https://mortlakecrematorium.org

GPS coordinates: 51.47280,-0.27350

Latest update: December 20, 2025 15:21