Who we are

History

It was three generations ago at the turn of the century that the Roach family started a joinery works in Earlsfield. The family developed this into a construction company in 1922 under the name of W.R. Roach Ltd and from then until the Second World War the name Roach became synonymous with the construction of modern family housing in the fast developing South London suburbs of Wallington, Purley, Banstead, Kingswood and Worcester Park. In those days, four brothers were involved in the organisation Managing Director Bob Roach led the team with brother Reg designing the houses, Stan running the carpentry and joinery side, and Jim handling the plumbing and heating.

All this came to an end in 1939 when the four brothers became involved in wartime Civil Defence work. In 1946 Reg, the designer, and Jim Roach, the plumber, took up the reins again and launched the present company of Roach Brothers Ltd. In the early post-war days the emphasis was on repairs and reconstruction of bomb damaged buildings. But it was not long before there was a drive for new housing and since that time Roach Brothers Ltd have been making a significant contribution to the South London community, handling many aspects of building work for local authorities, housing associations, commercial concerns, insurance companies as well as private clients. The contracts have ranged from insurance claim repair work on flood and fire damaged houses, to prestige contracts including the remodelling of a Georgian Town House in Chelsea for a multimillionaire. Substantial works have been carried out at the Old Palace School in Croydon on listed and general areas of the school buildings .Important projects in Wallington include the Shotfield Medical Centre providing accommodation and facilities for six doctors.