Albins & Hitchcock’s had always had a good working relationship over the years and when Russell approached the late Barry Albin, he insisted that Albins took over the business. Because of Albins long standing traditions as family funeral directors for over 230 years in South East London and how close the 2 companies were, he felt assured that C E Hitchcock’s would be in the best of hands.

Over the past decade, Albins have modernised the funeral home in Barking Road refurbishing the arranging rooms and chapels of rest for families whilst keeping the shop front traditional and ensuring the history of the company is well documented around the premises.

Hitchcock’s has always been progressive in its outlook; the firm was one of the first in the east London area to possess a motor hearse, and photos of the vehicle appeared in the Undertakers Journal in 1916.

‘The Spanish Flu’ pandemic was first identified in May 1918. In London the first reports of deaths as a result of the recrudescence of the flu were in October 1918. The peak of the number of deaths was reached in the first week of November. It was not encountered in all areas of the capital, but the east end of London was badly affected with the borough of West Ham being the worst hit. The dense living conditions in these areas were probably the main reason for the scale of the contraction. At this time Undertakers were small single units carrying out 50-70 funerals a year. With the war and the pandemic their numbers greatly increased. Hitchcock’s was one of the busiest undertakers in east London; in the November 1918 they undertook 417 funerals, nearly 4 times their average. East London Cemetery in Barking undertook more burials than any other cemetery in this area of London. The busiest day was 15 November, when 84 burials were recorded, with CE Hitchcock carrying out 28 of those funerals, a huge number for a small business.

After WWII, Hitchcock’s was purchased by the Dalton family and shortly before his death in 2005 Russell Dalton sold the business to Barry Albin to form part of C E Hitchcock family.

CE Hitchcock’s had looked after many thousands of funerals and their detailed registers are on display in the office on Barking Road.

Hitchcocks is a highly respected firm dealing with Burials and Cremations in a traditional east end manner including Horse drawn funerals.

The distinctive shop front on Barking Road still retains its original wooden front and brass furnishings. The premises have recently been re-furbished to a very high standard to create a very comforting and homely environment for families when they come in to our funeral home. Families will be warmly welcomed and looked after in an understanding manner by our staff at a very difficult time. All the offices, arranging rooms and Chapels of rest are air-conditioned.

As C E Hitchcocks & Sons, keeping with family traditions C.E Hitchcocks have set a benchmark in its service to the people of the communities it serves.

Albins has most recently acquired a modern Land Rover Hearse and four matching Range Rover saloon vehicles to enhance the options available to our customers. The vehicles are all equipped to the highest standard.

Albins also operate a fleet of private ambulances.

Albins vintage hearse and horse-drawn hearses can still be seen to this day, upholding the traditions of the generations passed.