whitley bay cemetery and chapel
Whitley Bay Crematorium
Blyth Road, Whitley Bay, NE26 4NH
9am – 7pm
Whitley Bay Crematrium opened in 1960 following the conversion of the existing 1913 Cemetery Chapel designed by Edward Cratney of Newcastle. The Cemetery Chapel is an Arts and Crafts style building, of coursed blue/grey granite with ashlar dressings and Westmorland slate roofs.
The main chapel has a projecting tower topped by an octagonal spire clad in copper sheeting with a tall finial. The chapel contains some very fine quality Arts and Crafts style plaster decoration carried out by G P Bankart and similar style wooden fittings carried out by J P Bertram & Sons. Originally the nave and chancel of the chapel were separated by a tripartite, carved timber and glazed screen, only the outer frame which now survives.
The conversion to a crematorium was designed by Cordingly and McIntyre, Durham, for the County Borough of Whitley Bay (now North Tyneside Council). There is no Garden of Remembrance but an adjoining flower room was added. The Cemetery Chapel and Crematorium was listed Grade II in 2003.
Currently managed by North Tyneside Council Council, Whitley Bay Crematorium provides a range of facilities to deliver a dignified and respectful cremation service. The staff at the crematorium have created a warm and welcoming atmosphere that offers a certain degree of comfort at what is so often a difficult and distressing time. The chapel has a range of facilities allowing you to make the service unique and tailored to reflect your wishes.
The crematorium is non denominational it welcomes all religions and we will help you plan a suitable cremation service taking into account the religious or non religious beliefs of the deceased and their family. Services are currently allocated a 45 minute timeframe but service times can run up to 30 minutes. The additional time is to enter and leave the chapel before the arrival of the next funeral. Services are available each day of the week, Monday to Friday. Saturday mornings are available upon request but this will incur an additional fee.
A funeral service at the crematorium should be meaningful and personalised which is why families are actively encouraged to incorporate music and personal tributes to the deceased during the service. If you require a longer time in the chapel, perhaps to accommodate your plans for the service, this can be arranged provided that the following time slot is also available. An additional fee is payable to extend the service time.
advice, direction and inspiration
Arranging a funeral with us
Our funeral directors will listen, advise, and guide you through all of the arrangements to plan a funeral that is appropriate for both you, your family and the person who has died.
Preparing for the funeral
- We will arrange the funeral with you in person or over the phone
- Help you with any documentation and communicating on your behalf with all third parties
- Explain every decision you’ll have to make, including those about the coffin, flowers, music, and orders of service
- Arrange the location of the funeral and assist you in selecting the ideal officiant
- Enable you to visit the person who has died in our chapel of rest by appointment between 9am-8pm, 7 days a week
- Assist you in using our Bereavement Service to access support
We’ll care for the person who has died
- Bring them within a 25-mile radius into our care
- In our specialised facilities, we care for them until the day of the funeral
- We can dress them in the clothes of your choice or a gown that we can supply
For the funeral service
- Family members may choose to carry the coffin or use a wheeled bier, or this can be done by our colleagues
- We’ll arrange a standard hearse and can take a special route if you prefer, for an additional fee, you can also select a specialist hearse
- We can arrange for you to hold the ceremony and committal service at different locations
- Your funeral director will be with you throughout the day to ensure that everything goes as planned
when someone dies
When someone dies, there are many things that you will need to take care of, from registering the death to notifying particular organisations. Understanding what you need to do may help ease some of the stress or confusion you may be feeling.
As soon as someone dies, you should call a doctor. They’ll be able to issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death and will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.
You will then need to find a funeral director, and arrange for the deceased to be collected and brought into their care.
You must register the death in the country where your loved one died. You’ll need to find a register office in the area where the death occurred and make an appointment.
You’ll also need to bring certain documents with you, such as the deceased’s passport and Birth Certificate.
You should then begin making funeral arrangements with your chosen funeral director. You’ll need to consider the type of funeral, coffin, travel arrangements, and other details such as flowers and readings.
If your loved one left behind a will, the named ‘executor’ will deal with the estate. If there isn’t a will, a relative will be appointed as an ‘administrator’ in order to deal with this.
Inform Tell Us Once about the death within the first two weeks. They will tell authorities and government services that your loved one has passed away, rather than having to contact each authority separately. The deceased’s social media accounts will need to be dealt with too.
here to support, help and advise
We are here to support and guide you through every detail, helping you create a fitting ceremony and celebration of life.
Everything that we do is built on empathy, choice and providing value. Our belief is that since we’re all unique, our funerals should be too.
When a death occurs we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us if you need help and advice around bereavement even if not considering us as funeral director.
Call – 0191 257 1201
If you would prefer not to speak to someone just now, message us through WhatsApp or email info@eturnbull.co.uk and we will call you back within an hour.
serving the community since 1790
It was in 1790, when the founder of the business, John Turnbull, began work as a cabinetmaker and undertaker on the quayside at North Shields.
what our families say
