Blackley Crematorium

Blackley Crematorium

The crematorium occupies the southern section of Blackley Cemetery, positioned at the south-western end of a short north-east to south-west avenue connecting it to the cemetery's Chapel of Remembrance and offices. The building has a symmetrical layout comprising two small side chapels flanking a larger central chapel, with the committal room, furnaces and offices arranged to the rear, alongside a small enclosed service yard.

The north-east facing front elevation is notably symmetrical, dominated by a massive fully glazed bow at its centre containing abstract coloured and stained glass that illuminates the main central chapel. The glazed bow, believed to have been designed in part to echo the bow of Heaton Hall and the rotunda of its temple on the opposite hilltop, features 22 feet 6 inches high closely set cast Portland-stone mullions rising from a sill above a faceted black-granite plinth and connecting with two transoms set high within the bow. A 17 feet high and 6 feet wide concrete cross with bright-blue terrazzo cladding adorns the centre of the bow, suspended by metal fins laid end on so as to be barely visible. Flanking the central chapel are two lower, two-tiered, flat-roofed buff-brick ranges containing entrance halls and side chapels, with exit halls on their side elevations. Each entrance hall has a single window and teak double-doors with teak and silver bronze furniture, with a long thin cantilevered concrete canopy projecting above. The side chapels, set slightly lower than the central chapel, have full-width deeply recessed windows containing coloured and stained glass with short Portland-stone mullions and a single transom. The two exit halls feature similarly styled glazed walls and doors. The north-west exit has a long two-stage concrete canopy with two supporting columns, whilst the south-east exit hall contains two doorways with canopies linking to a single larger lower-stage canopy supported by four columns; later steps and ramps have replaced the original sloping access. The rear return walls of the side chapels incorporate a series of vertical brick fins. The rear elevation, largely hidden behind a high brick wall with gates, has few windows, with a relatively short rectangular chimney rising from the southern corner.

The crematorium contains three chapels allowing concurrent funerals. The two main entrances from the north-east front lead into entrance halls fronting each side chapel, lit by large domed skylights containing circular lens lights. The rear walls incorporate blue mosaic panels illuminated by wall lights flanking teak and sycamore double doors leading to the side chapels, with identical doors also accessing the main central chapel. Adjacent waiting rooms, toilets and vestries occupy the entrance halls, and exit halls lie alongside each side chapel. The south-east exit hall flows around the corner into the entrance hall and contains a polished granite tablet recording the crematorium's dedication in 1959.

Both side chapels have rectangular plans with teak and sycamore catafalques set on large slightly raised platforms behind sliding catafalque gates (covered by curtains upon inspection) by Birmingham Guild Limited, featuring iron frames and grey-leather panels incorporating roundels of coloured glass, with speakers housed in the gate backs. The walls, originally exposed brick, have been subsequently painted and plastered. Original pendant lights hang from circular ceiling recesses on each side, with smaller skylights above the catafalques. Above the entrance doors in each chapel is a large full-width mullioned and transomed window containing coloured and stained glass by William & Watson of Liverpool.

The main chapel has a reinforced concrete frame and fan-shaped plan with splayed side walls of Uxbridge flint bricks converging on the catafalque area. Concrete piers arranged around the fan-shape form an aisle on the north-east side (lit by original pendant lights) and rise to meet concrete beams radiating from the top-lit catafalque area like ribs. A huge abstract coloured and stained-glass window by William & Watson of Liverpool forms the north-east wall, following the bow of the front elevation. The catafalque is of black Belgian marble and cast stone on a raised platform reached by curving marble steps, above which black rods of differing length descend from the ceiling at an angle following the chapel's fan shape. A domed skylight with circular lens lights sits above the catafalque. The sliding catafalque gates are black metal with illuminated abstract stained-glass infill of varying density by Birmingham Guild Limited. The chapel contains original curved beech bench seating by Hille of London Limited. An electric organ by the John Compton Organ Co Ltd occupies a small room behind the splayed western side wall, lit by a small circular skylight with a louvred window allowing the organist to observe the service unobserved.

The committal room lies behind the main chapel with side access from the side chapels, lit by small circular skylights alongside two flanking stores. The walls are lined with acoustic tiles, the ceiling is plastered and the floor is cork, all designed to minimise noise.

The furnace room contains three furnaces and provides access to rear staff and service rooms and an urn store. These rear ancillary rooms, along with a short corridor leading to the enclosed rear yard, are lit by circular skylights matching those in the committal room. The furnaces, machinery and service equipment located in the rear service areas are not considered of special architectural or historic interest.