Building firm celebrates 150 years in Bishop Auckland (From The Northern Echo)

Building firm celebrates 150 years in Bishop Auckland

6:13pm Monday 15th March 2010 in

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A BUILDING company that has been led by the same family for four generations has launched its 150th anniversary celebrations.

The Manners family are still at the helm of T Manners and Sons, one of the North-East’s oldest independent construction companies.

Founded with a handful of workers by Thomas Manners in Peel Street, Bishop Auckland, they now have a £10m turnover and employ 60 people in purpose built offices on the South Church Enterprise Park.

Thomas’ great grandson Robert is currently at the helm with his own son Simon a member of his team.

The anniversary celebrations started on Friday when Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman unveiled a plaque and was shown around the company’s headquarters where a specialist joinery division is currently making and installing charge desks for police forces across the country.

Public sector contracts like this have always been the backbone of the company’s business.

During the First World War, as Thomas was preparing to retire after more than half a century, in charge they built fighter aircraft such as the famous Sopwith Camel.

They still work for the Ministry of Defence as well as other public bodies such as the health and education services and local authorities.

Thomas handed over to his son Robert who was already suffering ill health having been gassed in the World War I trenches.

He eventually brought in his son Brian, a qualified accountant who had spent much of World War II training fighter pilots.

In the late 1970s Brian introduced his own son Robert, a qualified civil engineer and the current managing director.

Robert Manners brought a modern, dynamic approach to the business which sparked a period of expansion that continued into the current recession.

Commercial director Alan Crawford believes that sticking to old fashioned family values has been one of the reasons for the company’s success.

He said: "The Manners have been a prudent, canny family with old fashioned business values.

"They have a loyal workforce and a loyal client base but another of their strengths has been a great ability to react quickly to changing markets and economic climates."

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