NottinghamLIFE: Notts business celebrating 150th anniversary

 

FROM airports to rugby pitches, construction specialist and one of Nottingham’s oldest family firms, Thomas Bow, is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.

The business has a long and successful history beginning in 1867 when Lawrence Bow left troubled Ireland to lay down roots in Nottingham. The firm began with Bow whitewashing factory walls and has evolved into one of the country’s most prominent civil engineering firms.

Originally set up in Lamartine Street, St Ann’s, the business was named after Thomas, Bow’s son, and the name has survived to become one of the few old family firms still operating in the city today.

The firm has constructed some of Nottingham’s most distinguished landmarks, such as the Trent Building, the former branch of Barclays Bank in the Old Market Square and the Raleigh factory extension which was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1952. It has also been responsible for providing thousands of homes across Nottingham.

Currently based in Middleton Street, Lenton, Thomas Bow is being led by sixth generation managing director and chairman Alistair Bow who is incredibly proud of his company and family history.

He said: “The firm’s history began 150 years ago, and its impact across the city has been vast. Anywhere you drive in Nottingham there are Thomas Bow buildings and roads and it gives me a great sense of pride.”

More recent projects have included the regeneration of the former Texaco and Esso oil depot site on the Colwick Industrial Estate and, following the acquisition of City Asphalt in 2012, the £10m contract to surface the second phase of the Nottingham tram system.

Alistair added: “Today Thomas Bow employs around 100 people with civil engineering and highway surfacing as our primary business. We put a big focus on social responsibility and supporting our local community. We want to have a real positive impact in the area and try to give back as much as we can, for example, we are heavily involved in local sponsorship with the likes of Nottingham Rugby.

“We have a very proud history in Nottingham and marking 150 years in business is a really significant milestone for us. Therefore, we would love to hear from those people who have worked for the business over the years.”

To mark the 150th anniversary, the company would like to hear from former employees to help enlarge the Bow archive. If you once worked for Thomas Bow & Company contact Jean Bryden on 0115 924 4555 or jean.bryden@thomasbow.com