The next stage of repair work at Thorncliffe Crematorium in Barrow is due to start at the end of the month.
The crematorium suffered significant damage in a fire in March. Chapel‑based services were able to resume from 15 April, allowing families to continue to hold ceremonies at Thorncliffe as planned, and some initial repair work started in May.
Now the next stage of work will involve more extensive structural repairs, including the replacement of the roof and chimneys. As well as carrying out the fire damage repairs, it has also been agreed to take this opportunity to invest in upgrading and improving Thorncliffe’s cremators and associated systems and to carry out some interior decoration.
This will secure the building for the future and ensure it has more up-to-date and resilient facilities.
Due to the nature of the repairs, chapel-based services will not be possible during the next stage of work, which will start at the end of the month and is expected to last 6-8 weeks, after which services and cremations will be able to resume.
No further service bookings are therefore being taken beyond 29 June until the work is completed, although services already booked in for the few days beyond that date will go ahead unaffected and there will be no disruption to those services from any works on site.
As the work is progressing, visitors to the crematorium will notice activity around the building and contractors on site, but this won’t affect access to any graves. Contractors are aware of the sensitivity of the site and will be expected to consider this as they go about their work.
Following the fire, investigations were carried to understand the extent of the damage, carry out structural and electrical surveys and an extensive clean-up of the site was completed.
Westmorland and Furness Council, which operates the crematorium, has continued to update funeral directors to help support affected families and to help them to make arrangements. The council wishes to thank people for their continued patience and understanding during this difficult period of disruption.