Friday Talk: Victorian Funerals

The talk will cover how and why Victorian social conditions gave rise to the modern day funeral director and shaped so many funeral customs that still hold true today. Every wondered why we send flowers? Why funeral horses wear feather plumes? Why do funerals travel so slowly? All these questions, and more, will be answered.

The speaker, Emma Sparre-Newman, was the youngest daughter of a country vicar whose childhood ambition was to become a funeral director. Despite being side tracked into working in the costume department of the BBC,  she has now been in the funeral profession for over thirty years, living and working in South London. Emma is currently the Cemetery Manager for Brompton Cemetery, which was founded in 1840 and is one of the few great Victorian London cemeteries that is still providing burials today.

When not working, Emma’s time is spent either indulging her passion for the aerial arts as a would be trapeze artiste, reading or accompanying her musician husband to various gigs, festivals and events.

Admission to the talk is £6 (free to Friends and Patrons of the Museum)

Refreshments will be available from 7 pm, and the talk will start at 7:30.

We have a wide variety of talks about our history and heritage from a range of expert speakers lined up for Spring and Autumn 2024. These will take place on Fridays (usually, but not always, the last Friday of the month) at the Parish Centre in Blandford. Please see our Events Calendar for the dates and details of other talks.