Broseley Estates Limited

Broseley's roots trace back to when Horrocks began his career as an Estate Agent in the early 1950s when, in partnership with Alf Smith (of Culcheth) Ltd and two others, he started building small developments of houses and refurbishing commercial properties in the Greater Manchester area. In 1960 the various development companies were merged into the Broseley Investment Company, with Royal Exchange holding 26%. In 1961 Metropolitan Railway Surplus Lands also acquired a 20% holding; after further changes in shareholdings, Guardian Royal Exchange (as it had then become) finally achieved majority control in 1970.[1]

During the 1960s Broseley expanded in the north-west and, through the acquisition of Frederick Powell & Sons Limited, in the south west; by the end of the decade it was building up to 1500 houses a year. The expansion continued in the 1970s with new regions in Scotland, the north east and the south east. By the early 1980s, Broseley's output was around 4500 houses a year, making it the fourth largest housebuilder in the country.[1]

In 1986 and 1987, Danny Horrocks suffered a series of heart attacks. After a long relationship lasting over 25 years, Guardian Royal Exchange decided without Horrocks it would not wish to continue running a housebuiding company. GRE retained the commercial property business but sold Broseley Estates to Trafalgar House in December 1986 for £71 million, where it was integrated into Trafalgar House's Ideal Homes.[1] Brian Bennett, Broseley's longest serving employee and having risen to Lancashire Regional Director, moved to Ideal Homes as Land Director.

Perhaps Broseley's most famous development was TV's Brookside, which came to our TV screens on Channel 4 in November 1982. Brookside Close is probably recognised by television viewers more than any other modern estate in the country.

Broseley developed one of the largest housing estates in the UK ever undertaken by a British house builder at Croxteth Country Park in West Derby, Liverpool, constructing close to 1000 new homes in a 7-year period. They were also one of the first developers in Milton Keynes (Broseley Brass)building some of the most prestigious homes the new city had to offer.

Many parts of London Docklands LDDC were built in the early 1980s by the company, who were one of the first national house builders to take the challenge and risk of redeveloping the run-down former industrial areas and Docks of East London.

Broseley's first developments in London were Birch Trees in Cypress, Beckton and Nelson Reach off Redriff Road in Surrey Quays where want to be buyers waited all night to be first in line to buy on the development. Other successful developments were Spirit Quay in Wapping and Greenland Quay, all of which are still as extremely popular now as they were when they were built.

Broseley Estates' main head office was based at Bond Street and Lord Street in Leigh, Lancashire. In 1986 the company had regional offices at: Leigh - Airdrie, Scotland - Thornaby on Tees, Cleveland - Wakefield, Yorkshire - Liverpool - Nottingham - Luton - Bracknell, Berkshire - Stratford, London - Exeter, Devon

Some of the Broseley Houses and Developments built in the 1980s