The Milton Keynes Expansion

The company was instantly successful and within two years had offices in Wolverton, Newport Pagnell, Woburn Sands and Bletchley, all covering the expanding new city. This was the first example of Taylors’ office saturation - covering one large urban area with multiple outlets. Also at that time a specialist “New Homes” office was opened in Central Milton Keynes, again Taylors were the first estate agency in the country to take such a bold step.

Moving outside the City

In 1978 the company made its first foray outside of the City by opening an office in Towcester. The instant success of this branch proved that the “Taylors’ Formula” didn’t have to rely on a new and developing area to succeed. During the next few years, a number of other branches were opened in the market towns outside Milton Keynes, culminating in 1982, with the opening of three branches in Northampton.

Taylors and Mortgage Services

The early 1980’s saw considerable speculation as to the future of estate agency and the need to provide Mortgage services. Large Mortgage institutions indicated their desire to purchase estate agencies to help sell Mortgage products. For many firms this was a time of “expand or be bought out”. One company which chose to expand was Bairstow Eves, a London based estate agency, who in 1982 were the first agency to float on the Stock Exchange.

Merger with Bairstow Eves

On the 16th January 1984, the Directors of Taylors agreed the terms of a merger with Bairstow Eves, to help each other embark upon a rapid expansion programme. At the end of 1984 the number of Taylor's offices had grown to 16 and by the end of 1985 there were 26.

The beginning of Hambro Countrywide

In early 1986 terms were agreed for a further merger between the burgeoning Bairstow Eves group and Mann & Co., under the umbrella of Hambros Bank. This gave rise to the launch, in June 1986, of Hambro Countrywide plc, with a group of highly autonomous subsidiary companies across the country.

Taylors Go West

Taylors continued to expand through the latter part of the 1980’s and took over the management control of three other Hambro Countrywide plc subsidiaries. The three Kilroy offices in Bedford were taken over in 1985, followed by the offices of Corbett Leach in Bristol during 1988 and the Coventry offices of Robinson, Osbourne & Moules at the beginning of 1989. By the end of the 1980’s the Taylors’ network consisted of 60 outlets.

In November 1992, following the acquisition of 21 offices in Gloucestershire, Hereford and Worcester, the Taylors’ operation was split into two companies - Taylors East and Taylors West.

Nationwide Join In

Hambro Countrywide famously purchased the Nationwide chain of agency offices for £1, creating the largest estate agency and Mortgage services group in Europe, in 1994. Taylors East expanded to 36 offices, controlled from the Head Office in Milton Keynes.

Independence

1998 saw the sale of Hambro’s Bank and the evolution of Hambro Countrywide into Countrywide plc, an independent company in its own right. The Group has continued to expand with the purchase of John D Wood and Faron Saturia and is constantly assessing opportunities with a view to further expansion

Taylors and the Group

Taylors sits as one of the largest and most profitable subsidiaries within the Countrywide Group providing the opportunity for staff to progress within Taylors or, as frequently happens, be promoted into fellow subsidairies.

Continual Growth

In 2003 Taylors opened a 4,500 sqft office in Central Milton Keynes incorporating New and Executive homes specialist departments.

2003 saw Executive Homes open in Luton following success of similar offices within the network together with a formal tie up with John D Wood.

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