Decipher and define please? COMPLETED - THANK YOU.

[bevbee]

Hi,

Can anyone read this properly please?

It says the coffins were conveyed on shell.biers - there is a letter in there but I can't quite read it. Does anyone know the word? I haven't come across it before. It's obviously a coffin carrier of some sort, but is it a specific type?

Thank you,

 Bev.   

[J.J.]

a bier is like a trolley...( well what we in Canada call a trolley...) a support on wheels...Don't know what the descriptive word is...Can you scan it twice the size and cut out the rest or have you not got an image program for that? J.J.

otherwise it looks like "shell" to me
http://www.patron.ie/funeral_products.htm

[J.J.]

Here's an antique one...
http://www.senseofplacesuffolk.co.uk/graphics/cart.jpg

[bevbee]

Thank you for your replies.

I realise that a bier is usually just a trolley, but in this funeral report it says;

The coffins were conveyed to Danygraig cemetery on two shellybiers. In the first (that of Mrs Harrison) was Mr. and Mrs Taylor, Mr. and Mrs Hill, Mrs Tavin and two of the children. In the second which contained the remains of Mr. Harrison were Mr. and Mrs Hopkins, Mr. Davies and Mr. Fo.... and another of the children.

so I think it must be some sort of carriage?

The more I look at the cutting from the paper the more it looks like a "y" in the middle, but I've tried a search and haven't come up with anything.

It would just be interesting to know.

Thank you,

Bev.

[Gaie]

Hello Bev

I tried Googling shillybier and it queried if I wanted "shillibier".  That leads to:

www.buy.com/rod/a_useful_affair/q/loc/print/1/36387648.html#prodInfoSec (then press Read a Chapter button)

which appears to be an extract from a book!  A shillibier in this extract is described as some sort of horsedrawn carriage.

And there is a Shillibier haulage co in Wales.

Regards

Gaie

[J.J.]

nice one, gaie...
these site call it a Shillabier / Hearse  ( near bottom page )
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/peter.fairweather/docs/Boultham_st_helens.htm
also: http://www.epsomandewellhistoryexplorer.org.uk/EpsomEwellCemetery.html

So I guess it is a horse drawn Bier...


also: http://archive.burnleycitizen.co.uk/2000/12/20/701078.html
 excerpt: Accordingly, the 'Shilly-bier', a vehicle which in Leigh serves the double purpose of hearse and mourning coach, was brought into requisition

[bevbee]

Many thanks to all of you. I've just found these replies, but for some reason, Rootschat didn't inform me I had more answers - don't know why.

Anyway, you have cleared it up very nicely!

Thank you very much.

Bev