Our Coffins​

We know that saying goodbye to a loved one and choosing a coffin can be difficult, which is why Steph will take the utmost care and attention to detail when weaving your willow coffin. From preparing the bases to sewing the lining, Wegnalls Willow Coffins are lovingly made from start to finish in our North Herefordshire workshop.

We offer two types of willow coffins:

  • Woven base
  • Plywood base

All coffins come with a calico lining (in both the basket and the lid), along with a calico mattress and pillow filled with hay, as standard. 

Both the woven and plywood base coffins can be woven in different colour combinations of buff, white or brown willow. More details on this below.

Woven base coffin on trestles in the grass at Humber Woodland of Remembrance
Woven base coffin in buff and brown willow.

Woven base coffins

Willow is woven around timber slats, creating a strong coffin base. This coffin design is the most sustainable and eco-friendly option, making it perfect for both natural and traditional burials.

Additional features include:

  • Solid pine lid centre.
  • Rope handles
  • Hand carved hazel fastenings
  • Unbleached Calico linings
  • Mattress and pillow filled with hay.
  • Personalisation options, including different colours of willow for the banding and / or plait (subject to availability) and customised linings.
Scalloming on the side stakes on a woman base coffin, in buff willow.
Looking along the base of a woven base coffin and the sides are still being woven, before the border has been put down.
Woven base coffin on a bier at Humber Woodland of Remembrance
Front view of a woven base coffin on a bier
Plywood base coffin in buff and white willow.

Plywood base coffins

This coffin has a solid plywood base, complete with a plait on the side of the base and lid. This style can be use for both burial* and cremation.

Additional features include:

  • Solid pine lid centre.
  • Rope handles
  • Hand carved hazel fastenings
  • Unbleached Calico linings
  • Mattress and pillow filled with hay from our fields.
  • Waterproof lining available on request
  • Various customisation options, from different colours of willow for the banding and / or plait (subject to availability) to personalised lining material.

* Not suitable for green, natural burial due to the glue used in plywood. However I am looking into alternative, environmentally friendly solid wood alternatives.

Looking down on the lid and rounded front of a buff willow coffin
Ply base coffin with white willow side stakes being put down as a rod border.
White and buff willow stripes on the end of a willow coffin and a hazel toggle

Want to know more about how each of these designs are made? New blog posts coming soon.

Willow varieties

The coffins photographed above show the two most popular designs using the different willow varieties. However we are happy to weave a customised coffin using different combinations of willow and you can find more photos of our coffins in the gallery.

Once you have decided upon the coffin base, you can choose between the following options for the side and lid weaving:

  • Buff willow is made using the finest Somerset willow that has been boiled, stripped of its bark and dried. This creates a toffee colour rod which is smooth to the touch. Buff willow is what traditional ‘wicker’ products would have been made with, and as shown in the buff ply base coffin above.
  • White willow is made by stripping the bark, leaving the creamy white willow core. It is only made in Spring with freshly cut rods so usually only used for stripes of white, as shown in the buff coffin above.
  • Brown willow is used to describe the willow rods that have been dried after harvesting. They still have their bark attached, rather than the stripped willow above. These are generally darker, more natural looking and textured than the stripped willow.
  • There are 20+ different varieties of willow that I have grown, harvested and dried. Colours range from brown to green, yellow, red and purple*.

*Colours and varieties are dependant on availability. Please do get in touch for further details.

Zoomed in photo of French rand weaving in Dicky Meadows willow.
Dicky Meadows and buff
Zoomed in photo of English rand weave in Black maul willow.
Black maul
Home grown willows – freshly harvested

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more information on our coffins, including ordering and delivery details.

Ashes Caskets

Ashes caskets can be made to match with your chosen Wegnalls Willow coffin or may be purchased separately.

Woven in any combination of buff, white or brown willows that are available, the ashes urns are available as a round, oval or square basket shape.

Furthermore, they are all made without any glues, plastic or metal and are 100% biodegradable.

Finally, all ashes caskets include a drawstring heavy cotton bag or can be lined with calico (or your own material) like our coffins.

Pictured are just some of the cremation ashes caskets that have been commissioned recently, but I am happy to discuss and design a personalised basket with you.

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