The British Hearse and The British Funeral by Nigel Scott Review

Reviewed by David Savage

The British Hearse and The British Funeral by Nigel Scott is a very good educational/reference book regarding the traditions of funerals and the transportation methods used in Britain to take the dead to their final resting places. It is also a great book not just for people in the funeral trade but will appeal to history buffs and classic car enthusiasts. It covers the ceremonial pomp of funerals of people like the Duke of Wellington, Sir Walter Scott, William Gladstone, Queen Victoria, Sir Winston Churchill and many more and shows the rise of the hearse from horse drawn cart to the now familiar motorised hearse.

The book is 160 pages and shows 140 photos and drawings of funerals and hearses with history behind them. It is a unique perspective of British history.

Despite the subject, I found this book quite interesting to read and very well written as to not bore the reader. It covers funerals and funeral cars separately and I found it quite informative and had history thrown in as well.

This book has been painstaking researched, with over 100 never before seen photographs.

If you have an interest in funerals then then book is quite an interesting read.

Rating: 4/5

RRP: £19.99 (Hardback)

Available to buy from Amazon here.