The North Devon Crematorium (also known as Barnstaple Crematorium) [1] is located on Old Torrington Road in Barnstaple and is the only crematorium in North Devon. It is operated by North Devon Council and has the largest crematorium chapel in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. [2]
North Devon Crematorium was built in 1966 for the Joint Committee of North Devon and Torridge District Councils. The original chapel, Aspen, was the last crematoria designed by Harold R W Orr; it was built by Y J Lovell (Western) Limited. There is a separate Chapel of Memory and the Garden of Rest is laid out over three levels. [1] Aspen can seat 72 mourners and underwent modernisation during 2018 to include digitally downloaded music, video tribute facilities, password protected webcasting and recording while at the same time retaining the organ for more traditional funerals. [2]
The newer chapel is Rowan which was completed in 2016 at a cost of £1.14 million [3] and which is currently the largest crematorium chapel in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It was dedicated in 2016 by Robert Atwell, the Bishop of Exeter. [4] Rowan has the capacity to hold large services with seating for over 250 mourners and a quiet viewing room. In addition the chapel has standing room for a large number of additional mourners and a large outdoor canopy to cover hundreds more in case of bad weather. [3] Facilities available at Rowan include the ability to webcast services to anywhere in the world plus digitally downloaded music, video tributes and recording. All memorial services in Rowan are recorded so that if a mourner missed the service a recording can be obtained up to six weeks later. [2]
North Devon Crematorium is located within landscaped memorial gardens where ashes can be interred and with a car park for 130 vehicles onsite. There is substantial on-street parking available just outside the crematorium. [2] Services are booked for 40 minute slots with the ability to book a double slot. In 2013 North Devon Council stated that it would levy a fine of £147 for any service which went over the 40 minutes.[ citation needed ]
Bideford is a historic port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, south-west England. It is the main town of the Torridge local government district.
Great Torrington is a market town in Devon, England. Parts of it are sited on high ground with steep drops down to the River Torridge below, with the lower-lying parts of the town prone to occasional flooding. Torrington is in the centre of Tarka Country, a landscape captured by Henry Williamson in his novel Tarka the Otter in 1927. Great Torrington has one of the most active volunteering communities in the United Kingdom.
Barnstaple is a river-port town in North Devon, England, at the River Taw's lowest crossing point before the Bristol Channel. From the 14th century, it was licensed to export wool and won great wealth. Later it imported Irish wool, but its harbour silted up and other trades developed such as shipbuilding, foundries and sawmills. A Victorian market building survives, with a high glass and timber roof on iron columns. The parish population was 24,033 at the 2011 census, and that of the built-up area 32,411 in 2018. The town area with nearby settlements such as Bishop's Tawton, Fremington and Landkey, had a 2020 population of 46,619.
North Devon is a local government district in Devon, England. North Devon Council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon District include Braunton, Fremington, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth. The district was formed on 1 April 1974 as a merger of the Barnstaple municipal borough, the Ilfracombe and Lynton urban districts, and the Barnstaple and South Molton rural districts.
Instow is a village in north Devon, England. It is on the estuary where the rivers Taw and Torridge meet, between the villages of Westleigh and Yelland and on the opposite bank to Appledore. There is an electoral ward with the same name. The ward's total population at the 2011 census was 1,501.
Langtree is a village and parish in north Devon, England, situated about 4 miles (6 km) south-west of Great Torrington and 8 miles (13 km) south of Bideford. Its name means "tall tree". Torridge District Council and Devon County Council are responsible for local government, while for religious administrative purposes it is part of the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple and the Diocese of Exeter.
Little Torrington is a village and a civil parish near Great Torrington, in the Torridge district, north Devon, England. In 2001 the population of the civil parish of Little Torrington was 420 and in 2011 it was 376, according to census data. Little Torrington has the Church of St Giles and the Chapel of St Mary Magdalene.
The Tarka Trail is a series of footpaths and cyclepaths around north Devon, England that follow the route taken by the fictional Tarka the Otter in the book of that name. It covers a total of 180 miles (290 km) in a figure-of-eight route, centred on Barnstaple.
Abbots Bickington is a village and civil parish in the English county of Devon, located 7.7 mi (12.4 km) north-northeast of Holsworthy and near the River Torridge.
Alverdiscott is a village, civil parish, former manor and former ecclesiastical parish in the Torridge district of Devon, England, centred 5.5 miles (9 km) south-south-west of Barnstaple.
Parkham is a small village, civil parish and former manor situated 5 miles south-west of the town of Bideford in north Devon, England. The parish, which lies within the Kenwith ward in the Torridge district, is surrounded clockwise from the north by the parishes of Alwington, Littleham, Buckland Brewer, East Putford and Woolfardisworthy. In 2001 its population was 742, compared to 786 in 1901.
Holsworthy was a railway station in Devon, England, on the now-closed railway line from Okehampton to Bude. It opened in 1879 to serve the market town of Holsworthy and closed in 1966, a victim of the Beeching Axe.
Milton Damerel is a village, parish and former manor in north Devon, England. Situated in the political division of Torridge, on the river Waldon, it covers 7 square miles (18 km2). It contains many tiny hamlets including Whitebeare, Strawberry Bank, East Wonford and West Wonford. The parish has a population of about 450. The village is situated about 5 miles (8.0 km) from Holsworthy, 13.081 miles (21.052 km) from Bideford and 22.642 miles (36.439 km) from Barnstaple. The A388 is the main road through the parish.
The Voice is a local radio station serving North Devon, and based at studios in Barnstaple.
Monkleigh is a village, parish and former manor in north Devon, England, situated 2 1/2 miles north-west of Great Torrington and 3 1/2 miles south-east of Bideford. An electoral ward exists titled Monkleigh and Littleham. The population at the 2011 census was 1,488.
The Tarka Valley Railway in Devon, England, is a proposed heritage railway based on plans to rebuild the Barnstaple to Halwill Junction railway line. So far only a short demonstration line has been set up, and planning permission was granted for 300 ft of track in the direction of Bideford. The railway has been fenced off from the Tarka Trail ensuring the safety of all involved. Restoration of various items of railway stock is currently under way.
Chittlehamholt is a village and civil parish in North Devon district, Devon, England. In the 2011 census it was recorded as having a population of 169.
Barnstaple Cemetery is the burial ground for the town of Barnstaple in Devon and is managed by North Devon Council.
Enfield Crematorium is a cemetery located on the Great Cambridge Road, Enfield, London. It was opened in 1938 and consists of 50 acres (20 ha) of land, most of which is dedicated to the gardens of remembrance. The crematorium is a local listed red brick building.