Portchester Crematorium
Upper Cornaway Lane, Fareham PO16 8NE
The principal crematorium for Portsmouth, Fareham and Gosport. Opened in 1959 and operated by Portsmouth, Fareham and Gosport councils jointly.
Portsmouth · England
Basic Cremation in Portsmouth
A simple, dignified cremation arranged across Portsmouth and Hampshire — handled by trusted local funeral directors and local crematoria, never centralised hundreds of miles away.
0333 242 1405Available 24 hours a day, every day of the year
Trusted across the UK
Reviews on Trustpilot
NAFD & SAIF accredited network
24/7 phone support
£1,499 all-inclusive
About our service in Portsmouth
A local cremation, arranged with care.
If you’ve lost someone in Portsmouth or anywhere across Hampshire, we can help you arrange a basic cremation — also called a direct or unattended cremation. The whole process happens locally: an independent funeral director near you brings your loved one into care at their own funeral home, and the cremation takes place at one of the established Hampshire crematoria.
Portsmouth is served by Portchester Crematorium, situated just north of the city across Portsmouth Harbour. The wider Hampshire region has additional facilities at Wessex Vale, Hollybrook (Southampton) and the Test Valley.
The price is £1,499 — a single all-inclusive figure covering everything that needs to happen. The team is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. If you’re unsure where to start, the most useful thing is to pick up the phone.
Pricing in Portsmouth
A single price. No hidden extras.
£1,499complete
- Collection from a hospital or coroner's mortuary
- Professional care in a local mortuary
- A suitable coffin
- All paperwork and arrangements
- Cremation at a local Hampshire crematorium
- Ashes returned to you, or scattered with care
The £1,499 price covers collection from a hospital or coroner’s mortuary. Collection from a home, care home or hospice in Portsmouth or anywhere in Hampshire requires a £250 Priority Care collection fee — making the total £1,749. Always explained on the phone before anything happens, never added afterwards.
Local crematoria
The crematoria we use across Hampshire
We work with Portchester, Wessex Vale, The Oaks Havant — alongside other crematoria across the wider Hampshire region. Your local funeral director arranges the cremation at the appropriate facility for your area; you’ll know the date and time in advance.
Wessex Vale Crematorium
Allington Lane, Fair Oak, Eastleigh SO50 7DE
Modern crematorium serving the western Portsmouth fringe and central Hampshire.
The Oaks Havant Crematorium
Bartons Road, Havant PO9 5AT
Havant Borough Council crematorium serving the eastern Portsmouth fringe.
The exact crematorium used depends on the area of Hampshire you’re in, and on availability. The local funeral director arranges this directly and tells you the date and time in advance.
Areas covered
Hampshire and surrounding areas
We arrange basic cremations across the whole of Hampshire. The £1,499 price is the same in every area.
Portsmouth (Portsea Island)
Southsea
Cosham
Drayton
Farlington
Hilsea
Old Portsmouth
Fratton
Eastney
Fareham
Gosport
Stubbington
Lee-on-the-Solent
Havant
Waterlooville
Don’t see your area? We almost certainly cover it — call us on 0333 242 1405 to check.
What to expect
What happens when you call
Five clear steps, taken at your pace, with someone to talk you through every one.
1
You call us
Day or night. Our team listens and gently takes you through what needs to happen.
2
Local Portsmouth care
An independent funeral director near you brings your loved one into their care at their own funeral home.
3
Paperwork
We help with all legal paperwork and book the cremation at a local crematorium.
4
Local Hampshire cremation
A dignified cremation takes place at one of Hampshire's established crematoria.
5
Ashes returned
The ashes can be returned to you for a memorial of your choosing, or scattered with care.
Collection from Portsmouth hospitals, care homes and private addresses across Hampshire typically happens within hours of your call, day or night. The local funeral director arrives in their own vehicle and brings your loved one into care at their funeral home — never into a centralised facility hundreds of miles away.
Registering a death in Portsmouth
Portsmouth Register Office
- Address
- Civic Offices, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth PO1 2AL
- Phone
- 023 9268 8482
All deaths within Portsmouth must be registered at the Civic Offices Register Office. Appointment-only.
Hospital bereavement offices in Hampshire
If your loved one died in hospital, the hospital’s bereavement office handles the paperwork that needs to go to the Medical Examiner before the death can be registered. Your funeral director will normally liaise with them on your behalf.
Queen Alexandra Hospital
Bereavement Office, Southwick Hill Road, Cosham PO6 3LY. Call ahead before visiting.
When the coroner is involved
If the death has been referred to the coroner
If the death is unexpected, sudden or the cause is not yet clear, the Medical Examiner may refer the case to the HM Senior Coroner for Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton. This happens for around 40% of deaths in England and Wales — it’s routine and not an indication that anything is wrong.
The coroner reviews the cause of death and either releases the death for registration or arranges a post-mortem. Where a post-mortem is needed, your loved one is held at the public mortuary until the examination is complete.
If an inquest is opened, the coroner sends paperwork to the registrar after it concludes. The cremation can proceed once the coroner releases your loved one to the funeral director.
Local support
Bereavement support in Hampshire
Grief takes time, and there’s no right way to feel. These local services in Hampshire provide free, confidential support — whether you need someone to talk to today or in a few months’ time.
Rowans Hospice — Bereavement Service
Portsmouth-area hospice offering bereavement counselling.
Visit websiteHelp with funeral costs
If you’re worried about the cost
If you’re receiving certain benefits and you’re responsible for arranging the funeral, you may qualify for the government’s Funeral Expenses Payment — a one-off payment that can cover most of the cremation cost and a contribution towards funeral director fees.
Apply through gov.uk or call the Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 731 0469. Claims can be made up to six months after the funeral.
If you’re struggling to cover the £1,499 upfront, call us — we can talk through payment options on the phone.
We’re not financial advisors and can’t make benefit applications on your behalf, but the team is happy to talk you through what’s available before you commit to anything.
Frequently asked questions
Portsmouth questions, answered
Which crematorium will be used for a Portsmouth cremation?
Portchester Crematorium (across the harbour at Fareham, the principal facility for Portsmouth, Fareham and Gosport since 1959) handles most of the area. Wessex Vale and The Oaks (Havant) serve the wider region.
How quickly can you collect from Queen Alexandra Hospital?
Once the QA bereavement office and Medical Examiner have released the paperwork, collection is typically within hours, day or night.
Do you cover Fareham, Gosport, Havant, Waterlooville and the Solent fringe?
Yes — we work with funeral directors across Portsmouth and south-east Hampshire. The £1,499 price applies everywhere; the register office differs by district.
Can ashes be scattered on the Solent or at sea off Portsmouth?
Sea scattering off Portsmouth is straightforward — no permit needed for ashes scattered by hand. Many local families also choose Southsea Common, a family garden, or a meaningful local site. We return the ashes and the choice is yours.
What if my loved one died at home in Portsmouth?
If expected, call the GP or out-of-hours service first. Then call us. If unexpected, 999 first — paramedic and police attendance triggers a coroner referral.
How does coverage work between Portsmouth, Fareham and the Isle of Wight?
We cover the mainland Portsmouth/Fareham/Gosport/Havant area as standard. The Isle of Wight is a separate logistics consideration — call us and we'll talk through what's possible.
Read more
Useful guides
If you’d like to read more about how a basic cremation works, what your price covers, or what to do in the days after someone has died, these guides are written in plain English.
What is a basic cremation?
How it works, why families choose it, and how it differs from a traditional funeral.
Read more →
What’s included
Every item your £1,499 price covers — and what it doesn’t.
Read more →
Prices
The full price, Priority Care collection fee, and help with funeral costs.
Read more →
When someone dies
The practical first steps in the first 24 to 72 hours, depending on where the death took place.
Read the guide →
Help & advice
Registering a death, when the coroner is involved, and other practical guides.
All guides →
Common questions
The questions families most often ask before arranging a basic cremation.
FAQs →
Other locations
We also cover cities near Portsmouth
The same simple, dignified £1,499 basic cremation is available across the wider region. If your loved one died outside Portsmouth itself, the appropriate local funeral director and crematorium will be used.
Basic Cremation in Brighton
East Sussex & the South Coast
Basic Cremation in Southampton
Hampshire
Basic Cremation in Worthing
West Sussex
Basic Cremation in Eastbourne
East Sussex
Basic Cremation in Hastings
East Sussex
Basic Cremation in Reading
Berkshire
Basic Cremation in Oxford
Oxfordshire
Basic Cremation in Slough
Berkshire
Don’t see your area? We cover the wider UK — view all locations or call us on 0333 242 1405.
Speak to us about a cremation in Portsmouth
There's always someone available to talk you through what needs to happen. Calls are answered day and night, every day of the year.
0333 242 1405Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week