Our history

Barkers Funeral Service was started by Joseph Wilson in 1895 in Boston Spa. Running along side of undertaking was joinery, cabinet maker, upholsterer and carting agent.

Joseph’s two sons joined the business, first by Reg and later Maurice. When Maurice joined the company farming was added to the business.

When Joseph passed away in 1954, Reg continued with the undertaking and joinery and Maurice with the farming.

Reg was joined by his nephew Jack Anthony Barker (Tony) and when Reg retired in 1968 Tony took over the running of the business.

In 1983 Tony was joined by his son Nick keeping the business in the family and after a few years in 1988 Tony’s other son James joined the business.

Undertaking became Funeral Directing and started to become the main business and in the year 2000 F E Jackson was acquired in Tadcaster, a small independent business that was started in 1889.

In 2014 Tony retired at the age of 74 leaving Nick and James to keep the family business moving forward in its fourth generation and still operating from the same premises in Boston Spa.