W. & C. French

Last updated

W. & C. French Limited
Company typePublic company
IndustryCivil engineering
Founded1870 (1870)
DefunctNovember 6, 1973 (1973-11-06)
Successor Kier Group
Headquarters50 Epping New Road, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, IG9 5TH
Area served
UK, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Malawi, Spain
ServicesRoad construction

W. & C. French, also known just as French, was a civil engineering company based at Buckhurst Hill in south-west Essex.

Contents

History

The business of Messrs W. and C. French was established by William French and his brother Charles French in 1870. [1]

Second World War

In the Second World War it constructed many RAF airfields and also built Mulberry harbour units. [2]

Public company

On 19 September 1949 it became a public company, when the Chairman of the company was Charles Samuel French, the son of William French. Another director was Brigadier John Linnaeus French CB CBE (18 November 1896 - 12 March 1953), a former commander of Colchester Garrison, and brother of Charles. Its transport depot was at Loughton. They had other depots at Colchester and Wisbech and carried out most of its work in East Anglia. The company was acquired by Kier Group in 1973. [3]

Major projects

British Airways Heathrow building BAHeathrowHangar.jpg
British Airways Heathrow building

Reservoirs

Roads

Airfields

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References

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  2. Hartcup, p. 94
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  7. Times Thursday March 11 1971, page 20
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  14. Times Wednesday March 11 1964, page 22
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  17. Lynn Advertiser Friday 17 March 1972, page 1
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  20. "Pole Moor to Outlane". Motorway Archive. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  21. Times Thursday January 13 1972
  22. "Outlane to Hartshead". Motorway Archive. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
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Sources