West Midlands crematorium almost doubles amount of services conducted amid attitude shift for funerals
A West Midlands-based Cemetery and Crematorium is seeing a rapid year-on-year increase in cremations at its recently renovated site, as public attitudes towards funeral choices continue to shift.
Hammerwich Cemetery and Crematorium, which was acquired by the award-winning A.W. Lymn The Family Funeral Service, has seen its number of cremations nearly double, rising from 242 in 2023 to 429 in 2024.
The eight-acre site in Staffordshire, which recently underwent a £350,000 renovation by the family funeral directors, is expecting the trend to continue following the full chapel refurbishment and a new state-of-the-art audio and visual system installed. Outside, the site also has a new one-way system, a retarmacked larger car park and a canopy area for funerals with a large number of attendees – futureproofing the cemetery and crematorium in the event of another pandemic.
Since its reopening in October 2025, Hammerwich has recorded a 20 per cent increase in the number of funeral directors choosing the location for its cremations.
Matthew Lymn Rose, Managing Director at A.W. Lymn, said: “We have invested heavily in the site at Hammerwich to ensure we’re able to offer the best quality service to those who choose us to help them say goodbye. Whether it’s a traditional burial or a simple and no-fuss cremation, our core ethos, standards and approach are always the same.
“We understand that people’s needs are changing, so we’re proactively taking steps to ensure we are best placed to support with whatever they may choose for their funeral arrangements – and our first company-owned cemetery and crematorium is just one of the ways we’re able to do this.”
Hammerwich, located on the outskirts of Burntwood near Lichfield, is committed to serving its communities, whatever their needs. Its team and cremator are one of the only in the West Midlands which can handle bariatric funerals - where arrangements and sometimes specialist services and equipment are needed for individuals with obesity.
Able to manage cremations up to a weight of 60 stone, Hammerwich has become a trusted site in the wider Midlands region for both funeral directors and families with more complex needs – a reflection of its dedication to offering a range of choices for families.
The Hammerwich cemetery is just one of the ways A.W. Lymn is expanding its offering. The funeral directors has also invested in its own barrows site in Nottinghamshire – comprising ancient burial mounds, offering a different option to a standard burial.
Established in 1907, A.W. Lymn has grown to become one of the UK’s largest independent funeral directors, operating 25 branches across the region. Having recently acquired M.A. Mills and expanded into Leicestershire, it continues to grow its reach and network of talented funeral directors supporting the bereaved.
