Working in the funeral business for over a century

Walsh family history

The Walsh family have been working in the funeral business in the Dunmow area for over 100 years.

Alfred Bernard Walsh worked for a Mr Bush at Bran End, Stebbing as a carpenter and Undertaker from 1920. He stayed with Mr Bush until he made his coffin and buried him in 1928. Alfred stayed on and helped run the business until 1930. This is when he started on his own. He had a funeral order the first night and took on the parish funerals for the Dunmow area.

The parish funerals at this time were carried out for around £5 for the complete job. Alfred had his own Horse drawn hearse and Brome carriage. The hearse was given away to be made into a chicken house when motorised hearses became the norm.

At the beginning of the Second World War Alfred was offered the shed from the garden at Rood End in Dunmow. This had been Dr Trenches Billiard room. It was moved to Stebbing and used as a workshop and chapel of rest. We moved it again in 1995 to Stebbing Green where we still use it as our meeting room and chapel of rest although it is now modernised inside.

Michael J Walsh joined his father and brothers after his national service where they carried on the building and funeral directors business until his brothers retired in 1983. Michael then started on his own with his wife Jackie as Michael J Walsh builders and funeral directors. He had a funeral order in the first week.

Their son David J Walsh then joined the business in 1987. David married Liz in 1990 and they still run the business with Michael being very much involved at 89 years old.

David and Liz have five children with the eldest ones Katie, Daisy, Alfie and Mollie all helping out when needed.

Dunmow Crematorium

Built on a farm setting in the middle of the Essex countryside with views across the open fields.

Dunmow Crematorium is different to many other crematoriums, just trees, bushes and natural beauty. Plenty of parking and longer between services to get away from the feeling that you are in a production line.

The chapel will seat one hundred and fifty people with comfort with more room available for standing. It is equipped with the latest audio visual equipment with two large screen monitors and Obitus sound system to allow any music or hymns to be played.



The cremator has a full modern abatement filter system keeping our air clean. This is monitored at all times. The cremator is a wide bodied cremator to accommodate larger people if required.

The cremator is also available for direct non attended cremations. Services can be held at Churches or any other venue that people choose and then the deceased can be brought to Dunmow Crematorium for cremation after the service. This will further reduce the production line feeling and give families as much time as they need to celebrate a life and more choices.

Giving people choices to deal with some of the hardest days in life is what it is all about.

Dunmow Crematorium was designed by Derek Tuttlebury and built by the Walsh family who have been Builders and funeral directors for many years and are now into their fourth generation of funeral directors in the Dunmow area.

Dunmow Crematorium is owned and run by the Walsh family for the use of any families or other Funeral directors that wish to use it.