{"id":71,"date":"2015-12-09T07:28:53","date_gmt":"2015-12-09T07:28:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.isb.edu\/centre-for-family-enterprise\/?p=71"},"modified":"2025-12-31T09:45:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T09:45:09","slug":"oldest-surviving-family-business-in-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.isb.edu\/centre-for-family-enterprise\/2015\/12\/09\/oldest-surviving-family-business-in-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Oldest Surviving Family Business in UK"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Professor William O\u2019Hara, in his book \u2018Centuries of Success<\/i>\u2019, asked: \u201cIs there any institution more enduring or universal than a family business?\u201d He himself answered this rhetorical question by stating: \u201cBefore the multinational corporation, there was family business. Before the Industrial Revolution, there was family business. Before the enlightenment of Greece and the empire of Rome, there was family business.\u201d<\/p>\n

As living proof, a shopkeeper in Britain recently celebrated the 500th<\/sup> anniversary of his business. RJ Balson & Sons, the butcher\u2019s shop in Bridport, Dorset is said to be the oldest family company in Britain. They argue that personalized service is the secret behind their longevity, while experts believe that family businesses like these survive, as they stand for creating a legacy rather than making quick profits. A list of the top 10 oldest UK family businesses takes us way back in history.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Ranking<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Business\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n\n

Founded<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

County\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nIndustry\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

1<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

RJ Balson & Son<\/td>\n\n

1515<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Dorset<\/td>\nButchers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

2<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

R Durtnell & Sons<\/td>\n\n

1591<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Kent<\/td>\nBuilders<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

3<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

C Hoare & Co<\/td>\n\n

1672<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

London<\/td>\nBankers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

4<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Mornflake<\/td>\n\n

1675<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Cheshire<\/td>\nMillers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

5<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

James Lock & Co.<\/td>\n\n

1676<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

London<\/td>\nHatters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

6<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Toye, Kenning & Spencer<\/td>\n\n

1685<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

West Midlands<\/td>\nJewelers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

7<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

CPJ Field<\/td>\n\n

1690<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

West Sussex<\/td>\nUndertakers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

8<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Folkes Group<\/td>\n\n

1697<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

West Midlands<\/td>\nProperty developers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

9<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Berry Bros& Rudd<\/td>\n\n

1698<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

London<\/td>\nWine Merchants<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

10<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Shepherd Neame<\/td>\n\n

1698<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Kent<\/td>\nBrewers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Source: <\/i>http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/news\/shopping-and-consumer-news\/11884525\/Britains-oldest-family-business-RJ-Balson-running-since-Tudor-days.html \u00a0<\/i>http:\/\/www.griequity.com\/resources\/industryandissues\/familybusiness\/oldestinworld.html<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Professor William O\u2019Hara, in his book \u2018Centuries of Success\u2019, asked: \u201cIs there any institution more enduring or universal than a family business?\u201d He himself answered this rhetorical question by stating: \u201cBefore the multinational corporation, there was family business. Before the Industrial Revolution, there was family business. Before the enlightenment of Greece and the empire of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nOldest Surviving Family Business in UK - Thomas Schmidheiny Centre for Family Enterprise<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.isb.edu\/centre-for-family-enterprise\/2015\/12\/09\/oldest-surviving-family-business-in-uk\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Oldest Surviving Family Business in UK - Thomas Schmidheiny Centre for Family Enterprise\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Professor William O\u2019Hara, in his book \u2018Centuries of Success\u2019, asked: \u201cIs there any institution more enduring or universal than a family business?\u201d He himself answered this rhetorical question by stating: \u201cBefore the multinational corporation, there was family business. 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