Former type Public company Services Road construction Successor Kier Group | Industry Civil engineering Founded 1870 Defunct 6 November 1973 | |
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Area served UK, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Malawi, Spain Headquarters Buckhurst Hill, United Kingdom | ||
W. & C. French, also known just as French was a civil engineering company based at Buckhurst Hill in south-west Essex.
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History
The business of Messrs W. and C. French was established by William French and his brother Charles French in 1870.
Second World War
In the Second World War it constructed many RAF airfields and also built Mulberry harbour units.
Public company
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.