A.R. Adams Funeral Directors
Encyclopedia
A.R. Adams Funeral Directors Ltd is an independent family-run firm of funeral directors
in the U.K.
The company was established in 1900 in Bow, in the East End of London by Archibald Richard Adams. The business is now operating in its 4th generation of Adams' and has branches in Rayleigh, Thorpe Bay
and Thundersley
, Essex
.
In 1914 he further expanded his business into Thundersley in Essex, he later expanded the company again in the 1930s to Rayleigh in Essex, both still running today. Due to his move to Essex, the London head office was left under the management of his brother, Sydney Adams. Sydney worked at Campbell Road with his wife and their son, Sydney Jr and daughter Audrey.
Archibald was the first chairman of Benfleet UDC when it was inaugurated back in the mid 1920s.
He was the Chairman of the County Juvenile Bench at Southend-on-Sea
, and a Masonic Master
at Thundersley and Leigh Mason's Lodges, also connected with Trinity Chapter and the Grand Lodge. He was made a freeman of the city of London in 1936.
Archibald had four daughters and a son, also Archibald Richard Adams.
He was a founder member of the British Undertakers Association which later became known as the National Association of Funeral Directors. He was elected as their president in 1922.
The firm crafted two war memorials that sit in London today, the Children’s War Memorial in Poplar and the St. Michaels Church war Memorial] at St Michaels Church, St Leonards Road, Poplar.
Archibald’s son began working in the funeral company as a boy and upon return from serving as a soldier in World War II
, took a more prominent role in the family business. Upon the death of Archibald Senior in 1948, the establishment was taken over by his son.
Funeral director
A funeral director , also known as a mortician or undertaker, is a professional involved in the business of funeral rites. These tasks often entail the embalming and burial or cremation of the dead, as well as the planning and arrangement of the actual funeral ceremony...
in the U.K.
The company was established in 1900 in Bow, in the East End of London by Archibald Richard Adams. The business is now operating in its 4th generation of Adams' and has branches in Rayleigh, Thorpe Bay
Thorpe Bay
Thorpe Bay is an affluent area within the Borough of Southend-on-Sea in Essex, England, situated on the Thames Estuary.Thorpe Bay is situated within the Southend ward of Thorpe. It is around 4 miles to the east of Southend. Originally the area was called Thorpe, but was renamed Thorpe Bay after its...
and Thundersley
Thundersley
Thundersley is a district in the north west of the Castle Point Borough, in south east Essex, England, about 35 miles east of London.-Toponymy:...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
.
Archibald Richard Adams
He was aged 19 when he established the company and had worked as a carpenter before opening up his first office at 187 Campbell Road, Bow. The company soon expanded and there were A.R. Adams funeral homes in neighbouring Poplar (St. Leonards Road & Bruce Road) and Leytonstone.In 1914 he further expanded his business into Thundersley in Essex, he later expanded the company again in the 1930s to Rayleigh in Essex, both still running today. Due to his move to Essex, the London head office was left under the management of his brother, Sydney Adams. Sydney worked at Campbell Road with his wife and their son, Sydney Jr and daughter Audrey.
Archibald was the first chairman of Benfleet UDC when it was inaugurated back in the mid 1920s.
He was the Chairman of the County Juvenile Bench at Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea is a unitary authority area, town, and seaside resort in Essex, England. The district has Borough status, and comprises the towns of Chalkwell, Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea, North Shoebury, Prittlewell, Shoeburyness, Southchurch, Thorpe Bay, and Westcliff-on-Sea. The district is situated...
, and a Masonic Master
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
at Thundersley and Leigh Mason's Lodges, also connected with Trinity Chapter and the Grand Lodge. He was made a freeman of the city of London in 1936.
Archibald had four daughters and a son, also Archibald Richard Adams.
He was a founder member of the British Undertakers Association which later became known as the National Association of Funeral Directors. He was elected as their president in 1922.
East End history
Archibald was a prominent member of the East End community and was offered the role of the Mayor of Poplar but turned it down due to a heavy work load.The firm crafted two war memorials that sit in London today, the Children’s War Memorial in Poplar and the St. Michaels Church war Memorial] at St Michaels Church, St Leonards Road, Poplar.
Archibald’s son began working in the funeral company as a boy and upon return from serving as a soldier in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, took a more prominent role in the family business. Upon the death of Archibald Senior in 1948, the establishment was taken over by his son.