Family funeral directors for over 100 years

A family name, trusted for generations

N. E. Downing (Blackheath) Ltd. is a family run Funeral Directors based in Brierley Hill in the West Midlands. For four generations we have been privileged to serve many families within the surrounding areas during their time of crisis and loss.

The company originated from Vicarage Road in Blackheath and has grown to encompass the whole of the Black Country area. As one of the West Midlands longest established independent family Funeral Directors, incorporating J.T. Brookes, J.R. Jones, Dainty & Downing and T. Hadley Funeral Directors; we are committed to providing the highest service to each family we serve and from the moment you get in touch we pride ourselves on personal attention to every detail.

The company was founded in 1919 by Charles Taylor of Blackheath, who is the Grandfather and Great Grandfather of the current Directors. Originally the company provided horse drawn hearses and coaches to other local Funeral Directors. Motor Vehicles were added to the fleet in 1926 and the company operated a taxi service and transport for disabled children together with a wedding car company. At this time the company was based in Upper Ashley Street and Vicarage Road Blackheath.

For many years Mr Taylor’s son in law, Eric Downing ran the business eventually being joined by his son Stephen and then his children William and Lucy who bring the company into the modern era. Charles Taylor’s daughter Doris was a director for many years as is Stephen’s wife Sue.

Starting in 1970 the company began an era of expansion with the acquisition of F.W.Collins and Sons Ltd based in Bilston and Darlaston. This company was sold in 1980 and J T Brookes and Co in Brierley Hill was acquired together with Wheeler Bros and L.C. Pearson following shortly afterwards. J T Brookes is a very well known funeral company, which began as Corn Merchants in Brockmoor and now is based on Mount Pleasant, Quarry Bank, with branch offices in Kingswinford and Hagley. Over the years they have conducted many thousands of funerals including the footballer Duncan Edwards and more recently the Countess of Dudley.

In the 1980s J R Jones and Co in Gornal was bought on the retirement of Jack Jones and has been situated in Five Ways, Lower Gornal since October 1996 and was previously well known as the Five Ways Pub! The building, and in particular the cellars, are believed to be the 3rd oldest surviving structure in Dudley after the Castle at Dudley Zoo and Priory Ruins.

In April 2007 G. S. Dainty and Sons was acquired and merged with our existing office in Kates Hill called ‘John Downing’ (no relation) to call the business ‘Dainty & Downing’. The office on St Johns Road was closed and relocated to 89 Dixon’s Green Road into G S Dainty’s existing property.

Kind Words

“On behalf of the family please can I say a big thank you for the service we received for the funeral of my late father, it was 1st class.”

Mike Mallen

Kind Words

“Thank you for making a very difficult time for us as perfect as it was. With your guidance we were able to give Kev the respect & kindness he deserved. Sharon thank you for giving Kev back to me and for our lovely chat. My family are forever grateful to you all. Much Love”

Wendy Barnett

Kind Words

“I am writing on behalf of the family to thank you for arranging my mother’s funeral. You and your colleagues were kind and thoughtful throughout the process and ensured that every detail was carefully considered and executed. You made what was obviously a very distressing and stressful time for the family as calm and ordered as possible and we are all extremely grateful for your support and advice.”

Judy Bunn

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“Just a little note to say thank you for everything you’ve done for mom and making her special day run as smoothly as possible. Your care & compassion is outstanding and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Jackie & Sarah

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“Our sincere thanks to you all in guiding us through the difficult loss of our husband and father Alan Beardsmore”

Judy, Larissa and Justin

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“Thank you from myself and the family for your kindness during our difficult time. We are very grateful for your compassionate words & understanding. Would you please pass on our heartfelt thanks to Scott and the other pallbearers for their consideration also. It was a lovely gesture to honour John by wearing gold and black ties. Very best wishes to your all”

Kate

Kind Words

“Thank you so much for your incredible service, compassion, and kindness during the whole process of organising and making arrangements for dad’s final journey (John Foster on 19/7/24). Everyone was so supportive. Special thanks to Alison who went though every detail with us and to Theresa who put my words on the card for the flowers. You are all amazing.”

Jane, Robert and Michael

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“My sister and I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the lovely funeral for our dad. Dawn you were amazing so kind and compassionate. William the conductor on the day so professional and Theresa the celebrant – fantastic. Thank you!”

Viv and Rachel

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“As Liberty’s family we cannot thank you enough for your professionalism, compassion and support during this, the worst time of our lives. Honestly thank you from the bottom of our hearts, you will never know what this means to us.”

Tracy, Andy, Tyler, Dylan, Gemma & Family

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“I don’t know how to thank you for caring for my beautiful son. The way you brought him home to us so beautiful and I felt so proud of you. You made my son look beautiful. I’m so very very grateful”

Anonymous

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“To all at J R Jones just a note to say “Thank You” for all your help organising the funeral of our beloved Anne Brasenell. Your knowledge and professionalism was amazing but most of all we appreciated your kindness and compassion at a very difficult time. Again thank you all for your support. God bless you all”

Arthur, Julie, Kanne & family

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“Many many thanks for the kindness and respect you have shown while caring over our mum. We have appreciated your professionalism and thoughtfulness and your humour which has kept us going throughout this time”

The Moore Family

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“Thank you so very much for looking after me and my family and of course my mom, Carol, while arranging my mom’s farewell day. It all went so beautifully and I think mom would have been over the moon with it all.”

Sarah, Ian & family

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“Thank you for everything you did for making the day perfect including looking after Cliff before and the service and help you gave on the day of the funeral”

Irene Davies & family

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“Thank you for all of your help and support over the past month. You made the whole process of arranging the funeral for mum a lot easier for us.”

Ban and Sandy

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“Many thanks for your kindness and sincerity in welcoming Mel & I to J.T. Brookes on that Monday morning as we met to arrange our dad’s funeral. We could not believe how quickly it was agreed both funeral and the wake! Your professional skills was clearly evident in the way you supported us to organise a lovely service that our dad would have loved and our mom was very proud of! This has meant the world to both of us! Your wonderful kindness, calming manner and deep felt understanding of my needs emotionally when my husband died was truly a lifeline for me. Both Mel & I will never forget you and will stay in our hearts forever.”

Jeanette & Mel

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“Thank you so much for your quiet, unassuming professionalism in the preparation and running of Mary Orchards funeral. We felt in very safe and supportive hands.”

Michael Barry & The Orchard Family

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“Thank you all so very much for your advice, patience and support. It made the planning of our mum’s funeral so much easier than expected and you went well beyond expectations in making sure every detail was right. The service itself, and your role in it was a wonderful celebration of Eileen’s life and was an event that was low-key and happy, as she would have wanted, surrounded by her family and friends. We are greatly indebted to you!”

The Gosling Family

Blackheath (N.E. Downing) Blackheath (T. Hadley) Brierley Hill Kingswinford Hagley Dudley Gornal

Branches

Proud to serve our communities

Over the years, N.E. Downing has grown to bring together some of the region’s most respected funeral directors, with branches across the Black Country and West Midlands. Each branch carries its own history and trusted reputation, united by the same family values of dignity, care, and compassion.

Wherever you visit us, you will find the same warm welcome, the same personal service, and the same commitment to supporting you and your family when it matters most.

Speak to us