Up until the 18th century, when a person died in the UK the first people to be called to the home would be the local doctor and carpenter, to confirm the death and make the coffin. Another local person, or a member of the family, would then lay out the body in the front room, wash and dress it, ready to be viewed by friends and family before the funeral. In the 18th and 19th centuries in the UK the undertaker began to take over the duties of looking after the body from families and the community. In rural areas undertakers would often be the local carpenter or furniture maker with the skills to make the coffin as well. By the mid-20th century the job of the undertaker became more professional. They removed the body from the home soon after death and began to arrange all aspects of dealing with the body and the funeral. They became known as funeral directors.