History

The firm of Isaac Hodgson Joiners and Undertakers, was begun in 1920 and is Cockermouths longest, established funeral directing business. A workshop was established behind JB Banks ironmongers in Market Place.

Until the early 1970s all coffins were handmade, and solid coffins were wax polished: but this decade also saw the introduction of the veneered coffins that are generally used today.

On the death of Issac Hodgson in 1972 the business passed into the ownership of Nelson Chicken Snr. who had spent all his working life in the employ of Issac Hodgson, except for the interruption of the war years.

Nelson Chicken Snr. retired in 1980 due to ill-health and the business was passed to his son Nelson who ran it in partnership with his mother Dorothy until her death in 2001.

In 1981 a Chapel of Rest was opened in a disused bungalow in the grounds of 39 Kirkgate.

The firm of Messrs. I Hodgson have always been member of the National Association of Funeral Directors and in 1981, Nelson Chicken Jnr. gained the Association's Diploma in Funeral Directing. In 1985, the same year as his fathers death, Nelson qualified as a member of the British Institute of Embalmers. In July 2005 the firm became RN Chicken Limited.

Nelson is an active member of the Cumbrian Branch of the NAFD and has served as its President for two years. He is a past present of the Northern Area NAFD(1995 - 1997).