Our family story

We will forever be a family business, as generation after generation of Lymn Roses continue to serve families in their times of need.

A.W. Lymn The Family Funeral Service is a well-known name which has been associated with Nottingham’s inner city for more than 117 years.

Our headquarters are located in Sneinton, just a few hundred yards from Goosegate, where our founders, Arthur William Lymn and his son Harold Percy Lymn, traded as furniture makers and dealers at the turn of the nineteenth century.

Where Our Funeral Services Began

In 1907 father and son decided to specialise in the manufacture and supply of coffins and the provision of a full funeral service. The new business was soon so successful that it had to move to larger premises.

In 1915 the office was moved to Bath Street, opposite Sneinton Market. The firm’s horses were stabled in Robin Hood Street and coffins manufactured in Handel Street.

The stables were eventually replaced with garaging for motor vehicles. The same site now houses an impressive array of silver Rolls-Royce hearses and family cars, reputed to be the largest privately owned fleet of Rolls-Royces in the world.

When Arthur William Lymn died in 1929, control of the business passed to his widow Louisa and their son Harold.

When Louisa in turn passed on in 1939 Harold took sole charge. Despite the coming of war in 1939, the introduction of petrol rationing and other wartime restrictions, the business continued to grow. Harold himself was involved in the war effort, serving as a volunteer at the Civil Defence mortuary.

Harold’s son Douglas and son-in-law George Rose continued to develop the business, which became a limited company in 1958. Douglas and George became members of the British Institute of Embalmers and were involved in the first repatriation of human remains from England to Pakistan.

In 1977, a year after Harold’s death, the company moved its headquarters to Robin Hood House, in Robin Hood Street, where the main management of the firm can be found today.

Today the business has 28 funeral homes serving the whole of Nottinghamshire, South Derbyshire and expanding into Leicestershire, as well as an in-house floristry division, monumental masonry business and a luxury vehicle hire department. Our fleet is renowned across the country and regularly travels great distances Including overseas to be of service.

George Rose passed away in July 2018 although his wife Sheila, Harold’s daughter, now retired is still interested in the business.

Their son Nigel Lymn Rose is Company Chairman and their daughter Jackie, and Nigel’s daughter Chlöe are Directors.

Nigel’s son Matthew is Managing Director.

Arthur William’s great, great grandson Ben also works in the business.