The History of Alsford Timber– 1946 to 1969
The end of World War II
After the end of World War II, J. Alsford Timber Limited embarked on a further programme of expansion. In 1946, it bought a joinery firm in Eastbourne, converting its factory to manufacture doors and window frames; and in 1947 it purchased a large aircraft hangar from the Ministry of Supply, converting it into two sizeable storage buildings. This latter move was timed to perfection – the same year, the government released its national stocks of timber, and the new buildings enabled the firm to buy in large quantities.
1947 was a busy year for the company. As well as the aircraft hangar, it also opened a new planing and sawing mill at Feltham, and secured a supply of magnificent timber from the Hillcrest Lumber Company of Vancouver Island following James Alsford (3)’s trip to Canada as part of the Timber Trade Federation’s delegation.
In 1949, home-grown timber was freed from government control, starting another important chapter in Alsford’s history. At the time, the Alsfords were still felling and milling on the Wadhurst Estate. When the estate was sold, they were given one month’s notice to quit the land and remove their saw mill and felled timber. There was more felled timber than could be processed and moved to Feltham within the timeframe, so they decided instead to find a suitable area of woodland near Wadhurst and set up in the home-grown timber trade independently. They settled on 36 acres of scrub woodland called Yellowcoat Wood in Flimwell, Sussex.
The Death of James Alsford (2)
On 11 January 1951, James (2) died, aged 73. He had retired from active participation in the business a few years before, but had remained a director. On his death, the management of the business continued in the hands of the four Alsford brothers, under the chairmanship of James.
A few weeks after the death of James (2), the government started to lift restrictions on the timber trade, and by 1953 consumer licensing was abolished, leaving the Alsfords free to offer their customers exactly what they wanted. Shortly after this, all building restrictions were abolished and the demand for timber increased sharply. The company responded by opening another branch at Cobham, Surrey and rebuilding and extending the Feltham site.
Board reorganisation
In September 1960, far-reaching changes were made to the structure of the board. While James (3) remained as chairman, he gave up his position as managing director, appointing his brothers William and Arthur as joint managing directors. Three new directors were then appointed – Harry Osborne, Bob D’eath and William John Alsford. Osborne and D’eath were the first board members not to be members of the Alsford family, however, both had been with the company for nearly 30 years, working their way up from junior salesman and junior clerk respectively.
Alsford Expands
Expansion continued steadily through the 1960s and 70s, with new branches opening throughout the south east. It was during the 60s that Alsford introduced self-service systems into some of its branches – this was a first in Britain.
But the most important addition of the 60s was the building of its own wharf at Rye in Sussex, which officially opened in June 1968. The wharf gave Alsford complete and immediate control of the whole operation from shipside to sheds, and facilitated expansion through Surrey and Sussex.
At the same time, the home-grown timber part of the business was flourishing and a new saw mill was built at Flimwell to cope with demand.
End of an era
In 1969, James, William and Arthur Alsford gave up their directorships and retired from the company, leaving John as the only Alsford on the board. Between them, they had a combined service of 153 years. It’s said that in all the years of their directing the company, there was never a need for a vote to be taken at the board meeting – they all held to the policy of their father and grandfather before them to expand by opening branches with finance generated by the firm’s profit.
Please click here to read an overview of our Company’s History.
Please click here to read Part 6.
Please click here to read Part 4.