Cemeteries and Crematorium

For the safety of our staff and customers and to help minimise the spread of the coronavirus, the following provides information on how our service has adapted following Public Health England and Government advice.

Regulations do not specify a maximum number of attendees but states that a modest number of close friends and family of the deceased may attend a funeral. The guidance allows the venue to determine the maximum number of attendees based on venue capacity and the requirement to allow social distancing, therefore there is a restricted maximum attendance of 20 people per cremation service within the Chapel building, this will allow 12 seated in the main chapel and up to 8 standing in the overflow area.

Mourners are asked to sit at least 2 metres apart if not part of the same family and the chapel is sanitised following each service.

No other persons should be in attendance and it is discouraged for people to congregate outside of the chapel and the surrounding areas.

Any individual with symptoms of coronavirus must follow government guidelines to stay at home and not attend a funeral service.

From Monday 10 August 2020, updated guidance relating to face coverings has been issued and face coverings will become mandatory whilst inside the chapel.

Singing, chanting, raised voices and playing of instruments which are blown should also be avoided in the chapel building and the curtains will be closed at committal to prevent touching of the coffin on exit.

Access to the grounds is still available but social distancing should still be observed.

The Book of Remembrance Hall is currently closed and will reopen as soon as possible following government guidance, you can view book entries online.

Burial services within the cemeteries are also taking place, again with restricted attendance as for cremation, with graveside service only, it is asked social distancing at the graveside is fully observed.

The Cemetery Office at the Town Hall is closed for public access, however should you require contact with the office, please call 01325 406744 or email:

[email protected]

If requests could be limited to current working arrangements, current funeral services rather than family history requests, this would assist greatly at this time.

Information on registering a death

You can find information on bereavement support on the COVID-19 health and wellbeing page

Book of remembrance

Books of remembrance provide a beautiful and lasting memorial to the memory of a loved one.

The books are handmade and lettered by highly skilled craftsmen and are displayed in protective glass cabinets. The remembrance room is situated to the rear of Darlington crematorium with its picture window capturing the garden of remembrance.

Each volume contains entries for four months and a page is provided for each day of the year. Memorial entries may be viewed on each anniversary or by appointment at other times should the books be available.

Books have also been digitally photographed and can be viewed at any time on the online book of remembrance [external link].

Entries of between two and eight lines are permitted, with the first line bearing the name. In addition to floral emblems, heraldic illuminations such as coats of arms, crests and regimental badges can form part of an entry of at least five lines.

Examples are available to view at the Council Contact Centre. Staff are available to help you compose suitable wording for the inscription or to select appropriate illustrations.

To ensure an entry is produced in time for display, the completed application must be received at the Crematorium not later than six months before the anniversary.

Book of remembrance prices

The Books are on display at the remembrance room at Darlington crematorium should you wish to view the original entry on the anniversary date. The room is open daily from 9am - 5pm.

Darlington Crematorium,
Carmel Road North,
Darlington,
DL3 8RY

Miniature books and memorial cards

Miniature book

Miniature Books and Memorial Cards are available as a personal keepsake and are very popular with those who cannot easily visit the Crematorium to see the original entry.

The Memorial cards are gilt edged and contain a colour photograph of the original Books of Remembrance with each card inscribed individually with the verse of your choice.

The Miniature Books are hand bound with a blue leather cover and gold blocked with a cross. Each page is inscribed by hand and can be returned when required for additional entries to be made.

Triptych

The Triptych is inspired by medieval art and is a tri-fold memorial folder with three panels which can include a hand written inscription, digital photographs or a memento wallet for small keepsakes.

An example of the Triptych can be seen at the Crematorium Office.

The display features of this memorial enable the final product to be viewed in its entirety showing your choice of verse and photographs making it a truly distinctive choice.