Mowlem
 |
|
| Industry |
Construction Business services |
|---|---|
| Fate | Acquired |
| Successor | Carillion |
| Founded | 1822 |
| Defunct | 2006 |
| Headquarters | London, UK |
|
Key people
|
Joe Darby, (Chairman) Sir John Gains, (CEO) |
|
Number of employees
|
25,600 |
Mowlem was one of the largest construction and civil engineering companies in the United Kingdom. Carillion bought the firm in 2006.
The firm was founded by John Mowlem in 1822, and was continued as a partnership by successive generations of the Mowlem and Burt families, including George Burt, and Sir John Mowlem Burt.
The company was awarded a Royal Warrant in 1902 and went public on the in 1924. A long-standing national contractor, Mowlem developed a network of regional contracting businesses including Rattee & Kett of Cambridge (bought in 1926); E. Thomas of the west country (bought in 1965); Ernest Ireland of Bath; and the formation of a northern region in 1970. During the Second World War the company was one of the contractors engaged in building the Mulberry harbour units.
Mowlem acquired SGB Group, a supplier of scaffolding, in 1986. Mowlem also bought Unit Construction in 1986, giving the firm a substantial presence in private housebuilding - within two years, sales were up to an annual rate of 1,200. The ensuing recession led to losses of over £180m between 1991 and 1993 and banking covenants came under pressure. The housing division was sold to Beazer in 1994.
Mowlem was bought by Carillion in February 2006.
Major projects undertaken by or involving Mowlem in the 19th century included Billingsgate Fish Market completed in 1874,Smithfield Fruit Market completed in 1882, the Imperial Institute completed in 1887, the Woolwich Ferry terminals, opened in 1889, and Liverpool Street station and the Great Eastern Hotel completed in 1891.
Major projects undertaken by or involving Mowlem in the first half of the 20th century included the Institution of Civil Engineers completed in 1911,Admiralty Arch completed in 1912, the Port of London Authority Building completed in 1919,Bush House completed in 1923, the London Post Office Railway completed in 1927,Piccadilly Circus tube station completed in 1928,Battersea Power Station completed in 1933, the reconstruction works at Buckingham Palace in 1943 following bomb damage and the reconstruction of the House of Commons in 1947 also following bomb damage.
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Wikipedia