Mortlake Crematorium

Mortlake Crematorium is a crematorium in Mortlake, a district of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, United Kingdom. It is situated on the banks of the River Thames by Chiswick Bridge and serves the west and south-west of London, that is the Boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames. It is managed by a board made up of three elected councillors from each of these four boroughs.

Citing it as "a rare example of Art Deco design" in the borough, Richmond upon Thames' Council has described it as "a building of exceptional quality and character".^[1]

History

Mortlake Crematorium was licensed in 1936 under the Mortlake Crematorium Act 1936, thereby becoming the first to be established under its own Act of Parliament. The building was designed by Douglas Barton, an employee of the Hammersmith Metropolitan Borough Council and constructed in three years at a cost of £ 27000. It was also equipped with a Garden of Remembrance for the burial or scattering of ashes, and also offered panels and niches in which ashes could be deposited. The facility was finally opened in January 1939 by Lord Horder, the then Physician to the King. Mortlake Crematorium's outward appearance changed little over the following years until 1982, when Colin Gilbert, an architect from Ealing, designed additional gardens on the area of land between the crematorium and the river Thames.

Cremations

Among those cremated here are:

• Rita Auden (1942–2008), surgeon and niece of W.H. Auden
• Inday Ba (1972–2005), Swedish actress
• Richard Beckinsale (1947–1979), actor
• Tommy Cooper (1921–1984), comedian and magician
• Margaret Dale (1922-2010), dancer
• Sir Robin Day (1923–2000), political broadcaster and commentator
• Paul Eddington (1927–1995), actor
• Dick Emery (1915–1983), comedian and actor
• Kenny Everett (1944–1995), radio DJ and television entertainer
• Richard Harris (1930–2002), actor, singer and writer
• Charles Hawtrey (1914–1988), comedy actor
• Julian Hosking (1953–1989), ballet dancer
• John Hutchinson (1884–1972), botanist
• Arthur Koestler (1905–1983), author
• Charles Lightoller (1874–1952), second officer of Titanic
• Kirsty MacColl (1959–2000), singer-songwriter
• Christopher Price (1967–2002), radio and television broadcaster
• Sir Michael Redgrave (1908–1985), actor, author and director
• Gordon Reid (1939–2003), actor
• Prince Alexander Romanov (1929–2002), member of the Russian Imperial Family
• Leonard Rossiter (1926–1984), actor
• Lord Rothschild (1910–1990), biologist and politician
• Sir Denis Thatcher, Bt (1915–2003), businessman and husband of Margaret Thatcher

References

1. ^ "Cabinet Member For Environment And Planning. Report of: Assistant Director Environment Planning & Review. Subject: Buildings of Townscape Merit". London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames. 9 February 2004. http://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=5812. Retrieved 13 November 2011. 

External links

• Official website

Coordinates: 51°28′22″N 0°16′25″W / 51.4728°N 0.2735°W / 51.4728; -0.2735