Bradford on Avon flooding forces funeral directors to close

C S Bowyer Funeral Directors, which has served the local community for generations, will temporarily close its premises in the Bull Pit to undergo repairs.

The firm's offices and other nearby properties close to the river found themselves under one and a half feet of water following the floods in early January.

C S Bowyer Funeral Directors has been forced to temporarily close its premises in Bradford on Avon following flood damage in January when the River Avon burst its banks .Photo: Adam Bewley (Image: Freelancer)

C S Bowyer also has branches in Trowbridge and Melksham and has fortunately been able to temporarily relocate its business and four staff to their premises.

Adam Bewley, business leader at C S Bowyer funeral directors, said: “The floods absolutely wiped us out. We had about 18 inches of water in the offices. Fortunately, there was no flood damage to the mortuary across the yard.

“The team at C S Bowyer would like to reassure customers that they will continue to be on hand to offer support and arrange home visits to ensure they continue to deliver the excellent service they are known for.

“It is important that we provide the highest standard of care to our families and deceased, therefore due to the severity of the damage we have no option but to temporarily close our Bradford on Avon branch.

“We will also take this opportunity to carry out additional refurbishment work at the branch to be able to re-open with an even better provision for the local community.”

C S Bowyer Funeral Directors remains dedicated to supporting families during their time of need, Mr Bewley said.

The firm’s funeral directors will be available for home visits, ensuring the compassionate and personal service they are known for, he added.

"Arranging funerals is a sensitive process, and we aim to make it as seamless as possible for our families."

While the extent of the damage is still being assessed, the funeral home expresses gratitude for the outpouring of support from the local community.

Fortunately, no families were directly affected by the flooding, as the team successfully relocated vital resources, including computers, historic archives, and paperwork.

C S Bowyer Funeral Directors is actively collaborating with contractors to expedite the repair process and aims to reopen the Bradford on Avon branch with improved facilities.

“The team appreciates the ongoing support and understanding of the local community during this challenging time,” Mr Bewley said.