It’s a solution as old as the hills: the storage of cremated ashes in a neolithic burial chamber.
Following a new incarnation of this old idea in 2014, when a traditional long barrow was recreated in Devizes, Wiltshire, stonemasons Sacred Stones have built a further version near St Neots in Cambridgeshire and plan to build a further eight barrows across England.
The long barrow is a network of underground passages housing niches for funeral urns. The revival of the idea stems from the desire to provide a natural alternative to the modern funeral. The barrows are unlit save for natural light coming from the entrance, and sconce candles. “It is a beautiful place to lay someone to rest” says Toby Angel, Managing Director of Sacred Stones.
Article on the Wiltshire Long Barrow
Article on Cambridgeshire Long Barrow
Catholic restrictions on keeping ashes