Although timber barges no longer come to Benfleet, the company is still well situated relative to the port of Tilbury and the Medway ports.
Mr A J Smith the founder of the business
The Good Old Days .... |
|
In 1897 A.J.Smith
was first established in Bow, London where it remained
until 1944 when the company moved to it's present
location in Benfleet, Essex. At that time barges carrying
timber used to come up Benfleet creek where they were
unloaded, thus making it a good place for the business to
be located. Although timber barges no longer come to Benfleet, the company is still well situated relative to the port of Tilbury and the Medway ports. |
Mr A J Smith the founder of the business |
|
|
In 1950 the
business became a private Limited Company as it remains
to the present day. The current chairman Mr D A Smith is the son of Mr D D Smith, thus the experience of the timber business has been handed down through the generations. |
Mr D D Smith son of A J Smith |
|
|
After the early days when horse and cart was used to deliver timber to it's customers, the business progressed to lorries. The picture shows one of these vehicles loaded ready to make a delivery. |
|
This
surviving accounts document from July 1931, provides
details of some timber sold at the time and the price
paid in Pounds, Shillings and Pence. It shows that competitive pricing has always been important............ 225 ft of 2x4 for 3 Pounds, 5 Shillings and eight pence. |
