Portchester Crematorium was opened in 1958 and is situated on the lower slopes of Portsdown Hill between Fareham and Portsmouth. The Crematorium is controlled by a Joint Committee of Councillors representing the City of Portsmouth, the Boroughs of Fareham, Havant and Gosport but operates as an independent establishment with specialised administrative and technical support from the constituent local authorities.
The number of cremations has risen from an initial 400 to over 3,300 annually. It is now one of the busiest establishments of its kind in Britain. A second Chapel was opened in September 1969. The Joint Committee holds membership of the Federation of British Cremation Authorities and abides by their Code of Practice which can be found under 'Guides and Information'.
In recent years a number of major building works including new cloisters and waiting rooms have been undertaken to ensure the building meets the highest standard for those attending services. The crematorium has also upgraded all of its equipment to ensure strict compliance with the Environmental Protection Act.
In 2022, the Portchester Crematorium Joint Committee approved plans for four new cremators at Portchester Crematorium. This £4.5M project is being funded by the Joint Committee and will include the replacement of the existing six cremators, which are over 30 years old and no longer fit for purpose, with four new natural-gas cremators. These will not only improve the efficiency and consistency of the cremation process, but also reduce the carbon footprint of the facility. The works will commence in 2024 and be completed in two phases over a two-year period. There will be no visible changes to the site and all works will take place outside of cremation service hours, including some night and weekend working.