Over the past 120 years John Heath and Sons has expanded and adapted to meet the changing needs of the public, and is now probably the oldest and largest firm of Funeral Directors in the North of England still owned and run completely by its original family.

John Heath was born in 1835 and had been in business in Sheffield for a number of years as a Carriage Master, Cabinet Maker and Funeral Undertaker before he established his firm of Funeral Directors in the name of John Heath and Sons in 1880.

Michael Heath and Richard Heath, the great great grandsons of the first John Heath take pride in the fact that the sixth generation of their family, Adam Heath and Jason Heath are continuing to serve the community of Sheffield.

In John Heath and Sons' second century, the Heath family and staff aim to maintain the personal attention, caring approach and sense of vocation which have characterised the operation of the firm over the past 120 years.

At the end of the nineteenth century, John Heath and Sons ran horse drawn Omnibus Services in and around Sheffield. Before the first World War over a hundred horse drawn vehicles and one hundred and thirty horses were stationed at our various mews at Earsham Street, Attercliffe, Walkley, Duke Street and other branches.

At first, Black Belgian horses were used exclusively for funeral corteges and other stately occasions but John Heath's son Joseph and his grandson Frank built up a stud of 60 Cleveland Bays.

These beautiful animals became known throughout the country, and the Royal Mews bought from John Heath and Sons. At least one of Heaths' Cleveland Bays became a Wheeler in the State Coach.

Although a keen and skillful horsebreeder, Frank Heath was farsighted enough to be one of the first in the field when cars came on the scene.

In the early 1900s John Heath and Sons were agents for Crossley Motors and built car bodies on chassis to order. We were agents for Berliet, and later Lea Francis and Singer cars. After the first World War we acquired a fleet of Taxi Cabs and Sheffield's largest fleet of Rolls Royce Limousines.

John Heath and Sons' vehicles for over a century have always had their own distinctive dark green coachwork. Our Chauffeurs and bearers dress in green livery. Our Limousines are available for weddings and other special events.