J. Nodes & Co., Cricklewood

Several family-owned nineteenth-century firms of undertakers are still in existence today, including John Nodes & Sons Funeral Service, of Ladbroke Grove. Although the family business founded by John Nodes seems to be doing well, it looks like John Nodes himself experienced financial difficulties and on several occasions appeared in front of the courts. On March 7, 1848 having obtained an Interim Order for Protection from Process he was required to appear at the courthouse in Portugal Street, Lincoln Inn's. Fourteen years later having failed to obtain protection from his creditors, he was jailed in Whitecross-street prison and, on March 25, declared bankrupt. Finally on November 13, 1866, The London Gazette printed that

John Nodes, of 94, King-street West, Hammersmith, in the county of Middlesex, Undertaker, having been adjudged bankrupt under a Petition for adjudication of Bankruptcy, filed in Her Majesty's Court of Bankruptcy, in London, on the 7th day of November, 1866, is hereby required to surrender himself to the Registrar of the said Court, acting in the prosecution of the sain Petition, at the first meeting of creditors to be held before the said Registrar, on the 28th day of November instant at twelve o'clock at noon precisely, at the said Court.

John Nodes died in 1895 and was buried in Kensal Green cemetery. In spite of all his financial troubles, the funeral business he set up survived him. Over the last century it has even been growing, with branches in several parts of London.


In 1991 John Nodes Funeral Service was contracted to arrange the funeral of Freddie Mercury, who was cremated at Kensal Green Cemetery.
In 2000 the documentary 'Great Undertakings' produced by Lion Television and broadcasted on Channel 4 looked at the work of the firm and its employees.

Location: Cricklewood Broadway / Picture taken on: 17/08/2009