Braywick Cemetery in Berkshire opened in the July of 1953 and was set out as a lawn cemetery with specific sections for different religions; Church of England, Non Conformist, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and a section for the burial of babies and children.
The Gardens of Rest are for the interment of cremated remains.
Cremation has been around for centuries, but fell out of favour in Great Britain when Christianity came to its shores. However interest in cremation was reawakened in Victorian Britain when it became apparent that local cemeteries and churchyards were running out of space. Cremation finally became legal in Great Britain in 1882. On the 26th March 1885 he first 'legal' cremation took place, that of Mrs Jeannette Caroline Pickersgill at Woking Crematorium, Surrey England.
The Hampshire Advertiser reported on Sunday 28th March 1885-
The Hampshire Advertiser reported on Sunday 28th March 1885-
"Cremation In Surrey.
On Thursday morning the crematory erected at St. John's, Woking, Surrey, was made use of for the first time, the body reduced to ashes being that of Mrs, Pickersgill of Clarence-gate, London. It had previously been subjected to an autopsy. The deceased was well know in literary and scientific circles, and expressly stipulated in her will that her body should be cremated. With a view to this she had previously become a subscriber to the Cremation Society of England. The cremation, which lasted one hour, is said to have been eminently successful from every point of view."
Two further cremations took place that year. Those of Mr Charles W. Carpenter in October and Mrs Grattan in December. Ten cremations followed in 1886. Today cremation is a popular alternative to full burial and there are many crematoriums around the country.
