A commercially-run crematorium occupying a controversial location on the northern slopes of Eildon Hill North, within the Eildon and Leaderfoot National Scenic Area, the Borders Crematorium is situated on a 3.6-ha (9-acre) site to the west of Wairds Cemetery, a half-mile (1 km) east southeast of Melrose. This was the first crematorium to be built in the Scottish Borders and has saved residents having to arrange funerals at Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh. The crematorium was constructed here after several other sites were considered in conjunction with the local authority. Completed in 2011, it is operated by the Bristol-based Westerleigh Group who run numerous crematoria and cemeteries across the UK. It was built to their standard stone-and-timber architectural design at a cost of £2.6 million. The crematorium was dedicated in a service led by the Rev. Jane Howitt, Moderator of Melrose and Peebles Presbytery, in October 2012. It performed 695 cremations in 2014, although it can cater for up to 900, with seating for 98 mourners and parking for 76 cars.
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