150 years of Estates Gazette features S&A
31 May 2008May 31 2008, Estates Gazette
Venearble companies
The list of Britain's oldest firms, drawn from hte EG Top Agents list, appears in today's 150th supplement. Here are a few of their smaller, but just as long-established, brethren.
Walters - Established 1790
Richard Walter built up a business thatching and farming in Lincolnshire as well as assessing agricultural values. He died in his 20s after falling from a roof he was thatching. The firm now has six offices in Lincolnshire.
Kemsley Property Consultants - Dates back to 1794
In 1795, Samuel Ferris started as a land agent in Melton Mowbray. Rival Joseph Kemsley set up in the 1880s. The firms merged in 1964 and now operate in Basildon, Romford, Chelmsford and London.
Huggins Edwards & Sharp - Dates back to 1798
The firm's roots include Langlands & Son, which was established in Surrey in 1798. One of the firm's pupils, William Corbett, established his own practice in 1896, which became Corbett & Edwards in 1912. In 1965 it acquired its old rival Langlands & Son. The firm now has five offices in Surrey.
Stanley Hicks - Dates back to 1807
Fuller Horsey, later to become Fuller Horsey Sons & Cassell, was established in the City in 1807. It was incorporated into the then 113-year-old rival City-based firm Stanley Hicks in 2002.
Howell Brooks - Established 1818
Charles Howell founded the firm in 1818. His main practice was as London surveyor to an insurance company. The firm still operates from offices in Long Lane in the City of London.
Stephenson & Alexander - Established 1826
Stephenson & Alexander was set up in Cardiff in 1826 by W Stephenson. The firm specialised in shops but also sold castles in Wales. It now has offices in Cardiff and London.
Smiths Gore - Established 1845
Smiths Gore was founded by John Pickering, who began his career in 1845 as a land valuer. In 1851, the firm was appointed agent to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. It now has offices throughout the UK and associate offices in the USA, the Caribbean and the Far East.
Bruton Knowles - Established 1862
Established in 1862 in Gloucestershire by Henry Bruton and William Knowles, to collect rents on rural estates. It now has nine offices across the UK.
Leopold Farmer - Established 1877
Leopold Farmer started the firm in 1877 in Hampstead. The practice soon moved to City Road in London and is now run by Leopold's great-great-grandson Robin Farmer from an office in the West End.
Graves Son & Pilcher - Established 1897
Founded as A Graves in 1897. In 1930, Denis Pilcher, chairman of the Basingstoke Development Corporation, joined the firm. It is now based in Brighton.
Mellersh & Harding - Established 1902
The firm was established in 1902 by Mr Mellersh, a banker, and surveyor Mr Harding in Godalming, Surrey, selling houses. Shortly after, they moved to London and became involved in commercial property as "Land and Estate Agents Auctioneers and Valuers". The firm now has offices in the West End and the City.
