motor cycle and side coffin
Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse, Museum of Norfolk Life
Gressenhall, Dereham, Norfolk, England, UK
Not coffin up
Maurice Taylor, Holt, Norfolk
Last Updated: 9:12PM BST 13 Sep 2003
The motorcycle hearse mentioned by Christopher Booker (Notebook, September 7) may be the only operational vehicle of its kind in Britain, but an excellent example can be seen in the Norfolk Rural Life Museum at Gressenhall.
The hearse is drawn by a Norton motorcycle, and consists of a sidecar chassis with wooden platform on which the coffin is laid. It was the brainchild of a local worthy to provide a speedy and cheap method of transporting the bodies of departed inmates for interment to the parishes of their origin.
It seems that this was too much even for the guardians of the day, and the vehicle was never used for the purpose for which it was intended. The same cannot be said, however, for the coffin, which was of the re-usable variety with a hinged side from which the pauper's body could be slid into its final resting place.
Comments and faves
Dawn Endico (39 months ago | reply)
that's awesome
Auntie P added this photo to her favorites. (39 months ago)
Auntie P (39 months ago | reply)
That is superb! That's how I want to be taken to my final resting place - and I'd be quite happy for them to tip me out of the coffin (though I suspect the gathered mourners might be a little disturbed by that).
Kevin, Drhaggis, berrimbillah, and ccgd added this photo to their favorites.
davekpcv (39 months ago | reply)
Great shot Leo. Whilst the Norton may not have been used, there is still a big "demand" for this service ( see Auntie P's comment) as you can see by clicking the following link!:-
www.motorcyclefunerals.com/bikes.htm
E11y added this photo to her favorites. (39 months ago)
E11y (39 months ago | reply)
Great shot
berrimbillah (39 months ago | reply)
That's a great idea!
Claudecf added this photo to her favorites. (39 months ago)
Claudecf (39 months ago | reply)
I'm usually not at ease on a motorcycle, but assume that at that point I wouldn't get scared :)
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Vin60 (39 months ago | reply)
I'm just imaging a horde of HD bikers forming the funeral procession...
Leo Reynolds (39 months ago | reply)
Dawn Endico (39 months ago | reply)
I commented before Leo added the caption. It didn't occur to me that this was a hearse. I was thinking of an all in one package death-on-two-wheels package. Race around like a maniac, flip the bike and land directly in the coffin. No muss, no fuss.
kerrins_giraffe (39 months ago | reply)
what a great find. I think that this is really wild and different. I don't know about the reuseable coffin. It is a great looking coffin though.
Ackteon, Koehler-o, queer hearse, bimer., and HamatoKameko added this photo to their favorites.
johnnie_essex (26 months ago | reply)
I answered an ad. for a coffin
"One careful owner," it said;
I arrived to collect from the boffin:
"I'm sorry - you have to be dead!"
$ Bill and master_zedd_rahl added this photo to their favorites.
AussieOutback (23 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called BIKER LIFE ~ living and loving the lifestyle~, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Liam Barrett Illustration, la cosmovición del pez banana, GBWHulme, and Mary_on_Flickr added this photo to their favorites.
Mary_on_Flickr (11 months ago | reply)
Loved your photo, used it here: www.flickr.com/photos/51965108@N05/5872026819 /in/pool-168...