About Us

The History of Beesley and Fildes

A customer-driven independent builder’s merchant, we have 10 branches in the North West of England, along with an online ordering facility and delivery service that enables us to serve customers throughout the UK.

We are experts in building materials across a wide variety of trades, including construction, civil engineering, landscaping, joinery, plumbing & heating, kitchens and bathrooms and roofing.

Our branch teams have the knowledge and experience to advise you on product choices, while our product specialists engage with suppliers to ensure we consistently offer the widest range of quality building products at competitive prices.

Since our first branch was established by Robert Beesley in Prescot in 1820, we have remained a family business and, as we have grown, we have continued to offer the service you’d expect from a local builder’s merchant, with the capabilities of a regional network.

Our customers trust us to deliver on our values across everything we do:

We provide quality – we select the people and products that ensure we consistently exceed your expectations

We offer value – we’re committed to offering you the best solutions to meet the needs of your project and your budget

We strive for better – we constantly seek opportunities for continuous improvement

We build relationships – we take a partnership approach to working with you

We are reliable – we focus on delivering an excellent customer experience and keeping our promises

We value people – we nurture an environment where every member of the team is respected and rewarded

A brief history of Beesley & Fildes - Specialist Timber

Established in 1820, Beesley & Fildes has evolved from a small enterprise into an influential business over nearly two centuries. In the 1820s, 21-year-old Robert Beesley broke tradition by becoming a master painter, plumber, and glazier, setting up a shop in Prescot.In 1841, James Beesley joined the family business, and later moved it to a new location for expansion. After his death in 1887, the business was passed down to his sons, Joseph and William.

Following World War I, William-Joseph and his brother-in-law, James Fildes, expanded the business using their gratuity money, and the Beesley & Fildes name was born.In 1947, the business welcomed William's sons, Jack and Bill, into its fold. Then, in the 1980s, after Bill retired, Jack was joined by his three sons, John, Paul, and Gerard, further solidifying the family's commitment to the business.

The year 1987 marked a significant expansion for the company with the opening of a new yard in Huyton, featuring a purpose-built timber yard and mill. This growth continued with new yards in Liverpool in 1995, Birkenhead in 1997, and Chester and Prestatyn in 1999.

The turn of the millennium brought even more developments. In 2000, a new dedicated plumbers and tile merchants and a bathroom showroom were opened at the Liverpool depot, importing tiles directly from Spain and Italy. In 2001, HSS Agency Hire Shops were established at the Huyton and Prestatyn branches. By 2003, a new roofing centre had been constructed in Huyton, and a new branch was acquired in Warrington.

The Prestatyn branch was sold in 2004, and Colin Myers Timber Ltd was purchased the same year. By 2006, the extensive refurbishment of the Colin Myers Timber site was completed, a new roofing centre was added to the Warrington depot, and James Whitakers Garden Centre in Prescot was acquired. Beesley & Fildes began spreading out through Greater Manchester, acquiring Radcliffe Building Supplies in 2015 and CSS Builders Merchants in Walkden and Antony Axfords Timber Site in Swinton in 2019.Most recently, Beesley & Fildes has ventured into the Specialist Timber Service, which has seen tremendous success.

This prompted the creation of a separate website dedicated to specialist timber, catering to all needs for cladding, hardwood decking, slatted screens, and the finest Canadian Certigrade Western Cedar shingles.Reflecting on the 1820s, when young Robert Beesley chose to forgo the family tradition of ale testing to strike out on his own, it is unlikely he could have envisioned that the company he founded would be passed down through the generations and continue to thrive nearly two hundred years later.

Our expert timber team at Beesley & Fildes ensures top-notch high-quality cladding, slatted screen fencing, decking, and shingles sourced responsibly from trusted companies worldwide. With vast industry experience, we cater to projects of all sizes, providing expert advice to professionals and enthusiasts.

Please e-mail customer services for more details on Prices, Stock & Delivery.