Fulfords was established in 1863 when Edmund Thomas Fulford
set up as an auctioneer and appraiser in Maddocks Road, Exeter and Exmouth. E T Fulford was a
well-known businessman in Exeter and was appointed a Freeman of the City of Exeter.
In 1900 the office in Exmouth was closed and the firm operated entirely from Exeter.
E.T Fulford took his two sons Herbert and Thomas into the business, which then moved to 5
Bedford Circus. In time two sons of Herbert's - Stafford and Douglas Fulford joined the firm,
which then became Herbert Fulford and Company.
Stafford Fulford died in Turkey in August 1914.
The Business was run by Thomas Fulford until the Second World War.
In 1942 the premises at 5 Bedford Street blitzed. So in 1947 Leslie Fulford started
the business under his own name firstly from home and later from 5 Goldsmith Street, Exeter.
He introduced his son, Herbert A Fulford FRICS (Tony) into the partnership in 1955 and the
firm moved to Paris Street to be known as Leslie Fulford & Son.
In 1969 Leslie Fulford retired - but retained an interest in the firm by becoming a 'Consultant'.
The business being run by his son Tony with additional partners John H Cocks FRICS (1967) and Martin
Burdick FRICS (1971)
In 1979 Fulfords was the first estate agents business to become incorporated and named Fulfords
Estate Agents Limited, underlining the firm's logo message 'Streets Ahead', with five directors, namely:
H A Fulford FRICS, M Burdick FRICS, John H Cocks FRICS, M B Saunders FNAEA, Robert D Theobald FNAEA.
Throughout the 1980s the firm undergoes rapid expansion throughout South and East Devon by the opening
of new offices and acquisition of existing businesses. Four new Directors were appointed during this time:
John Avent , Ian R Fraser, Paul T Hicks and Angus H J Donald.
19th November 1980 Tony Fulfords passed over Chairmanship of firm to Martin Burdick and in The Rev.
Herbert A Fulford sadly dies after a period of illness (having become ordained in the Church of England
in the summer of 1986). He was last of the Fulford male line.
In 1987 The Company became a subsidiary of the London and Manchester Assurance Company, entitled
London and Manchester (Agency Services) Limited, but still trading as FULFORDS Estate Agents.
Following the 1987 acquisition the firm continued to expand:
- acquires the business of Letcher & Scorer with offices in Dartmouth, Kingsbridge and Modbury
- acquires the business of Bourne & Smith in Paignton
- acquires the business of Zair & Co in Axminster
- opens branches in Cowick Street(Exeter), Heavitree(Exeter), Kingsteignton, Teignmouth, Salcombe and Seaton.
Andrew Kitchener and David Lovell become Directors.
On 1st December 1992 Fulfords expand into Plymouth,
acquiring the business of Viner Carew, with branches in
Drake Circus(Plymouth), Plympton, Plymstock and Ivybridge.
Fulfords become a division of London & Manchester Agency Services.
The Commercial Agency of the business rebranded VINER FULFORDS, with
branches in Exeter and Plymouth1st January 1995 Peter Turner was
appointed a Director and a Waterside & Fine Homes Department (under the
leadership of Robert Theobald) was created, moving to its own premises
in Exeter at the beginning of 1996.
On 15th January 1996 a further office was opened in Mutley Plain
(Plymouth) office opened, expanding the region to five offices.
1st March 1996: Martin Burdick relinquished his post as Chairman
of Fulfords to work as a Director within Waterside & Fine Homes.
Michael Saunders became Chairman and Joint Managing Director of Fulfords
and Chairman of London & Manchester Agency Services - with Ian Fraser
becoming Joint Managing Director of Fulfords.
The Company gained accreditation as Investors in People.
Viner Fulfords concentrates its business from Plymouth, retaining a presence in Exeter
| 1996 |
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August: John Cocks celebrates 30 years with Fulfords |
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September: The Survey Department gains accreditation with ISO9002 |
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October 3rd: Fulfords celebrates 10th Anniversary of its takeover by
London & Manchester Group, with a presentation by Tom Pyne at Winslade Park |
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| 1998 |
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30th January: Opened office in Tavistock |
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In April Martin Burdick relinquished his
directorship but remains as a Consultant |
On 10th September 1998: London and Manchester acquired by
Friends Provident (London & Manchester Agency Services (LMAS)
changes to Friends Provident Estate Agencies (FPEA). Michael
Saunders appointed Managing Director of FPEA.
September 1998, Robert Theobald celebrates 30 years with Fulfords
4th January 1999, opened a second office in Exmouth on the Brixington Estate.
In July 1999 Fulfords acquired six offices in Cornwall - Redruth, Camborne, Helston,
Penzance, Falmouth and Truro. This was part of an acquisition by FPEA of 17 offices
from the Halifax Property Services. (FPEA acquire 17 branches in total, 6 for Fulfords
and 11 for Palmer Snell).
In August 1999 Fulfords opened offices in Cullompton and in Okehampton.
In September 1999 opened an office in Torquay (St Marychurch)
In January 2000 Michael Saunders celebrates 25 years with Fulfords.
In November 2000 Fulfords holds first of major Westcountry Auctions with 39 Lots, more planned.
In February 2001 Paul Hicks celebrated 25 years with Fulfords and in November of the same year Angus
Donald celebrated 25 years with Fulfords.
In January 2002 John Cocks retired as a Director.
In March 2002 Fulfords open new office in Shaldon (sub office to Teignmouth) opened by a local resident
and former Chairman of Fulfords - Martin Burdick!
In August 2002 Friends Provident Estate Agencies Limited was acquired by Countrywide plc.
Over the period 2004 - 2006 the Fulfords Cornwall operation was mainly
incorporated into the 2 sister subsidiaries of Miller Countrywide and
Stratton Creber and part rationalised enabling the firm to really focus
on their Devon branches.
In January 2005 Jason Hooper and Chris Petvin-Thomas become Directors.
In July 2006 Nigel Gould-Smith celebrates 25 years with Fulfords.
In August 2006 Fulfords open a new branch in the St Budeaux area of
Plymouth.
In September 2006 Andrew Kitchener celebrates 25 years with Fulfords.
In November 2006 Angus Donald celebrates 30 years with Fulfords.
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