Committed to the Cleansing Flame: The Development of Cremation in Nineteenth-Century England

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The book explores the historical challenges faced by the Cremation Society, founded in 1874, in promoting cremation as a solution to overcrowded burial sites during the late Victorian era. It details the societal resistance, including religious opposition and legal barriers, that initially hindered acceptance. The narrative follows the journey to public cremation, culminating in the establishment of the first crematorium in Woking in 1885 and the passing of the Cremation Act in 1902. Richly illustrated, it showcases rarely seen images from this transformative period.