Gornal Wood Crematorium

Gornal Wood Crematorium, or to give its correct title,  Gornal Wood Cemetery and Crematorium was officially opened on 1st October 1960.  It is located just off Coopers Bank Road in Gornalwood, Dudley.  

John T Lewis was the Dudley Borough Architect who designed the plans and structure.  He modelled the building along Scandinavian lines to create the look and feel of a typical Scandinavian house. He incorporated a large peaked roof, natural features, clean lines and an open and airy (natural light) atmosphere. Work began in 1958 and completed  mid-1960.

Gornal Wood Crematorium was purposely designed to incorporate an impressive and dignified chapel, a remembrance room, and all to be set in a beautiful and extensive landscaped gardens.  The adjacent cemetery was established five-years earlier in 1955.

When the Pope (Paul VI) announced Catholics could be cremated (as opposed to only being buried) in 1963,  Crematoria like Gornal Wood Crematorium became extremely busy to cope with the demand.

Gornal Wood Crematorium Location and entrance

The Gornal Wood Crematorium can be accessed by two gates.  The main entrance (driving) is located in Coopers Bank Road, and the exit being in Chase Road (or looping back along the one-way system back to Coopers Bank Road). There is no entrance to the Crematorium via Chase Road.
 

ADMINISTRATION

• Office location
  The main administration office is located at 7, Chase Road, within the grounds of Gornal Wood Crematorium.
   
• Office opening hours
  Monday to Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm
  Closed Weekends and Bank holidays.
   
• Gornal Wood Crematorium grounds opening hours
  Monday to Sunday 9:00am to 6:00pm - Summer months.
  Monday to Saturday 9:00am to 6:00pm - Winter months.
  Sundays 9:00am to 4:30pm.

ARRIVAL

• Car Parking
  Located at the bottom of the central drive from Coopers Bank Road (a one-way system), there is ample car parking spaces (approximately 84) with additional spaces located in front of the Office off Chase Road. On busy days, cars can bee seen parked along side the drive down to and from the car park.
   
• Blue Badge parking
  There are two designated bays for Blue Badge holders, located approximately 20m from the chapel entrance.
   

• Assistance (Guide) dogs
  Permitted into the grounds and chapel.

   

GENERAL FACILITIES

• Waiting Room
  The main entrance to the Waiting room is located to the right side of the chapel entrance door.  An internal entrance is located by the chapel exit door.  
   
• Toilets
  Male and female toilets can be accessed from the wating room.

THE CHAPEL

• Number of Chapels
  One.
   
• Allotted and Service timings
  Each Service allotted time in the chapel is 45-minutes.  
   
• Chapel Seating
  84 people can be seated with approximately 120 standing.
   
• Entrance into the chapel
  Entrance into the chapel is accessed under the canopy at the front of the building. There is only one way in.
   
• Exit door from the chapel
  At the end of the service, attendees exit the chapel via a swing door located on the righthand side of the chapel at the back of the chapel (to the right of the Catafalque).
   
• Catafalque Curtains
  Large, deep-blue curtains that can be closed from each side of the catafalque in two halves meeting (closing) in the centre.
   
• Music Steaming and Webcast
  Obitus.
  Lectern screen and control.
  A hearing loop system is available to all those who have hearing aids.
   
• Visual Tribute
  A set of images (25-minimum) can be set to a piece of music of your choice.  The number of images will be divided by the length of the piece of music to obtain the time each image is displayed for. As an example, 25 images divided by 180 seconds (3-minute piece of music) equates to 7.2 seconds each image is displayed. There are ways to modify/change this.  Give me a call.
   

• Organ/Piano
  An organ is available and situated at the front of the chapel to the left of the Catafalque.

   

CREMATORIUM FACILITIES

• Cemetery
  Yes.
• War Graves
  No.
• Gardens
  Yes.

MEMORIALS

• Floral Tributes, displays, wreathes and bouquets
  Placement for floral tributes is located in a terraced area just outside the chapel exit door. There is a flower room located approximately 10-15m from the terrace.
   
• Removal of Flower Tributes
  Flowers will be removed from the terrace 7-days after the Service by the Gornal Wood Crematorium gardeners. Please feel free to take home your flowers if you wish.
   
• Book of Remembrance
  Exquisite calligraphy of names of loved ones inscribed on a page for each day of the year. A new page is turned to every day. The Book of Remembrance room is located at the rear of the chapel building.
   
• Family Columbarium
  Up to five sets of individual cremated remains can be placed together (small family 'vault') housed in a modern memorial fashioned from black granite and stainless steel.
   
• Memorial Wall Plaques
  A tribute to loved ones on a polished granite plaque.  The plaques are mounted to the walls adjacent to the chapel and floral Tribute terrace.
   
• Wake/Reception Facilities
  None on site.
   
• Heaven Post Box
  None.
   

AFTER THE SERVICE

• Wake / Reception facilities
  None.
   
• Coffee shop
  None on site.

ASHES

• Burial (Interment of Ashes)
  Yes - Cemetery.
• Scattering
  Available.
   

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

• Safe Places Venues
  Gornal Wood Crematorium has been designated as a 'Safe Places Venue' - where children, young people and adults that feel unsafe or need immediate support can go to.