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Many parishes owned a horse-drawn hearse for community use. This hearse belonged to the parishioners of Berriew, mid-Wales. Used until 1910.

Seats: Seat Base. Wooden base with black-painted metal rail. Base is covered with a waterproof layer of black coated fabric. In the front, there is a 'skirt' of fulled woollen cloth with a backing of waterproof (coated) fabric (67cm wide/27cm long). A 7.7cm wide section of the same fabric has been attached to the upper front section of the base. The sides are finished with a vertical panel which extends approx. 2.5cm above and 3.5cm below the wooden base. The vertical panel also runs around the back of the base, though the lower section only reaches round either side of the back by 6.5-7cm. The vertical panel consists of coated fabric (probably formerly patent leather). Vertical panels, front edge of base and skirt section are finished off with leather binding. A metal strip runs horizontally around the outside of the seat base (attached to the vertical panel).

Upholstered bench. On top of the base sits a broad wooden frame, which is upholstered in horse hair covered by black fulled wool fabric (fixed on with nails) and leather piping running round the edges. Underneath the upper fabric is a tabby woven, white (cotton?) fabric. On the proper right, slightly towards the rear, there is a wooden bar (7.3L x 2.3W x 4.5H), bolted through into the base, which enables the raised seat cushion (which sits on top of this upholstered bench) to be positioned either centrally or to the right (to enable a passenger to sit on the left beside the coachman). The letter 'B' has been scratched (?) into the front face of the wooden bar.

Raised seat cushion. The upper seat cushion also consists of a wooden understructure upholstered with horsehair covered first in white tabby woven cellulosic fabric, and then an outer fabric of black fulled wool finished with leather piping. The base is formed by a wooden panel covered in a black tabby-woven hessian fabric. Two rectangular holes are cut into this panel enabling it to slot onto the wooden bar of the broad cushion in two different positions, i.e. to move it either to a central position or a position on the proper right. The cushion is c. 13cm high in the rear but slopes down towards the front. On either side, there is a slightly raised section about 6-6.5cm in width. Fabrics are attached to the wood with iron nails.