Willow coffins
Willow (or wicker) coffins have become increasingly popular over the years. The sustainability of the willow grown locally on the Somerset Levels make it a very important aspect of burials and cremations, whether they be a traditional or more alternative type of funeral.
My beautiful, bespoke coffins are made in my workshop in Nunney near Frome with love and compassion. The original design is by a well known Somerset coffin maker, Roy Youdale, who has passed his skills on to many others. All the materials used in my coffins are fully biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Eventually I plan to grow enough of my own willow to make my business as sustainable as possible. It will be a very gratifying experience to weave coffins with my own willow.
I offer the opportunity to come to my beautiful peaceful workshop and help weave part of a coffin, either for yourself or your loved one. Weaving your memories into your loved ones coffin can play a major part in the process of grieving or preparation for death. Of course, you wouldn't have to take part in the process, you can be involved as much as you choose or not at all.
Families can be thrown together at a time of great loss and have to perhaps face each other after difficult times or uncomfortable relationships. By bringing these family members together to focus on an action rather than just talking can be massively helpful and rewarding.
These days it seems we often have time to prepare for our imminent death and being part of the process can be a very important factor in helping to create a peaceful transition, that we choose for ourselves.
The type of willow used to make my coffins can be quite dependent on the time of year and what is available as currently they have to be made to order. Over time I hope to build up some stock.
If you are interested in having one of my coffins please call me to discuss the options available. You will find information here that I will need, my contact details and prices. I appreciate you will have a lot on your mind right now and may well be feeling slightly overwhelmed. This information will help us to have a productive conversation when we speak and not take up too much of your time.
How my coffins are made
My coffins have a plywood base, FSC certified and prepared by a local firm, called D-code, for my use.
My willow is sourced from the Somerset Levels from either Musgrove Willows or Somerset Willow Growers.
The rope handles are currently sisal but I plan to use hemp in the future.
The toggles are carved by my own fair hands from hazel.
The liner is made from calico and the coffin has a mattress and pillow filled with hay.
I plan to be as sustainable as possible with all my materials and over time this will become more so.
The entire family, plus the huge number who attended her funeral (some 200+), were absolutely delighted with how it turned out. This is all down to you and your wonderful craftsmanship and kindness. Thank you so very much for making a, potentially difficult time, so much easier.
Family of WG
This coffin lid had some tail hair from the ladies horse woven into it. Her sister and sister in law came to help weave the coffin
The back story
I started working with willow 13 years ago and have often thought about going down the route of making willow coffins. I have been lucky enough to be asked to work on various projects, all quite different but equally rewarding. From a flat woven cradle with an additional framework that was to be inserted into a fleece 'sleeping bag' for natural burials to a coffin for an 8 week old baby. An incredibly sad request but one that I felt honoured to be asked to do.
Last year I was asked by a friend to weave a flat woven cradle for her husband for a natural burial at the Midford Natural Burial site near Bath. Laura and her son came and spent the day with me helping to weave. The experience was deeply moving and a really important part of their grieving process prior to the death of her husband and father of two. There was laughter and reflection and I was really struck how beautifully Laura had handled the whole process with her family. She has definitely played a role in my decision to take this path.
Caz Ingall of Wild Heart Coffins is a very talented coffin maker in Warwickshire whose work I have admired and followed closely. I love her work and her ethos and in fact contacted her for some advice on the baby's coffin. When last year she announced her offer of 1:1 training, I felt compelled to follow this calling.
