Local Bristol Funeral Directors

We are a caring, family firm of independent funeral directors and have served the Bristol Community and surrounding areas for over 160 years.

Edwin Burnell

Edwin Burnell was a monumental mason who started up in business in 1860. He had a yard in East Street, Bedminster, the site of the firm to this day. He worked as a mason until 1914, when Albert Tovey, who had travelled from Liverpool to Bristol, married Edwin’s daughter, joined the business and started doing funerals.

Their very first funeral was at the outbreak of World War One. They provided ‘a polished elm coffin, brassed fittings, brocade padded sides, flannel robe, inscription, plate and bearer, one car and one carriage’ – all for £7.2s 0d. Apart from the developing war, this was a delightful time with horse-drawn carriages and Bristol a far cry from the busy, crowded city it is today.

The austerity during and after the Second World War put an end to the extravagant funerals. Mourners gave up wearing black for months, writing on black-edged writing paper and carrying black-edged handkerchiefs. The only vestiges of long-term mourning that are retained are the black tie and armband, a relic of the crepe bands that Victorian Bristolians wore on their hats.

Julian Britton has over 35 years’ experience running his own family funeral directors in his home village.  After assisting Richard Tovey for many years arranging, conducting and providing the fleet. Julian Britton acquired Burnell Tovey Ltd in 2020 when Richard Tovey retired. He now runs the company alongside his family.