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Longdon Heath, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcester, WR8 0RL

About Us

Nestled under the beautiful Malvern hills

The Vowles team feel extremely proud to have been making our coffins and caskets for well over 80 years, nestled under the beautiful Malvern Hills.

It is this same sense of pride combined with our eagerness to please that runs through everything we make and everything we do here.

TOP-QUALITY Funeral PRODUCTS AND EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE

L T & R Vowles

Established in 1937

We are one of the oldest and most well known of all coffin manufacturers in the United Kingdom.

We Fully Understand

The critical importance of how we serve the funeral community, and the families they support, at such a deeply distressing time.

Providing Essentials Around the UK

We offer one of the widest ranges of coffins, caskets, sets, mouldings, fitting and interiors.

Attention to Detail

We pay meticulous attention to every aspect of construction, joinery and finishing - flawlessly executed and with the utmost attention to detail.

Customer Satisfaction

We provide exceptional service, our coffins exceed expectations through customer feedback and continuously striving to improve the quality of your products.

Flexible Delivery Options

Whilst our usual factory turn around is 5-7 working days we can work with you in the case of emergencies.

SAY HELLO TO our

Team

The dedicated team at L T & R Vowles fully understand the critical importance of how they serve the funeral community, and the families that they support, at such a deeply distressing time.

Chris Barker

General Manager

Lesley Branagh

Office Manager

Cara Beattie

Accounts

Robert Malcharek

Production Manager

Widely recognised as one of the major suppliers to the funeral profession

With considerable knowledge and expertise of the fine hardwood timbers and veneers used in traditional coffins and caskets along with alternative ecological, contemporary, and bespoke coffins. Our years of experience working in this sector enable us to offer Funeral Directors and the families and communities they serve invaluable choices when it comes to choosing a coffin for their loved one. This is one of the hardest decisions at an extremely sad and difficult time and we are here to help in any way we can.

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Years of Experience

Established in 1937 in Bristol Road, Gloucester. The company then moved out to a site at Ashleworth early in 1939, where it stayed until 1963, when it moved to its current location at Longdon Heath near Upton-upon-Severn.

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Acres of Land On Site

The site extends over 4 acres with approximately 50% being under complete cover for production and warehousing purposes and with lots of space for further expansion.

our products

Finest Quality Craftsmanship

Frequency Asked Questions

FAQs in respect of coffin orders and coffin manufacturing.

Usually factored in the price.

To be discussed at point of order.

On certain items this can be arranged, and we will always aim to meet your needs.

4-7 working days usually but this can increase at peak times.

In the case of coffins, usually 4-6 coffins.

Only on certain items suited to a courier service.

We can estimate timings at point of order and always notify customers the day before with a confirmed ETA.

Please inform us immediately of any damage/issues and we will arrange to collect for repair or send a replacement as soon as possible.
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L T & R Vowles History

1937

Where It All Began

The Vowles story begins in Bristol Road Gloucester near to the docks with a sawmill converting a whole variety of timber logs from the UK and abroad.

1939

The Move to Ashleworth

The business moved out to neighbouring Ashleworth where extensive investments were made to establish a much more modern facility including sawmills,
joinery/wood shop and timber drying yard.

1939-45

The Early Years

During the early years the sawmill was mainly working for the war effort producing large volumes of timber for all sorts of applications for the Ministry of Defence.

1945 - 49

New Markets Explored

At the end of hostilities, things soon got back to normal and new markets were being explored, with a production line for sawing, drying and the machining of coffin boards established.

1950’s

The Tower of London

During this time L T & R Vowles Ltd was tasked with locating, felling, sawing and machining two oak beams for the Tower of London. The main problem was the location of trees of a suitable size, as it was necessary to find two that measured approximately 26 in. in quarter girth at a height of 35 ft.

1950’s

New Timbers

The timber for the funeral trade of this era was predominantly English Elm with some English Oak for best work. By the late 1950’s various new species of timber were being used in the funeral industry including Obeche, Agba, Japanese Oak and Elm.

1960’s

Changes in the Market

Further change was only just around the corner and the early 1960’s saw the advent of veneered coffin sets along with some ready-made coffins being produced and marketed.

1963

Growing and Moving

The speed of our growth forced another move, this time to a 4-acre site at Longdon Heath, near Upton-upon-Severn. Having run out of room at Ashleworth the new site was chosen to future proof the expansion of the company into the growing sector of assembled and finished coffins ready for the discerning funeral home to use.

2002

Joining the Jukes Group

Stewart Jukes acquired L T & R Vowles Limited, one of the oldest and most well-known of all coffin manufacturers in the UK, having been active in the Timber and Funeral Industry for over 85 years.

2023

Chris Barker Joins L T & R Vowles

Coming on board as General Manager for L T & R Vowles in 2023, following the retirement of Richard Mattey. Chris considers his priority is to work closely with Funeral Directors ensuring the standards and needs of the families in their care are met fully and completely at what is a most sad and difficult time.

2023

60 Years Celebration

Celebrating 60 years on this site, from where we have been selling our extensive range of coffins and caskets along with hardwood sets, ashes caskets, crosses and plot markers, coffin furniture and soft goods and more recently our range of mortuary products. We have delivery routes throughout central southern England to just above the M62 corridor.

2024

New Brand, New Brochure, New Website & New Uniforms

 Our new brand, new brochure, new website and new uniforms makes us feel even prouder still.

2024

Looking to the Future

Only 50% of the site is undercover for both production and warehousing leaving lots of space for further expansion and storage and with over 85 years of experience and expertise L T & R Vowles Ltd with its comprehensive range of products can provide the modern funeral director with what he wants, when they want it.

Looking After The

Environment

All our coffins are suitable for cremation and burial purposes. Timbers and timber products used in our manufacturing processes are carefully sourced from managed, sustainable resources where management and replanting are government supervised.

Wherever we can, timber waste is re-used, and chemicals used in our wood finishes are processed to extract the base chemicals for use in the paint industry. We only use lacquers, wood finishes and application methods that fully comply with the latest regulatory requirements set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

We strive to re-use packaging and keep our own to a minimum. The Jukes Group believes that the environment is important to us all and with conscientious manufacturing practices, we can ensure a cleaner, safer world for generations to follow.