The History of Farebrother

Farebrother & London

Farebrother has provided a comprehensive property service in central London since 1799 and helped shape today's Capital.

It is impossible to recount Farebrother's story without interweaving the history of London and that of Chartered surveying as a profession. The Farebrother story includes Lord Byron, John Galsworthy's Forsyte Saga, London's grand theatres, The Coliseum and Royal Court, as well as just about any building that has stood in Midtown. Farebrother has also, so far, contributed three Lord Mayors in its history.

Despite over 200 years' trading in central London, expertise and local knowledge must be fresh and insightful. Farebrother continues to be a strong and successful company.

The Farebrother Timeline

1799 Founder Charles Farebrother signs his deed of apprenticeship, paying two shillings and sixpence to Joseph Brasbridge, a silversmith and cutler of 98 Fleet Street, London, now the Punch Tavern.

1833 Charles Farebrother becomes Lord Mayor of London.

1830-1900 Similarly, railways provides more business for Charles Farebrother and his successors, Frederick Clark and John Whittaker Ellis.

1850-75 Victorian boom leads to significant growth in commercial property. Auctioneers Farebrother, Clark and Lye have an annual turnover of approximately £1 million.

1907 Farebrother sells The London Coliseum.

1913 Farebrother-Ellis sells the premises that the Company currently occupies, 1 Pemberton Row.

1920s The Company responds to changes in society by selling large estates and country houses such as Stowe House, Buckingham and Somerton Court, Somersetshire.

1931 Farebrother's association with theatres and theatreland continues with the selling of Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square.

Post-1945 War prompts a focus on City and Holborn commercial property with major country house sales continuing into the 1950s.

1950s Farebrother assembles Lowndes Square Estate in Knightsbridge and has managed it ever since on behalf of Sun Life.

1986 ‘Big Bang' raises demand for office space in Central London.

1987 ‘Black Monday' causes office rents to fall significantly. The two events prompt Farebrother to lead research into the relationship between supply and demand for the first time.

1990s The Midtown market continues to grow. The Company acts for BT as telecoms markets tighten.

2006 In a key deal, Farebrother buys CAA House, one of the largest office buildings in the centre of London, for £140m.

2007 Client success in Midtown markets leads Farebrother to increase activity in further centre of London areas, particularly Southbank and Covent Garden.

Farebrother 1799 - 1999. A Property Business over Two Hundred Years by John Butland Smith is available from booksellers (ISBN 1900289 23 7). Free copies are available.

For further information or if you would like to receive a copy of the book, please contact the marketing team on 020 7855 3530.

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