W. & C. French
| Company type | Public company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Civil engineering |
| Founded | 1870 |
| Defunct | November 6, 1973 |
| Successor | Kier Group |
| Headquarters | 50 Epping New Road, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, IG9 5TH |
Area served | UK, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Malawi, Spain |
| Services | Road construction |
W. & C. French, also known just as French, was a civil engineering company based at Buckhurst Hill in south-west Essex.
History
[edit]The business of Messrs W. and C. French was established by William French and his brother Charles French in 1870.[1]
Second World War
[edit]In the Second World War it constructed many RAF airfields and also built Mulberry harbour units.[2]
Public company
[edit]On 19 September 1949 it became a public company, when the Chairman of the company was Charles Samuel French, the son of William French. Another director was Brigadier John Linnaeus French CB CBE (18 November 1896 - 12 March 1953), a former commander of Colchester Garrison, and brother of Charles. Its transport depot was at Loughton. They had other depots at Colchester and Wisbech and carried out most of its work in East Anglia. The company was acquired by Kier Group in 1973.[3]
Major projects
[edit]
- The Coronation Channel at Spalding, Lincolnshire on the River Welland completed in 1953[4]
- BOAC maintenance depot (now British Airways) at Heathrow Airport completed in 1955[5]
- London Heliport completed in 1959[6]
- The first two miles of the Piccadilly Line Heathrow extension, in the early 1970s[7]
- New facilities at New Hall, Cambridge completed in 1965[8]
Reservoirs
[edit]- Hanningfield Reservoir completed in 1957[9]
- Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir (Walton South Reservoir) completed in 1962[10]
- Grafham Water completed in 1965[11]
- Wraysbury Reservoir completed in 1971[12]
- Covenham Reservoir completed in 1978[13]
Roads
[edit]- A12 Brentwood bypass completed 1965[14][15]
- A47 King's Lynn southern bypass completed 1975[16][17]
- M18 Thurcroft (M1) to Wadworth (A1 M) completed 1967[18]
- M6 Carnforth to Farleton completed 1970[19]
- M6 Farleton to Killington completed 1970[19]
- M62 Pole Moor to Outlane completed 1970[20]
- M4 Wootton Bassett to Liddington completed 1971[21]
- M62 Outlane to Hartshead completed 1972[22]
- M62 Pollington to Rawcliffe completed 1975[23]
- M23 Hooley to Merstham completed 1975[24]
- M11 Redbridge to Loughton completed 1975[24]
- A12 Ufford to Wickham Market completed 1976[24]
Airfields
[edit]- RAF Alconbury
- RAF Balderton
- RAF Bassingbourn
- RAF Boxted
- RAF Debden
- RAF Downham Market
- RAF Earls Colne
- RAF Graveley
- RAF Knettishall
- RAF Langham
- RAF Mildenhall
- RAF Rivenhall
- RAF Thurleigh
- RAF Wyton
References
[edit]- ^ "Allan George French". The Bancroftian Network. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ Hartcup, p. 94
- ^ "Colin Busby". Building. 2001. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
- ^ "The River Welland major improvement scheme" (PDF). South Holland Life. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ "BOAC maintenance headquarters". Engineering Times. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ "Westland Heliport Opening" (PDF). British Universities Film and Video Council. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ Times Thursday March 11 1971, page 20
- ^ "New Hall Archives". Janus. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ "Hanningfield Facts". Essex & Suffolk Water. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008.
- ^ Historic England. "Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir (1464683)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ "Buckden: A Huntingdonshire Village". p. 154. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ "The Queen Mother Reservoir, Datchet" (PDF). Ground Engineering. October 1976. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ "British construction projects". Manchester University. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ Times Wednesday March 11 1964, page 22
- ^ "News and views – Brentwood by-pass opens". Autocar: 1158. 26 November 1965.
- ^ Lynn Advertiser Friday 7 April 1972, page 1
- ^ Lynn Advertiser Friday 17 March 1972, page 1
- ^ "Thurcroft to Wadworth". Motorway Archive. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ a b "Bridges on the M6 Motorway" (PDF). Concrete Quarterly. January 1971. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ "Pole Moor to Outlane". Motorway Archive. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ Times Thursday January 13 1972
- ^ "Outlane to Hartshead". Motorway Archive. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ "Pollington to Rawcliffe". Motorway Archive. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ a b c "Construction contracts". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 8 July 1975. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
Sources
[edit]- Hartcup, Guy (2011). Code Name Mulberry: The Planning Building and Operation of the Normandy Harbours. Pen & Sword Military. ISBN 978-1848845589.
Categories:
- Construction and civil engineering companies of England
- Companies based in Essex
- Epping Forest District
- Construction and civil engineering companies established in 1931
- British companies disestablished in 1973
- 1931 establishments in England
- 1973 disestablishments in England
- British companies established in 1931
- Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange
- 1973 mergers and acquisitions
- Construction and civil engineering companies established in 1870
- British companies established in 1870