Embalming gives you more time before the funeral.
That’s really what it comes down to. If Uncle Peter’s flying in from Sydney, or you need a week to organise things properly, embalming stops the clock. Without it, you’ve got maybe three days before viewings become difficult.
Welham Jones has been a family-run funeral director in West Kent for over 25 years [1]. And honestly? Half the families we see don’t need embalming at all. The other half really do.
We offer supportive funeral arrangements in Tunbridge Wells to ease your burden.
It replaces blood with preservative fluid.
An embalmer makes a small cut near the collarbone. Tubes go into an artery and vein. Fluid goes in, blood comes out. Then they treat the chest and abdomen cavity with a long needle to preserve organs. Takes about two hours.
The British Institute of Funeral Directors trains embalmers properly [2]. Ours did three years of study before qualifying. It’s skilled work, not something you learn in a weekend course.
Bodies change fast after death. First 24 hours, not much happens. After that, bacteria start breaking things down. Embalming stops this process for one to two weeks, sometimes longer if conditions are right.
Last month, a family called us about their mum who’d died on Monday. Funeral was Friday. No viewing planned. They asked about embalming. We said it was not necessary, she’d be in our fridges, funeral’s quick, save yourself £175*.
That’s the conversation we have most weeks. People think embalming’s compulsory. It’s not.
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Families ask what happens. Fair question.
We clean the body and put them on the table. Check for pacemakers or medical implants that need removing.
Small incision near the shoulder or groin. Tube in the artery, tube in the vein. Pump in about 12 pints of embalming fluid. Blood drains out into the sink.
Long needle (called a trocar) goes through the abdomen into organs. Suck out fluids, inject cavity fluid. Sounds grim but it’s necessary.
Close eyes with plastic caps under the eyelids. Wire the jaw shut or use a needle and thread. Position everything to look peaceful, not weird.
Wash them again, dry them, put on the clothes you’ve brought in. Comb hair. Place in coffin.
Done. Not pleasant to think about, but neither is leaving someone untreated for ten days.
One to two weeks usually.
Temperature’s the main factor. Our chapel of rest stays at 15°C, which helps. If we had to keep someone at room temperature (we don’t), you’d get maybe five days.
The person’s health matters too. Someone who died after cancer treatment doesn’t preserve as well as someone who had a heart attack. Chemo drugs interfere with the chemicals we use.
For most funerals in Tunbridge Wells, a week’s plenty [3]. Brits don’t usually wait longer than that. Americans do, they’ll embalm and wait three weeks sometimes. Different culture.
£175* for full embalming at Welham Jones.
That’s the embalmer’s time, chemicals, equipment, use of facilities. Some London firms charge £300 or more. We don’t.
It’s included in our Classic package (£4,610*) or you can add it to cheaper packages. The CMA Attended and Welham Jones Direct packages don’t include it, so you’d pay the £175 extra if you wanted it [4].
Viewing in our chapel costs another £175* if it’s not already in your package. But viewing without embalming only works in the first couple days.
Refrigeration
We keep everyone at 2-4°C in our cold room. Works fine for three to five days. Beyond that, you start getting problems even with refrigeration.
Dry ice
Old-school method. Pack dry ice around the body. It melts, needs replacing every few hours. We used to do this for home viewings years ago. Don’t anymore, refrigeration’s more reliable.
Just cracking on with it
If you’re doing a funeral in two days, you don’t need any preservation method. Body’s fine. Have the viewing, have the service, job done.
The green burial crowd avoid embalming completely. Quick funeral, no chemicals, straight in a cardboard coffin. That’s their choice and it works fine if you move fast.
No embalming unless legally required for repatriation. Bodies get buried within 24 hours (Muslim) or 48 hours (Jewish). We’ve worked with families at Tunbridge Wells Islamic Centre and local synagogues for years. They know we respect their requirements [5].
No rules against it. Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists, they’re all fine with embalming. Most churches in Tunbridge Wells see embalmed bodies regularly.
Traditionally no, because cremation happens quickly. But families who need extra time sometimes choose it. We talk through options and let them decide.
If you’re not religious, it’s purely practical. Need time? Get it done. Don’t need time? Skip it.
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This is where embalming becomes compulsory, not optional.
Ireland, Poland, Portugal, India, Pakistan, Jamaica, they all require embalming before they’ll accept a body [6]. Some also want zinc lining inside the coffin (adds £300*).
We’ve sent people to 40-plus countries over the years. The process takes about a week:
Day 1-2: Get death certificate, book embassy appointment
Day 3-4: Embassy stamps documents, we do embalming
Day 5-6: Get flight booked, prepare coffin for travel
Day 7: Body goes to Heathrow or Gatwick
Our repatriation service costs from £1,800*, covering all the paperwork headaches. Then add flights (£800-£2,500 depending where), zinc lining if needed, and transport to the airport (£375*). Our repatriation specialists handle all logistics with empathy and professionalism.
It’s not cheap. But trying to organise it yourself while grieving? That’s worse. We handle embassies, airlines, foreign funeral directors, the lot.
Welham Jones provide trusted repatriation services in Tunbridge Wells to bring loved ones home with care.
You can visit in our chapel of rest at our Tunbridge Wells funeral home.
We do viewings by appointment, usually 30 minutes to an hour. Come alone or bring the whole family. Sit quietly, talk to them, touch their hand. Whatever feels right.
Some people worry it’ll be “creepy.” It’s not. Your dad looks like your dad, just asleep. Obviously he’s cold and still, but he looks cared for. That’s the point of embalming, making viewing bearable instead of distressing.
Kids can come if you want. We’ve had five-year-olds say goodbye to grandparents. Sometimes it helps them understand what’s happened. Our chapel’s nothing fancy, quiet room, soft lighting, chairs if you need to sit. The focus is on your person, not on decorations or religious symbols.
We’re local and we’re honest.
Big corporate funeral chains have taken over most independents in Kent. Co-op owns about 15 branches now. Dignity owns another dozen. They’re fine, but you’re dealing with regional managers and call centres.
We’re still family-run. When you ring us, you get one of our staff who’ve worked here for years. We know Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks. We’ve done funerals at St Peter’s Church, Holy Trinity, Kent and Sussex Crematorium [8].
We’re SAIF members, which means regular inspections and proper standards [9]. Our embalmers trained properly and keep up their qualifications.
But mainly, we don’t sell you stuff you don’t need. That’s what drives me mad about some firms, they’ll push embalming on everyone because it adds £175* to the bill. We’d rather be straight with you.
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Ring us on 01892 300330 or email tunbridgewells@welhamjones.co.uk.
Our Tunbridge Wells branch is located at 39 Crescent Rd, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2LZ.
Someone’s available 24 hours if you need to move a body urgently. During office hours (Monday-Friday, 9-5), you can pop in and talk through options. No appointment needed.
We’ll explain what embalming involves, whether you need it, what it costs. Then you decide. No pressure, no sales tactics. Just honest advice from people who’ve been doing this since 1992.
We pride ourselves on our trusted funeral director services that put families first.
[1] Welham Jones Funerals & Memorials, https://www.welhamjones.co.uk
[2] “What is Embalming?” British Institute of Funeral Directors, https://www.bifd.org.uk/for-the-public/faqs/what-is-embalming
[3] “Funeral costs explained: Embalming,” Which?, https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/funerals/article/funeral-costs-explained/embalming-aEwAD9k5KiSZ
[4] Welham Jones Funeral Services, https://www.welhamjones.co.uk/funeral-services
[5] “Islamic Funeral Traditions,” Islamic Relief, https://www.islamic-relief.org/islamic-funeral-traditions/
[6] “What to do after someone dies abroad,” UK Government, https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/death-abroad
[7] Welham Jones Repatriation Services, https://welhamjones.co.uk/funeral-services/repatriation/
[8] Kent Crematoriums, https://www.kentcrematoriums.co.uk
[9] Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors, https://saif.org.uk
[10] Welham Jones Funerals, The Old Dairy, London Road, Dunton Green, Kent TN13 2TD
Do I have to have embalming?
No. It’s optional in the UK for domestic funerals. Only required for repatriation to certain countries.
Can I see them without embalming?
Yes, within the first two days. After that it gets harder. By day four or five, you’d want embalming done first.
How much does embalming cost?
£175* at Welham Jones. Included in some packages, extra on others. *NOTE: Price as of October 2025
Does embalming hurt them?
No, they’re dead. They don’t feel anything. I know that sounds blunt, but people genuinely ask this.
After embalming will they look different?
They’ll look peaceful and cared for. Skin might be slightly paler. Eyes and mouth are closed properly. If they were ill for ages, they might look better than they did in their last weeks.
What if they had surgery recently?
Not a problem. We work around surgical sites carefully. Same with injuries from accidents.
Can we dress them ourselves?
Some families want to. We can arrange that. Most prefer us to do it, it’s not easy dressing someone who can’t move.
How soon after death do you need to do it?
Best within 24 hours. Can be done later if the body’s been refrigerated, but sooner is better for good results.
Address:
39 Crescent Rd
Royal Tunbridge Wells
TN1 2LZ
How to find us: Map
Phone: 01892 300330
Email: tunbridgewells@welhamjones.co.uk
Business Hours:
Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm
Saturday and Sunday: appointment only
For community deaths outside those hours, we also provide a 24/7 response, 365 days of the year.
