Bespoke joinery firm based in village near Preston marks 125 years

Ian and Robert Sanderson. Pic: Sanderson Brothers.

A family-run bespoke joinery firm is looking to the future with optimism after racking up an incredible 125-years in business.

Sanderson Brothers is based in the village of Inglewhite, north of Preston, from where the business has grown and evolved over more than a century.

Based on the site of what was once the village workhouse, it has gone from originally being a wheelwright and undertakers to now manufacturing bespoke timber windows and doors for both commercial and domestic use.

Robert Sanderson is the fifth generation to be involved in the business and, along with his dad Ian, is keen to keep adding to the family firm’s rich heritage.

He said: “The business was founded by 24-year-old John Sanderson on 10 August, 1899, and it has been passed down the generations from there.”

Sanderson Brothers is steeped in the history of Inglewhite (see timeline at the end of the article) and Robert credits his dad, Ian, with really moving the business forward when he took over in 2005 and transformed the site.

Having identified a need for high quality products, the business also invested in the UK’s first Soukup Windowline machine in 2013, followed by a Soukup Spectra CNC in 2019.

This allowed the business to expand the scope and scale of projects it worked on and the customers it supplied.

Robert said: “We supply a range of companies and have been involved in supplying windows and doors for modular-framed classrooms at schools in and around Preston.

“We also supplied windows and doors for the Ye Horns Inn at Goosnargh when that was renovated, as well as working with local builders like J. Townley on their projects.”

And while Robert acknowledged that the current economic climate had made things quite unpredictable for the whole building trade in 2024, he was confident for the outlook of the business.

“We like to pride ourselves on what we do and think the windows and doors we supply are the best you can get. We are always happy to help if there any issues that arise.

“We are really proud of what we do and think they are one of the best timber products you can buy.”

To find out more about the firm visit https://linktr.ee/sandersonbrothers1899

Sanderson Brothers – A history

The original buildings were converted as the business grew. Pic: Sanderson Brothers.

1899 – John Sanderson, 24, takes out an indenture with Alfred Cotham, Oswald Walmsley and Hubert Colegrave as a life tenant on the old workhouse, Inglewhite, which was built in 1796. He was originally a joiner, wheelwright and then added an undertaker business.

1920 – John Sanderson buys the workhouse for £260, plus two others pieces of land nearby for £100 and £50 respectively

1952 – John Sanderson dies aged 77 and leaves the old workhouse to his sons, Norman and Cyril

1971 – Norman Sanderson dies aged 72 and leaves his half to his wife, Margaret

1973 – Cyril and Margaret transfer the land and old workhouse to their sons, John Sanderson Jnr and Roy Sanderson

2005 – John and Roy transfer the property to John’s son, Ian Sanderson. The old workhouse is then condemned by the council and Ian decides to construct a new workshop on the land adjacent to the site which houses the modern manufacturing equipment.

2016 – The old workshop becomes office and showroom for the business.

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