History
We have a rich history and our origins can be traced back to the middle of the nineteenth century. From beginnings as a two-partner firm, we have grown over 160 years to become the largest professional property consultancy and management service practicing in the rural sector.
The story so far ...
In 1847, John Pickering, a sole practitioner, was joined in partnership by Edmund James Smith to form Pickering & Smith. Surviving records indicate that they employed a staff of six and the business was based at 14 Whitehall Place in London.
In 1851 Pickering and Smith were appointed Agents and Receivers to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for their Northern Receivership. We are immensely proud that this client relationship still exists today.
The Darlington office opened in 1863 under the management of John Eivers and it continues to play a pivotal role in land and property management services in the north of England.
Cash book records from 1864 demonstrate that staff numbers had doubled to twenty-four in less than twenty years. At this time the firm became known as Smith & Watkins.
Robert Watkins died in 1874 paving the way for Edmund Smith to admit his son, Charles John Smith, to the partnership along with Spencer William Gore, his son-in-law.
In 1877 Spencer Gore was the first winner of the Men’s Singles Championship at Wimbledon! He won the match in 50 minutes and commented afterwards: “Lawn Tennis is a bit boring. It will never catch on.”
The firm also changed its name in this year from Smith & Watkins to Smiths & Gore.
In 1879 Edmund Smith was selected by the Government to act as their representative in the purchase of the existing interests of the London Water Companies. In 1880 the provisional agreements became the subject of a Parliamentary Enquiry – a period of excessive strain for Smith resulting in a brief illness and his death in July 1880.
During the period from 1891 – 1895, Mr Dale was admitted to the partnership and he was joined later by Henry Law Ingram when the firm was known as Smiths, Gore, Dale & Ingram.
Following various changes of personnel within the partnership, the firm underwent two further name changes; in 1895 the firm became known as Smiths, Gore, Ingram & Norton and in 1904 the firm changed name again to Smiths, Gore, Norton & Co.
In 1914 Henry Edward Sherwin and Edmund Christopher Baynham were made up to Partner resulting in the Firm adopting the title Smiths, Gore & Co.
Charles Herbert Sample, a rugby player of some repute representing both Cambridge and England, joined the Partnership in 1922. Sample was one of a few who was invited to represent both England and Scotland at international level.
The effect of the First World War saw the value of agricultural land increase dramatically.
The introduction of the Law of Property Acts of 1922 and 1925 brought about much burning of the midnight oil. Indeed over seven thousand separate valuations were eventually submitted by the Partners to the Church Commissioners, following which they disposed of 24,000 acres.
The Firm celebrated its centenary on December 19th 1947 with a Dinner at Church House.
In March 1948 an office was opened in the Minster Precincts in Peterborough and, 20 years later, the Firm’s administration and accounting teams were moved from London to Peterborough creating the Firm’s central administration function where it remains to this day.
The year also marked the Ecclesiastical Commissioners amalgamation with Queen Anne’s Bounty to become the Church Commissioners for England.
Over the last 25 years, the Partnership of Smiths Gore has expanded with further offices opened throughout England and Scotland in part through the incorporation of other small practices. Smiths Gore offices were also opened on new estates managed previously by the Firm to service the growing client base, where resident agents had been employed previously.
In 2008, the rural division of Cluttons was merged into Smiths Gore resulting in the opening of new offices and the transfer of 46 staff and three equity partners. We now operate from 25 offices and 18 estate offices across the UK confirming our position as market leader in the rural sector.