The story
Early history
The company was founded as a partnership in 1882 by two brothers, Henry Thomas Holloway and Henry Holloway, at Queen's Road in Battersea; this was a consequence of their elder brother James refusing to take them into partnership. In 1889, on the death of James, they took on the business and obligations of the building and construction firm founded by him in 1875 and then based in Marmion Road Lavender Hill. This reunited their father Thomas, and surviving brothers, John and Samuel, in a single family firm. James had already obtained significant contracts for buildings including Battersea Library and Public Baths and the completion of these gave the firm an important boost leading to the winning of major public contracts including Chatham Naval Barracks (1897–1902).
Key dates from 1900
1899 move to Victoria Wharf, Belvedere Road Westminster.
1901 creation of the 'Steel Office' under the structural engineer T Aubrey Watson.
1902 becomes private limited company. Opens a branch at 43 South Audley St Mayfair (still trading as Holloway White Allom) to undertake high quality decoration and maintenance work.
1905 licenses the Hennebique system of reinforced concrete construction from L G Mouchel. This led to a rapid expansion of the company's civil engineering work and the winning of contracts for major projects such as the General Post Office building (1907).
1912 company reorganisation. Holloway Brothers (London) Limited created to undertake the construction activities of the firm with the original company renamed as Holloways Properties Limited.
1915 move to Bridge Wharf (later 157) Millbank on compulsory purchase of Victoria Wharf by the London County Council as the site for the new County Hall. Joinery works move to Magdalen Rd Earlsfield, stonemasonry to Thessaly Rd Nine Elms.
1917 Newcastle upon Tyne branch opened (closed 1932, reopened 1954).
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1934 recruits technical staff from the defunct London office of the bridge department of Dorman, Long of Middlesbrough. This enabled the company to take on steel bridge construction to complement their expertise in reinforced concrete bridges.
1942 expands into open cast mining. Nottingham office opened.
1946 acquires interest in Dene quarry at Cromford Derbyshire which then traded as Dene Quarries (Derbyshire) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary.
1957 forms association with John Laing & Son whilst remaining an independent company.
1960 acquires White Allom Limited, a business led by Sir Charles White Allom, antiques advisor and interior decorator to King George V and Queen Mary.
1964 acquired by John Laing & Son.
1968 Holloway White Allom begins to trade as separate subsidiary.
2002 Management buyout of Holloway White Allom.
2011 Holloway White Allom placed in administration and is closed.
From Wikipedia’s article on Holloway Brothers (London), shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3