THE region’s oldest family-owned construction and joinery firm has strengthened its order book with work worth more than £7m.

T Manners and Sons, in Bishop Auckland, is carrying out contracts across the North-East.

The firm set up in 1860, says the work covers a listed building, flats and a school, and comes after the completion of a project for a plant hire company.

The contracts include renovations at 10 Market Place, in Bishop Auckland, a grade-II listed building, which is one of the first phases in the Auckland Castle Trust’s plans for the Bishop’s Palace and the town.

Bosses say the most valuable work will take place at Kings Priory School, in Tynemouth, where the company has been appointed to start the second phase of a scheme with a value of up to £4m.

The work will include major renovations and additions to listed buildings and comes after it renovated and extended another site at the school.

Also in Tynemouth, Manners will oversee external repairs and replace windows on 138 properties at Knotts Flats.

That work comes after the company, which employs nearly 75 staff, completed a new £1m workshop and offices for Pickerings Plant, in South Bank, near Middlesbrough.

A spokesman said: “Success is breeding success.

“The company prides itself on being a modern, forward-looking business with a unique blend of family values.

“Building stable, long-term relationships features highly in our approach and the repeat business seems to suggest that is working.

“We are also hopeful similar projects will follow the Pickerings work, which brought very positive comments from the client and attracted attention in the local area too.”

The company runs construction, specialist joinery and small works divisions, and has a turnover of about £15m.

Its supply chain includes more than 100 local companies and it employs apprentices across bricklaying and joinery.

Now in its fifth generation, Manners once made wings for First World War Sopwith Camel and SE5 fighter aircraft.

Founded by Thomas Manners, in Peel Street, Bishop Auckland, the company was first handed down to Thomas' son, Robert, who was gassed in the First World War trenches.

He eventually brought in his son, Brian, who had spent much of the Second World War training fighter pilots.

Brian’s son, Robert, the great-grandson of founder Thomas, is now the company's managing director, with his son, Simon, a company director.