Beesley & Fildes, a company that has stood the test of time, was founded in 1820 by 21-year-old Robert Beesley — who broke from family tradition in a bold way. While his forebears were professional beer tasters, Robert chose a different path, establishing himself as a master painter, plumber, and glazier in Prescot.

 

From there, the business grew steadily through generations:

 

By 1841, Robert Beesley’s son, James, joined the family business. After nearly fifty years at the same location, James decided it was time to move the business to a new site. This additional space allowed him to expand the range of products and services offered, even selling to other tradesmen in the vicinity.

 

In 1887, the business was passed down to his sons, Joseph and William. After World War I, William’s son, William-Joseph, who had been injured during his service, invited his brother-in-law, the expert craftsman and grainer James Fildes, to join him. Pooling their gratuity money, they expanded the business, and thus the Beesley & Fildes name was born.

 

In 1947, the business welcomed William’s sons, Jack and Bill, into its fold. Then, in the 1980s, after Bill retired, Jack was joined by his three sons, John, Paul, and Gerard, further solidifying the family’s commitment to the business. The year 1987 marked a significant expansion for the company with the opening of a new yard in Huyton, featuring a purpose-built timber yard and mill.

 

This growth continued with new yards in Liverpool in 1995, Birkenhead in 1997, and Chester and Prestatyn in 1999. The turn of the millennium brought even more developments. In 2000, a new dedicated plumbers and tile merchants and a bathroom showroom were opened at the Liverpool depot, importing tiles directly from Spain and Italy.

 

By 2003, a new roofing centre had been constructed in Huyton, and a new branch was acquired in Warrington. The Prestatyn branch was sold in 2004, and Colin Myers Timber Ltd was purchased the same year. By 2006, the extensive refurbishment of the Colin Myers Timber site was completed, a new roofing centre was added to the Warrington depot, and James Whitakers Garden Centre in Prescot was acquired.

 

Beesley & Fildes began spreading out through Greater Manchester, acquiring Radcliffe Building Supplies in 2015 and CSS Builders Merchants in Walkden and Antony Axfords Timber Site in Swinton in 2019.

 

Most recently, Beesley & Fildes has ventured into the Specialist Timber Service, which has seen tremendous success. This prompted the creation of a separate website dedicated to specialist timber, catering to all needs for cladding, hardwood decking, slatted screens, and the finest Canadian Certigrade Western Cedar shingles.

 

From a single shop in Prescot to a regional network, our story is one of resilience, innovation, and family commitment. Nearly two centuries on, we’re still growing — and still grounded in the values Robert Beesley embodied.