The Evolution of the British Funeral Industry in the 20th Century

From Undertaker to Funeral Director

Brian Parsons

Emerald

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9781787436305

28 March 2018

$110.99

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9781787436299

28 March 2018

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9781787436725

28 March 2018

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The Evolution of the British Funeral Industry in the 20th Century examines the shifts that have taken place in the funeral industry since 1900, focusing on the figure of the undertaker and exploring how organisational change and attempts to gain recognition as a professional service provider saw the role morph into that of ‘funeral director’.

As the disposal of the dead increased in complexity during the twentieth century, the role of the undertaker/funeral director has mirrored this change. Whilst the undertaker of 1900 primarily encoffined and transported the body, today’s funeral director provides other services, such as taking responsibility for the body of the deceased and embalming, and has overseen changes such as the increasing preference for cremation, the impact of technology on the production of coffins and the shift to motorised transport. These factors, together with the problem of succession for some family-run funeral businesses, have led large organisations to make acquisitions and manage funerals on a centralised basis, achieving economies of scale.

This book examines how the occupation has sought to reposition itself and how the ‘funeral director’ has become an essential functionary in funerary practices. However, despite striving for new-found status the role is hindered by two key issues: the stigma of handling the dead, and the perception of making a profit from loss.

Preface Acknowledgements List of Illustrations Abbreviations Introduction 1. Death, the Funeral and the Funeral Director in the Twentieth Century 2. From Front Parlour to Funeral Parlour 3. Caretaker of the Dead 4. Furnishing the Funeral 5. Transport to Paradise 6. Organisational Change 7. Funerals and Finance 8. The Newest Profession? Endnotes Bibliography Index

This new history of the British funeral and of the funeral profession from this distinguished social historian is particularly timely as well as welcome… Brian Parsons is not just an historian of the funeral industry, he has had hands-on experience of every aspect of the profession since his formative years. He thus has an insider’s perspective on the business… This is indeed a very fine history. It is a great achievement of scholarship lightly worn and generously shared.
- Philip Smyth

Julian Litten's The English Way of Death: The Common Funeral since 1450 remains the standard authority on the evolution of British funerals, but concludes towards the end of the 19th century. Parsons picks up the story since then, covering death, the funeral, and the funeral director during the 20th century; from front parlor to funeral parlor: the development of the chapel of rest and funeral home; caretakers of the dead; furnishing the funeral; transport to Paradise; organizational change; funerals and finance; and the newest profession.
- Annotation ©2018

Brian Parsons has worked in the funeral industry in London since 1982, currently as a training consultant and researcher. He was formerly Visiting Lecturer at the University of Bath, UK and Editor of the Funeral Service Journal. He is the author of The London Way of Death, Committed to the Cleansing Flame: The Development of Cremation in Nineteenth Century England, London Cemeteries: An Illustrated Guide and Gazetteer (with Hugh Meller) and The Undertaker at Work: 1900-1950. www.brianparsons.org.uk