Sutcliffes Garages

Sutcliffes Garages Ltd Pre-Cast Concrete Building Specialists

The company was founded on 3rd March 1950 by Wilfred Sutcliffe and his son Tom Sutcliffe. In 1952 Tom’s son Roger Sutcliffe also began working for the company and they diversified from timber and asbestos garages to concrete garages and buildings. Based in Manchester Roger continued to expand the business, opening a show The official filing receipt for the patent application of concrete panels 1955site in Preston and Birkenhead and recruiting agents within a hundred mile radius. David Ralphs became a director at this stage taking over responsibility for buying and helping to run the company. In 1971 David Ralphs suffered a heart attack and Stuart Farnell was promoted from joiner to Company Sales Manager.
Due to redevelopment in Manchester, the company purchased one of Walker Tannery’s in Weston Street, Bolton where it employed around 25 staff.
During the miners strike of the 1970’s, and subsequent three day working week, the company struggled due to its heavy reliance on electricity for machinery. Manufacturing was improved by purchase of the first dry press concrete machine in the UK in 1979, followed in 1982 by a large concrete casting machine. Aggregates were bought in from Derbyshire whilst the company tried to source as many materials locally.
In 1984 a fully automated wet cast concrete plant was installed which increased quality and efficiency of pebble-dashed panel production. At this time the decision was taken to expand the business and sell garages and concrete buildings on a national scale, with agents in Scotland and in the southeast of England.
In 1994 the company under Roger Sutcliffe’s guidance became BS5750 quality assured – the first garage manufacturer in the country to achieve this standard.
Founder & Chairman Roger Sutcliffe (centre) pictured with: Stuart Farnell, Sales Director (left) and Chris Brown, Managing Director (right)Two years later Roger’s daughter, Susan, and her husband Chris Brown, joined the firm. Chris Brown was a chartered Quantity Surveyor and come from a construction background. He was appointed Managing Director and Susan took over from her mother Ann to run the accounts department. David Ralphs now retired and Stuart Farnell was appointed Sales Director.
Sheds, garden, wooden, prefabricated