Our Rich History

After working as a surveyor, valuer and Tithe collector for 10 years, Timotheus Burd of Cardeston, West of Shrewsbury wins the instruction for his first management client and is appointed agent for the land of an Oxford University College.

1859 Timotheus Burd’s two sons Henry & Lawrence join him in the business which then became Burd & Sons.

Shrewsbury School where Charles Darwin was a pupil, relocates from School Gardens to Kingsland. The neighbouring building, 1 and 2 School Gardens becomes available, Burd & Evans soon move in.

Formation of Balfour & Cooke – set up by James Cooke & Thomas Balfour who covered Staffordshire & Shropshire.

Windsor House is first occupied by Balfour & Cooke. Balfours would remain in this building for almost 90 years and still own the building today.

The partnership of Benson & Rogers-Coltman is formed by John Benson & Julian Rogers-Coltman who each have the management of various Estates around South Shropshire. An office is established on the ground floor of Market House in Craven Arms, a former Inn, at a rent of £44pa.

Burd & Evans were building a great reputation acting for land owners with race circuits on their Estates. Burd & Evans were actively involved with Brands Hatch, Snetterton & Mallory Park.

Merger of Burd & Evans of School Gardens, Shrewsbury with Balfour & Cooke of Windsor House, Shrewsbury and Benson & Rogers-Coltman of Market House, Craven Arms. The new company had 8 partners, senior partner being Denzil Onslow. The company becomes known as Balfour, Burd & Benson.

The offices in School Gardens are closed gradually with the accounts team moving to Craven Arms and all other staff moving to Windsor House. The firms’ name was simplified to Balfours LLP.

The Shrewsbury based team of a national agency joined Balfours.

Berringtons of Hereford merge with Balfours, extending our reach to cover Herefordshire. We are now covering Wales, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Lincolnshire & have strategically placed offices to cover these areas.

Balfours move to a much more modern & future proof office on the Oxon Business Park & name it ‘New Windsor House’. With ample space & parking it is well received.

The sales team that occupied Windsor House in Shrewsbury move to more central premises in the historic Music Hall in the Square in Shrewsbury.

Another new office opens, this time further down the A49 in Broad Street in Ludlow. This office is an expansion to the estate agency team following their successes in the South Shropshire area.

Balfours has quickly outgrown the Ludlow office and so move to bigger premises in a more prominent position at the top of King Street in the heart of Ludlow. The new premises undergo thorough refurbishment and are big enough to house the team of land agents from Market House in Craven Arms.

New Windsor House, Balfours Head Office is under the ownership of the partners and it is undergoing a thorough refurbishment to make it future proof and eco-friendly. To date these improvements include the installation of solar panels, new windows and doors, and high energy efficient lighting.