Harwood Park Crematorium — Funeral Services in Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Harwood Park Crematorium provides cremation services in a peaceful countryside setting on the southern edge of Stevenage. Its light chapel, extensive memorial gardens and modern funeral facilities serve families from across North Hertfordshire, East Hertfordshire and the surrounding area.

The crematorium welcomes people of all faiths, beliefs and cultural backgrounds. Families can arrange a traditional religious funeral, a non-religious ceremony, a celebration of life or an unattended direct cremation.

Harwood Park Crematorium and Memorial Gardens is privately owned and operated by the Austin family. The family also runs Austin’s Funeral Directors, although families may use any funeral director when booking a service at the crematorium.

A caring crematorium serving Stevenage and Hertfordshire

Harwood Park Crematorium opened in 1997 following a long campaign by John Harwood Austin to provide a crematorium for Stevenage and neighbouring Hertfordshire communities.

The Austin family designed the site around the needs of mourners. As a result, it combines a spacious chapel with a separate waiting room, an accessible flower court and 25 acres of peaceful memorial gardens.

Today, Harwood Park serves families from Stevenage, Knebworth, Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City, Welwyn Garden City, Hertford and surrounding villages. Its location also makes it accessible from Ware, Buntingford, Baldock, Walkern and other parts of North and East Hertfordshire.

The crematorium does not restrict families to a particular style of funeral. A minister, faith leader or celebrant can lead the ceremony, while relatives and friends may also contribute readings, memories and music.

Location and surroundings

Harwood Park Crematorium stands on Watton Road, close to the A602 on the southern side of Stevenage. Although it remains within easy reach of the town, the grounds look out across open Hertfordshire countryside towards Knebworth and Datchworth.

This rural position creates a sense of privacy away from busy residential streets. Moreover, mature woodland, formal planting and a small lake give families several quiet places to visit before or after a funeral.

Easy access from surrounding areas

The crematorium is convenient for families travelling from Stevenage, Knebworth and nearby villages. The A602 also provides connections towards Hitchin and Hertford, while the A1(M) links Stevenage with other parts of Hertfordshire.

Visitors using satellite navigation should take care. The crematorium advises that its postcode has appeared incorrectly on some sat-nav systems. Therefore, drivers should check the route against an up-to-date map and follow local signs for Harwood Park Crematorium.

Bus services stop in the wider Watton Road area. However, routes and times can change, so mourners travelling by public transport should check their journey beforehand.

Peaceful and well-kept grounds

The crematorium occupies approximately 25 acres of landscaped gardens. These include woodland areas, rose-covered trellises, formal plots, tree-lined avenues and more natural spaces.

Cherry Avenue provides seasonal blossom, while Chestnut Avenue leads towards the garden temple. Broad View Wood overlooks the surrounding countryside, and the secluded Waterside area contains a small lake.

Together, these different settings allow families to choose between a traditional formal memorial and a quieter woodland resting place.

Chapel and funeral facilities

The chapel at Harwood Park Crematorium has a high ceiling, large windows and plenty of natural light. Its interior feels warm and spacious while retaining the dignity expected of a funeral venue.

A large window provides views across the surrounding countryside. Furthermore, the catafalque stands to one side of the chapel, so the coffin does not dominate the sightline throughout the ceremony.

Families can arrange religious, humanist and civil funerals. They can also personalise the chapel with music, photographs, readings and visual tributes.

Chapel capacity at Harwood Park Crematorium

The chapel has pew-style seating for approximately 80 mourners. For a larger funeral, the lobby can accommodate additional standing guests, bringing the potential indoor attendance to around 150 people.

The service can also be relayed to the separate waiting room and outside through loudspeakers. Consequently, Harwood Park can accommodate larger gatherings when the crematorium receives advance notice.

Families expecting a high attendance should speak to their funeral director and the crematorium before the funeral. This allows the team to plan seating, parking and the use of relayed sound.

How long is a service at Harwood Park Crematorium?

Each funeral receives a one-hour booking. This generally allows approximately 45 minutes for the ceremony, with the remaining time used for mourners to enter and leave.

The funeral director should plan readings, music and tributes around the available ceremony time. A particularly elaborate religious or cultural service may require additional arrangements, so families should raise this as early as possible.

A one-hour appointment provides enough time for most funerals without making mourners feel rushed. However, the service must still finish promptly to preserve privacy between consecutive families.

Music and personalisation

Families can choose music that reflects the personality, beliefs or interests of the person who has died. This may include hymns, classical music, favourite songs or quiet instrumental pieces.

A modern audiovisual system supports photographs, slideshows and videos. Families can display a single image throughout the service or create a visual tribute that follows different stages of the person’s life.

The funeral director will normally arrange the music and visual tribute with the crematorium. Photographs and recordings must arrive before the submission deadline, so families should make their choices in good time.

Live streaming and funeral recordings

Harwood Park Crematorium can stream a funeral securely for people who cannot attend in person. Relatives and friends can watch through a private online portal using details shared by the family.

A recording of the funeral may also be available on request. This gives families the opportunity to watch the ceremony later or share it with someone who could not view the live webcast.

Webcasting, visual tributes and recordings may carry additional charges. Families should therefore confirm their requirements and the current prices before the funeral.

The flower court

After the funeral, mourners leave the chapel through the flower court. This provides a quiet place to view the floral tributes and read the accompanying cards.

Raised display areas make the flowers easier to see for wheelchair users and visitors who find bending difficult. The crematorium normally leaves floral tributes on display for three days, allowing relatives to return or take photographs.

The team returns the floral cards to the family after the display period.

Accessibility and visitor comfort

Harwood Park Crematorium provides step-free access to the principal visitor areas. The chapel has an induction hearing loop, while loudspeakers can relay the ceremony to other parts of the venue.

A separate waiting room gives mourners privacy before the service. Because it stands away from the chapel and vestibule, families arriving for the next funeral do not need to gather beside those leaving the previous ceremony.

The site has four visitor toilets, including two accessible toilets. These are positioned near the waiting room and the Church View refreshment lounge.

Families should tell their funeral director about any particular mobility, hearing or seating requirements. Advance notice allows the crematorium team to provide suitable assistance.

Church View refreshment lounge

The Church View lounge provides a comfortable place for visitors to sit and obtain a drink. It is not a full café or wake venue, but it offers useful refreshments for people visiting the grounds or waiting for an appointment.

Families wishing to arrange a funeral reception will need to choose a separate venue in Stevenage or the surrounding area.

Parking at Harwood Park Crematorium

Harwood Park Crematorium has a large free car park with approximately 120 spaces. Accessible parking bays are also available for Blue Badge holders.

The car park sits a short walk from the waiting room and chapel. A separate exit route helps reduce congestion by directing departing traffic away from mourners arriving for the next service.

Overflow parking is available within the site for larger funerals. Nevertheless, families expecting many guests should notify the crematorium beforehand.

Visitors should arrive in good time, especially if they have not been to Harwood Park before. However, arriving excessively early may coincide with mourners leaving the preceding funeral. The funeral director can provide suitable arrival guidance.

Memorial gardens and remembrance options

Harwood Park Memorial Gardens cover approximately 25 acres and provide a variety of settings for cremated remains and permanent memorials.

Families may choose a formal garden plot, a woodland area, a tree-lined avenue or a position near the lake. Alternatively, they can collect the ashes and decide what to do at a later date.

The crematorium can retain cremated remains while a family considers its options. This removes the pressure to make an immediate memorial decision during the early stages of bereavement.

A memorial may also be placed at Harwood Park when the funeral or cremation took place elsewhere.

Woodland and natural memorial areas

Several woodland areas offer peaceful locations for scattering or burying ashes. These include Broad View Wood, Birch Grove, Spencer Wood, Broom Hill Wood and other dedicated areas within the grounds.

A family can dedicate a tree and add an engraved plaque. Depending on the chosen memorial, ashes may be scattered or buried beside the tree.

The Waterside area provides a more secluded setting near the lake. Meanwhile, Cherry Avenue and Chestnut Avenue offer formal tree-lined locations with seasonal colour.

Formal memorial plots

Harwood Park offers several styles of formal memorial plot. Half-square, segment, circular and trellis-corner plots can accommodate the ashes of one or more family members, depending on the chosen design.

Plots may include a rose, shrub or tree together with an engraved plaque. Some can eventually hold the cremated remains of up to four people, making them suitable for families who want a shared resting place.

Available memorials also include stone tablets, wall plaques, dedicated flower vases, benches and seats.

Book of Remembrance

The Book of Remembrance provides a permanent written memorial. Families can choose an inscription that appears on a significant date each year, such as the anniversary of the person’s death.

The Book of Remembrance room is within the crematorium grounds. Visitors who wish to view an entry can contact the office for current access information.

Scattering and burying ashes

Families can arrange to scatter or bury ashes within the gardens. The crematorium team can explain the available locations and help relatives choose a suitable setting.

A scattering or interment can often include a small family gathering. Some families add a reading, piece of music or dove release to create a short memorial ceremony.

Alternatively, the family can collect the ashes for safekeeping, burial or scattering elsewhere. Permission should be obtained before scattering them on land owned by another person or organisation.

Attended and direct cremation services

An attended funeral allows relatives and friends to gather in the chapel for music, readings and personal tributes. Families can arrange either a traditional ceremony or a less formal celebration of life.

Harwood Park also provides direct cremation for families who do not want an attended chapel service. The cremation takes place without mourners, allowing the family to hold a memorial gathering elsewhere if they wish.

The crematorium fee forms only one part of the complete funeral cost. A coffin, transport, professional services and optional tributes may add to the total. A cremation cost calculator can help families understand how different choices affect the likely price.

Fees and service options may change. Therefore, families should request the current price information from their funeral director or Harwood Park Crematorium before making a final decision.

Opening times at Harwood Park Crematorium

The crematorium office and grounds open from 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

The grounds open from 10.00am to 4.00pm on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.

Opening arrangements can change during Christmas, New Year or severe weather. Visitors who are making a special journey may therefore wish to telephone the office first.

Contact details

Name: Harwood Park Crematorium and Memorial Gardens
Address: Watton Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG2 8XT
Telephone: 01438 815555
Email: hpc@crematorium.co.uk
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm
Weekend and bank holiday grounds hours: 10.00am to 4.00pm
Website: Access the official website here

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there parking at Harwood Park Crematorium?

Yes. Harwood Park Crematorium has approximately 120 free parking spaces, including accessible bays. Overflow parking is also available for larger funerals. Families expecting a high attendance should notify the crematorium beforehand.

How many people can attend a funeral at Harwood Park Crematorium?

The chapel seats approximately 80 people. Additional guests can stand in the lobby, increasing the potential indoor attendance to around 150. Loudspeakers can also relay the service to the waiting room and outside.

How long is a service at Harwood Park Crematorium?

Each funeral receives a one-hour booking. This normally provides approximately 45 minutes for the ceremony, with additional time for mourners to enter and leave the chapel.

Are there toilets at Harwood Park Crematorium?

Yes. Harwood Park has four visitor toilets, including two accessible toilets. They are located near the waiting room and the Church View refreshment lounge.

Can a funeral at Harwood Park Crematorium be watched online?

Yes. Families can arrange a secure live webcast for relatives and friends who cannot attend. A recording may also be available after the funeral. Webcasting and recording should be requested in advance, and additional charges may apply.