Our History | Austin's Funeral Directors (2024)

Austin's Funeral Directors

Whenever you need us we are there 24 hours a day 7 days a week

Buntingford

01763 274111

Harpenden

01582 762570

Harwood Park

01438 812515

Hertford

01992 582052

Hitchin

01462 438422

Hoddesdon

01992 471709

Knebworth

01438 812365

Stevenage

01438 316623

Stotfold Chapel

01438 794420

Ware

01920 468551

Welwyn

01438 714686

WGC

01707 390018

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  • Where do I start?
    • When someone dies
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    • The role of the coroner
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    Before the funeral

    • Arranging a funeral
    • Preparation for the funeral
    • Chapels of rest
    • Obituary notices
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    • Funeral charges
    • Our funeral plans
    • On the day

    After the service

    Useful Downloads

    • Forever urns brochure
    • Forever urns price list
  • About us

    About Austin's

    • About Austin's
    • Our history
    • Our staff
    • Our reviews
    • Standardised price list
    • Austin's charitable fund
    • Trade associations
    • Grief support lending library
    • Latest News

    Our Funeral Offices

    • View all locations
    • Buntingford
    • Harpenden
    • Harwood Park
    • Hertford
    • Hitchin
    • Hoddesdon
    • Knebworth
    • Letchworth
    • Stevenage
    • Stotfold Chapel
    • Ware
    • Welwyn
    • Welwyn Garden City
  • Natural Burial Park
  • Direct Cremation
  • Funeral Plans

Our History

Austin’s has a long, proud heritage and is one of the oldest family-run Funeral Directors and Funeral Homes in the UK.

W. Austin and Sons Limited was originally established in 1700 in Graveley, a small village between Stevenage and Hitchin, in Hertfordshire. The firm then traded as Builders and Undertakers. It was traditional and common place as builders, of course, possessed all the necessary skills and manpower. Carpenters for making coffins, labourers for grave digging, generally suitable premises and a workforce who could double as pallbearers.

In about 1800 the Company moved to premises in Letchmore Road, Old Stevenage. Here family members resided adjacent to the builders yard and funerals were arranged and carried out from here. The Austin Family continued to be prolific builders in the area for the following 150 years or more. Many of the residential streets in Old Stevenage where constructed by the family.

In the 1950’s and early 1960’s the business was owned and run by William ‘Bill’ Austin and his two cousins Reg and Hubby. 1964 saw Reg and Hubby fast approaching retirement and the untimely death of Bill, my Grandfather, in the October. This, of course, meant there would be great changes ahead in the business.

Consequently, in January 1965, John (my Father), who until then had been following his own career, took on the role of running the family firm. It was soon evident to him that the way for this business to survive and prosper was to acquire ownership of the business from his father’s cousins. It was from this point that John Austin embarked on his journey to develop and build this long established and well respected family firm. His aim to provide a very personal and quality service to the local community.

The building and funeral directing businesses continued to operate in tandem from the original premises in Letchmore Road. Austin’s built many individual homes in the late 1960’s and 1970’s. However, in 1978, John decided that there was a greater future in the funeral business and so the building side of the company was sold. Although the builders yard area of the premises in Letchmore Road was disposed of, the remainder was retained for the operation of Austin’s Funeral Service. Indeed, today, although the buildings have been modernised and extended it continues to be the Head Office and operation centre for Austin’s Funeral Service.

Stevenage having been developed as the first New Town in 1947 it was, to some extent, inevitable that the funeral business would continue to grow.

1970

New funeral arrangement office opens

New Funeral Arrangement Office opens in The Forum, Stevenage Town Centre.

May 1982

New funeral arrangement office opens

Funeral Arrangement Office opens at The Grange on The Bowling Green, Old Stevenage.

1983

Funeral plan is introduced

Austin’s Select Pre-payment Funeral Plan is introduced.

1984

The Forum office closes

The Forum office closes with staff relocated to Letchmore Road.

1984

John’s son joins the team

David Austin, John’s son joined Austin’s.

1987

Austin’s acquires Geo. W. Blow

The Company acquires another long established family firm in Welwyn, Geo W. Blow

1991

The Grange Arrangement Office closes.

The Grange Arrangement Office closes. Letchmore Road is extended to accommodate relocated staff.

September 1994

Hitchin office opens

Austin’s of Hitchin opens in Bancroft, Hitchin.

February 1997

Harwood Park Crematorium opens

Harwood Park Crematorium, designed and built by the Austin Family, opens in Watton Road, Stevenage.

November 1997

Austin’s acquires Alfred Scales

Austin’s acquires Alfred Scales Funeral Directors in Hertford and Buntingford and Francis Mander Stonemasons.

April 1998

Claire Austin joins the team

Claire Austin (10th Generation) joins Harwood Park as Assistant Manager.

April 1999

Hertfordshire Funeral Plan

The Select Funeral Plan becomes The Hertfordshire Funeral Plan.

Year 2000

300 years of service

Austin’s celebrates 300 years of service to the community.

January 2001

John Austin retires

John Austin retires. Claire Austin takes on the role of Managing Director.

February 2001

Geo. W. Blow is renamed to Austin’s

The trading name of Geo. W. Blow is changed to Austin’s to reflect its ownership. This coincides with the relocation of the Arrangement Office to 16, High Street, Welwyn.

April 2001

Peter Hope becomes manager

Peter Hope (Claire’s husband) becomes Manager and Registrar of Harwood Park Crematorium.

April 2001

Alfred Scales is renamed to Austin's

The trading name of Alfred Scales in Hertford and Buntingford is changed to Austin’s to reflect its ownership.

June 2001

Francis Mander Memorials relocates

Francis Mander Memorials relocates to Church Street, Welwyn.

June 2003

Austin’s of WGC opens

Austin’s of Welwyn Garden City opens in Wigmores North, Welwyn Garden City.

April 2004

Francis Mander is renamed to Austin's

The trading name of Francis Mander Memorials is changed to Austin’s Memorials to reflect its ownership.

September 2004

Stevenage arrangement office relocated

The Arrangement office for Austin’s of Stevenage is relocated from Letchmore Road to 21, High Street.

March 2006

Austin’s Knebworth office opens

Austin’s opens in London Road, Knebworth.

April 2007

Hertford relocates its arrangement office

Austin’s of Hertford relocates its arrangement office from Church Street to 12 Millbridge, Hertford.

April 2009

Austin’s Ware office opens

Austin’s of Ware opens at 32, High Street, Ware.

October 2011

Major extension to Harwood Park Crematorium

Major extension to Harwood Park Crematorium and Memorial Garden to provide additional meeting room for bereaved families, extra office space and a Coffee Lounge for families and mourners attending funeral services and the gardens.

2011 and 2012

Austin’s win thirteen awards

Austin’s win thirteen regional and national business awards

September 2012

Austin’s take over the lease of Stotfold Cemetery Chapel

Austin’s take over the lease of Stotfold Cemetery Chapel and carries out complete refurbishment in order that it can, once again, be used by the local community

March 2013

New website launched

Austin’s new website launched

August 2013

Austin’s of Hitchin relocates

Austin’s of Hitchin relocates from Bancroft to larger premises in Hermitage Road

May 2016

Austin’s of Letchworth opens

Austin’s of Letchworth opens in Leys Avenue

April 2021

Austin’s of Hoddesdon opens

Austin’s of Hoddesdon opens in at 77 High Street, Hoddesdon

April 2022

Austin’s of Harpenden opens

Austin’s of Harpenden opens in at 53/55 High Street, Harpenden

Whenever you need us we are there

If a loved one has passed, please call your nearest funeral office for help, support & advice, 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Find your nearest funeral office

About Austin's Funeral directors

Our History | Austin's Funeral Directors (3)

Our staff

Our History | Austin's Funeral Directors (4)

Our funeral offices

Our History | Austin's Funeral Directors (5)

Our charitable fund

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Our History | Austin's Funeral Directors (2024)

FAQs

What are three things that are prohibited under the Funeral Rule? ›

embalming for a fee without permission; requiring the purchase of a casket for direct cremation; requiring consumers to buy certain funeral goods or services as a condition for furnishing other funeral goods or services; and. engaging in other deceptive or unfair practices.

Why do funeral directors make so much money? ›

The sale of caskets happens to be one of the most profitable ventures that funeral homes engage in. Usually, they make the caskets necessary for each family. And to say the least, the coffins are priced to make a profit.

What is the most expensive piece when planning a funeral? ›

A casket often is the single most expensive item you'll buy if you plan a "traditional" full-service funeral. Caskets vary widely in style and price and are sold primarily for their visual appeal. Typically, they're constructed of metal, wood, fiberboard, fiberglass or plastic.

What is the new FTC Funeral Rule? ›

You have the right to buy separate goods (such as caskets) and services (such as embalming or a memorial service). You do not have to accept a package that may include items you do not want. Get price information on the telephone. Funeral directors must give you price information on the telephone if you ask for it.

What colors are not allowed at a funeral? ›

Wearing dark grey or deep blue is just as appropriate as black, while brown and lighter greys are suitable for the vast majority of funeral services. However, unless specifically requested by the deceased or their family, you should avoid any bright colors such as yellows, oranges, pinks, and reds.

What are disrespectful things to do at a funeral? ›

5 Things You Should Never Do at A Funeral
  • Wearing an Improper Outfit. Following proper funeral etiquette begins before you even arrive. ...
  • Arriving After it Began. ...
  • Sitting in the Front Rows. ...
  • Fiddling With Your Phone. ...
  • Taking Photos. ...
  • Call McCafferty Funeral Home Today.
Feb 20, 2024

Who makes the most money in a funeral home? ›

High Paying Funeral Professional Jobs
  • Funeral Director. Salary range: $52,500-$76,000 per year. ...
  • Embalmer. Salary range: $41,000-$58,000 per year. ...
  • Cemetery Caretaker. Salary range: $42,500-$50,500 per year. ...
  • Funeral Arranger. Salary range: $44,000-$50,000 per year. ...
  • Crematory Operator. ...
  • Funeral Attendant.

What do funeral directors do with bodies? ›

The funeral director will then collect the body

This helps to keep the body preserved until the cremation. Embalming is where an embalmer or undertaker removes the blood and fluids from the person who's died and replaces them with water, colourants, and chemicals that help preserve the body.

What do morticians do to the body? ›

Cleans and dresses the body. If there will be a viewing the mortician arranges the body in the casket, and does their hair and makeup. If the family has chosen to have the remains embalmed, the mortician does the embalming.

Is $20000 enough for a funeral? ›

Remember that these average funeral costs don't include outside services, such as the burial plot, transportation, or flowers. So, the overall average funeral costs can quickly run between $10,000 - $20,000 in total. How much does a cremation cost?

Is $10,000 enough for a funeral? ›

Is $10,000 enough for a funeral? For some people, $10,000 is enough to pay for a funeral. The median cost of a funeral is almost $8,000, but can range to over $10,000 depending on the options you choose.

How much is a $10,000 burial policy? ›

The average cost for a burial insurance policy is approximately $50-$100 monthly for roughly $10,000 in coverage. Multiple factors determine the net price, including your exact age, health, tobacco usage (if any), the type of policy, state of residence, and how much coverage you buy.

Is embalming necessary with a closed casket? ›

The answer is simply no. Embalming may be required depending on the type of service or celebration of life that the family would choose for their loved one. An example of that would be if you choose to have a visitation where the public would be coming into a funeral home and having an open viewing or an open casket.

What are 6 items outlined by the Funeral Rule? ›

Specific misrepresentations in six areas: embalming, casket for direct cremation, outer burial container, legal and cemetery requirements, preservative and protective vault claims, cash advance items and other misrepresentations.

What must a casket price list include? ›

Business and Professions Code (BPC) Section 7685(c) requires a funeral director to provide a Casket Price List (CPL) that specifically identifies a particular casket or caskets by price and thickness of metal, or type of wood, or other construction, interior and color.

Which of the following is prohibited by the Funeral Rule? ›

The Funeral Rule prohibits representation that funeral goods such as caskets or outer burial containers have protective features or will protect the body from gravesite substances because that is not true.

What is inappropriate at a funeral? ›

First and foremost, dress appropriately. This means no jeans, shorts, or tank tops. Instead, opt for dark, conservative clothing. Women should avoid wearing anything too revealing or flashy, and men should make sure their clothing is clean and wrinkle-free.

What should you not bring to a funeral? ›

However, don't bring food extravagant dishes to funerals or cemeteries. Unlike any traditional ceremonies, funerals are highly formal events where one has to be on the best behavior. Don't wear shiny or casual dresses that might catch attention; you may choose dark-colored attire. Avoid bringing very expensive gifts.

What are the do's and don'ts of a funeral? ›

Dos and Don'ts at a Funeral
  • Do Dress Conservatively. Never attend a funeral in anything that stands out or is distracting. ...
  • Do Arrive On Time. ...
  • Do Act Normal. ...
  • Don't Sit Anywhere. ...
  • Don't Look at Your Phone. ...
  • Don't Be Scared of Religious Aspects.

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