Friends of Hastings Cemetery

Hastings Crematorium

From 1988 only the north chapel was in use, this was enlarged to include a cloister.  A glass walkway was added in 1993 and the south chapel was converted into a flower viewing area.

The Garden of Rest consists of a sunken garden, with a central fountain.

1901
Cremation: future expansion to consider provision of cremation buildings and apparatus [Council Minutes of Proceedings 1901 p.344]

Also suggests small area for possible crematorium or chapel; estimated costs    £4185 [Council Minutes of Proceedings 1901 p.455-7]

1938
May 1938 the Council adopted a proposal to ask the Ministry of Health to approve the scheme, at estimated cost of £12.500.

1939

Council applies for £12,500 loan for new projected crematorium. Nov.1939;

1949

Cremation Council conf. (350 delegates) held at Hastings pier. Jul.1949;

1953

£20,000 town crematorium scheme approved. Dec.1953

1955

Oct 3 - The crematorium at the borough cemetery was officially opened by the Earl of Verulam.  The first cremation took place on November 1: Alice CC Jones, an 83-year old widow, of Blacklands Drive.

1984

Manual workers one-day strike over staff member’s wage deductions. Nov.1984

Hastings Crematorium was built in 1955 and incorporated two 1856 Gothic burial chapels.  The crematorium is owned by Hastings Borough Council and the conversion was designed by the Hastings Borough Engineer, Sidney Little.

The 1856 buildings were built of local sandstone, the conversion included the construction of a central apex linking the chapels, the cremators were in a building behind and the chimney and flues were concealed by a tower.