Waltonwrays Cemetery Chapel Extension – Skipton, North Yorkshire

Bowman Riley undertook a full planning application and technical design package for a new single-storey extension to the main entrance of the 1876 Crematorium Chapel at Waltonwrays Cemetery, set within Skipton’s conservation area.

Within Waltonwrays Cemetery’s curtilage, the site comprises a group of non-designated heritage assets, including the historic Crematorium Chapel, the Remembrance Chapel, a lodge, and Gardens of Remembrance.

We considered the conservation area appraisal and the proposal’s impact on the conservation area. We concluded that the significance of the site and building lies in its original design, the quality of the building fabric, completeness, and historical associations with burial. Our proposal will enhance the value of the site and chapel, improving the user experience and ensuring the site’s longevity.

The plans extend the chapel’s entrance to its north elevation, which is linked to the existing building by full-height glazing. The extension to Waltonwrays Chapel in a modern minimalist style, purposefully distinguishable from the existing Victorian Gothic Revival building, yet subservient so as not to compete with it. The extension walls are constructed of stone, the same colour as the existing building, but are ashlar rather than pitch-faced.

The proposal provides a tranquil space that reflects the passage from life to death, represented by the cemetery grounds and chapel. The extension is reminiscent of ecclesiastical forms, emulating the nave and aisles and adding to the site’s experience and story.

Explore more of our community projects here.