Work to start on £600,000 restoration of crematorium chapels

The £600,000 project – which is being funded by Hartlepool Borough Council and will take nine months to complete - will tackle the issue of damp in the two 100-year-old chapels caused by water leaking through the eaves and brickwork.

To avoid any disturbance during services, the work will only be carried out during the first half of the week and at weekends – during which time the chapels will be closed. The chapels will be open for services during the latter half of the week, with extended hours of 9am to 5pm.

The restoration work will initially focus on the exterior of the building to make it watertight, including repairing the capping stones, repointing the brickwork and replacing the guttering, during which both chapels will remain in use.

Then from mid-December onwards, the two chapels will each, in turn, be replastered and repainted, the wooden floors revarnished and the carpeting replaced.

Stranton Grange Crematorium and Chapels

Councillor Bob Buchan, Chair of the Council’s Adult and Community-Based Services Committee, said: “The two chapels date from just after the turn of the last century and unfortunately damp has become an increasing problem.

“We are very pleased to start this major restoration, which will make the chapels watertight and improve their internal appearance, following our £250,000 upgrade of the cremators last year.

“The work is being arranged so as to avoid any disturbance during services, but we would nevertheless like to thank people in advance for their understanding while it is being carried out.”

Access to the Book of Remembrance will be maintained throughout the work, but anyone wishing to view it is asked to please make an appointment in advance through the Cemetery Office on 01429 284030.