Downham Market’s Barker Bros DIY store celebrates 75 years of serving residents

Barker Bros, the old-established Downham builders, builders merchants and DIY store, has come a long way since brothers Ben and John set up the business with just one handbarrow and a small assortment of tools.

From modest beginnings, the company has developed over the past 75 years into a multi-million-pound enterprise owning property in the market town, including a popular self-service launderette.

Barker Bros were particularly known for building the extensive Trafalgar Estate of detached bungalows - the estate often being referred to as the Barker Bros bungalows.

This week, bunting and balloons have gone up outside its traditional white-fronted premises fronting the Green on Railway Road, in celebration of its three-quarters of a century of trading.

The premises attract many admiring comments in summer for its colourful and abundant displays of hanging baskets for which staff member Andrew Bunn is largely responsible.

A range of special events have been staged as company director Louis Barker, son of the late Tom Barker, paid tribute to the loyal staff and customers who have continued to support the firm.

Louis said: "We are delighted to be celebrating our 75th anniversary and would like to thank our many customers who continue to support us."

He added: "Over the years we have employed many people, all of whom have been integral to where we are now.

“We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the part they have all played in our success.”

Looking back to its humble beginnings, Louis told of how on May 15 1949, Ben and John Barker set up business together as jobbing builders with Tom Barker keeping the records.

"Their equipment consisted of a few small tools and one handbarrow and their first contract was painting a house,” he said.

“For this, they were paid £4 and were also given two second-hand ladders. After the first few years, Tom joined the firm full-time working as a labourer.”

At first, their yard was at the family home at 84 Bexwell Road but as the business grew they moved to the Swan Hotel yard, then to the old Co-op Coal yard in Paradise Road and finally in 1862 to the present premises at The Green.

In 1960 Ben Barker left the business to start up a new company on his own.

During the 60s, the company continued to grow to a size where they were building a hundred houses (including the Trafalgar Estate bungalows) each year.

On the back of this success, Tom and John diversified into other fields as and when opportunities arose. By the early 1970s, they owned a builders merchants, a ready-mix concrete business, a sand and gravel business, a farming operation, a launderette and holiday chalets.

In his retirement years, Tom shared his passionate interest in the local history of Downham, giving his illustrated talks to numerous school groups, societies and clubs in the town.

As to the future, the outlook looks bright with a recently completed project to fully computerise the point-of-sale and stock systems.

The team says they are proud to live by the company’s maxim of its premises on The Green being a "proper shop selling proper things".

Louis said that the late brothers Tom and John built Barker Bros literally from nothing.

"This week, as we celebrate our 75th anniversary, we consider it an honour to expand and develop their legacy,” he said.