R. Durtnell & Sons
| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Construction |
| Founded | 1591 |
| Founder | John Durtnall (ancestral founder) |
| Defunct | 2019 |
| Headquarters | Brasted , England, United Kingdom |
Area served | Southeast England |
| Products | Residential construction, historic building conservation |
Number of employees | 130+ (2014) |
R. Durtnell & Sons was a construction firm based in England, founded in 1591 and maintained as a family-owned enterprise in Brasted, Kent, until it ended operations in 2019. The company's inaugural project, Poundsbridge Manor (also called The Picture House), was finished in 1593, and the firm subsequently undertook its restoration after damage sustained during World War II.
Durtnell family business
Established in 1591, R. Durtnell & Sons Limited remained under the stewardship of thirteen successive generations as a privately held company.[1] Recognised as the oldest building company in Britain, it was also ranked by Dun & Bradstreet as the third longest-running UK business before its closure—preceded only by Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press.[2] There are differing assertions about its exact position among historic companies.[3][4]
Beginning around 1570, John Durtnall (with surname variations including "Durtnell," "Durtnall," or "Darkenoll") served as a master carpenter constructing timber-framed homes in the Weald area. Together with his brother Brian, he built Poundsbridge Manor for their father William in 1593.[2] Richard Durtnell (1766–1845), representing the seventh generation, is acknowledged for founding the contemporary iteration of the business. The ninth generation formalised the enterprise under its present name.[5] To mark four centuries of operation, Hugh Barty-King wrote A country builder: The story of Richard Durtnell & Sons of Brasted 1591–1991.[6]
Operating from its original premises in Brasted, the company specialised in high-end residential construction and the conservation of historic buildings throughout southeast England, serving clients such as local government bodies, heritage institutions, and ecclesiastical organizations.[7][5]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name By 2014, the firm reported revenues surpassing £50 million and employed over 130 full-time staff.[2]
In July 2019, R. Durtnell & Sons halted trading during a refurbishment project at the Brighton Corn Exchange.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name The following month, creditors agreed to a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), granting additional time for debt repayment.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
External links
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedrdhome - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedmccooey - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedrb - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedcampden - ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedkentlife - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedbartyking - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedbloom
- Companies established in the 16th century
- Organizations established in the 1590s
- 1591 establishments in England
- Companies based in Kent
- Construction and civil engineering companies of England
- Housebuilding companies of the United Kingdom
- 2019 disestablishments in England
- Construction and civil engineering companies disestablished in 2019
- British companies disestablished in 2019