In 1997 a local estate owner lost his son in a tragic accident. In his memory his father, with the help of Chase Children’s Hospice group, built “Christopher’s” a Children’s Hospice which was named after him.

The hospice is just a mile from the Crematorium where, over the last few years, the Bereavement Services Section had been planning to erect a memorial to all the babies and children cremated since the Crematorium opened in January 1967. The building of the Hospice established an additional need for such a facility.

With funding approved we contacted the Columbaria Company Ltd. for ideas, and visited other local Crematoria and Cemeteries for inspiration.

Columbaria proposed a number of options and the Council's Parks and Countryside Technical Officer designed a planting scheme to complement the garden ensuring that it would have colour all year round. In January 2004 this planting was completed. At the beginning of July 2004 Columbaria delivered and installed this unique life-size memorial specifically designed for us. Carved from a single block of honeycomb granite and weighing 3/4 tonne, the four feet long bench sits on matching honeycomb pavers.

Individual memorials are not available for dedication within the garden and the decision was also taken that cremated remains would not be buried there. The Garden has been provided as a fitting memorial dedicated to all the babies and children who have been cremated at the Crematorium.

The official opening of the garden took place on Wednesday 25 August 2004 with representatives from Christopher's Hospice, the then Mayor of Guildford Cllr Keith Taylor and local Funeral Directors.

In 2005 the garden won the Best Children's Memorial Garden  in the Cemetery of the Year Awards.

Guildford Crematorium
Bereavement Services
Guildford Borough Council
New Pond Road
Godalming
Surrey
GU7 3DB

Tel: 01483 444711
Fax: 01483 444745
Email: crematorium@guildford.gov.uk