Welcome to Arthur Bell (Wakefield) Ltd When a family suffers a bereavement it is the most difficult day of their lives. Often it will come as a great shock whether expected or not. Nothing prepares you for the emotional turmoil of losing someone you love. At Arthur Bell Funeral Directors we consider your family to be as precious as our own. For over 95 years we have striven to provide superior care and service to families in their time of need. Dealing with all aspects of decision making to give a complete and meaningful funeral tailored to meet every individual need, doing so with the utmost integrity and dignity, upholding traditional values with a modern approach.
History Since the beginning of the 20th century the Bell family have served the Wakefield area, especially those of Stanley and Thornes.
Harry Vincent Bell, brother to Arthur Bell opened his funeral business on Lake Lock Road at Stanley prior to 1920. Arthur opened his own funeral and joinery business on Commercial Street at Thornes following service with The Royal Engineers during World War One, being mentioned in dispatches and photographed outside the Palace of Versailles two days after armistice day in 1918. Following the retirement of Harry, Arthur took over the running of the funeral directing business at Stanley with his sons. Billy concentrating on the joinery business on Commercial Street and David becoming the funeral director after Arthur suffered a debilitating stroke in 1966. The present Chapel of Rest at Stanley was built on the site of the old Cottage Hospital finally being finished in 1969 with Arthur living in his bungalow at the side until his death in 1972.
John, son of Billy, joined the family business in 1980, working and learning both sides of the business until David passed away in 1995 when he took over full running of the company and still does to the present day. The company fully moved to Stanley, where it operates from to this day, in 1998 following the closure of the joinery side of the business. John’s eldest son Richard has been working in the business for 4 years taking the family business into the fourth generation.
