First look: £2m Lincolnshire Co-op funeral home in Lincoln

Lincolnshire Co-op has invested £2 million in a new funeral home on Tritton Road in Lincoln, and The Lincolnite went on a first look tour of the facility.

The funeral home, located on the site formerly used as a filling station close to the Skellingthorpe Road crossroads, will replace the existing Co-op funeral home on Portland Street.

The facility officially opens on February 5 and people are invited to open day tours on Saturday, February 7 and Sunday, February 8 from 10am until 3pm.

The building, which was designed by Lincoln-based architect Dereck Morris and constructed by local builders Maher Millard, has been in planning since 2003 but was built within 11 months after gaining planning permission.

More than 35 local contractors were involved in the build, which features a 1.5m ornate clock designed for the society by Exterior Clock Ltd, as well as intricate bee skep and wheat sheaf carvings representing massages of strength and unity.

The home also includes private chapels of rest, interview lounges and a coffin and memorial display room, in addition to modern mortuary facilities.

A service chapel with 60 inch television, sound system and catering lounge for up to 50 people mean funeral ceremonies can be held on site.

The service had been finalised as suitable for all cultures and religions.

Parking is available on site for up to 30 cars. Two hearses two limousines, two private ambulances and three support vehicles will be based at the new home.

Some 30 Lincolnshire Co-op colleagues will relocate from the Portland Street premises to the new location and two new Funeral Home Steward positions have been created.

Lincolnshire Co-op has 18 funeral homes and provided services from the Portland Street facility since 1930.

David Dernley, Head of Funeral Services at Lincolnshire Co-op, said: “The fact that we have provided the service of many years and have a programme of investment means we can do this and we don’t have to put the price of our funerals up.

“We are 14% below national average prices for funerals. The average funeral cost is around £3,500 and we are just a little over £3,000 and that’s with all the dispersal charges.

“There is financial assistance available from the state for people on benefits and we’ll also talk to people about how they can keep the price of the funeral down.”

Tritton Road Funeral Home Manager Andrew Turnbull added: “As a funeral director, it’s rewarding to guide a family at a difficult time of their life and go that bit further to make everything perfect for them. Out new modern funeral home will help my colleagues and I provide an even better service.”