Long Sutton and District Civic Society’s ornate hearse given permanent home at Riverside Funeral Services in Sutton Bridge

An ornate century-old hearse which was hidden away in storage for years is now ‘back where it belongs’.

Kevin and Carol Jacklin own family-run Riverside Funeral Services in Sutton Bridge and placed a bid to house the iconic hearse - which formerly belonged to Long Sutton and District Civic Society.

The funeral bier, built by Waltons in 1918 could have been sold on eBay or cremated if the society had not found a new owner.

But it is now a centre-piece in the foyer of the funeral directors.

Mrs Jacklin said: “People really love it and there has been a lot of interest in it - they stop and have a look when they walk past.

“It has been hidden away and it is lovely to be able to retain it locally.

“It is a beautiful thing and a shame to think it was ever to be disposed of.”

Some 13 inquiries were made from private collectors, funeral directors, a private museum and demonstrators before the list was whittled down to six. The final decision was made in consultation with Long Sutton Parish Council.

Chairman John Clarey said: “It is very good news the bier is going to the Riverside Funeral Services and staying local.

“It is good for it to be on display and the opportunity for it to be used for the purpose it was made for all those years ago.

“It was made locally by coachbuilder Waltons and it is staying local.”

Waltons was a significant employer in the area who manufactured vans and lorries.

It also provided additional trades in brass, metal and woodwork.

The couple have placed the glass door wheeled carriage centre stage, after giving it a polish, and it is currently decorated with lights for the festive period.

Mrs Jacklin added: “It would be tricky to take it very far - perhaps over to St Matthew’s Church - as it has no brakes.

“If someone made it now I don’t think it would have lasted this long.

“The craftsmanship is beautiful.”

The hearse has had a number of temporary homes in recent years at an undertakers, St Mary’s Church, and Lincolnshire Museum of Country Life which had it for twenty years up until 2016.

Tim Machin from Long Sutton and District Civic Society said: “It is around thirty years since the bier was last in its home area and it is great to have it back where it belongs.

“We are very pleased that Riverside Funeral Services have been able to give it a permanent home and display it where people can enjoy this living memory of the Sutton’s craft heritage of coach and wagon building.”

At one point the carriage, which is in relatively pristine condition, was stored in Heacham and has been kept around in garages but not used.

A private collector in Rochester, Kent, who has four hand drawn hearses in his collection already, had originally shown an interest.

Long Sutton could lay claim to being one of the area’s leading carriage and coach-building centres and, at one time, there were four wagon-works, Walton’s, Bingham’s, Scott’s, and Curzon’s.