The Sunderlands Story
The firm originally known as F. H. Sunderland & Co was established in 1862 although prior to that date members of the Sunderland family traded in the city and county of Hereford as Auctioneers, Estate Agents and Valuers.
For the latter part of the 1800’s and the early part of the 1900’s the firm continued to operate and expand taking in members of the Sunderland family who had traded as auctioneers in the city. At the same time they also incorporated the firm of George and his son Walter Pye.
Throughout the 1900’s Sunderlands has, either on its own or in partnership, operated in the sales at Hereford Livestock Market under Licence and Lease from Herefordshire Council.
Throughout the 1920’s the main operations of the firm were carried out by Cyril Duffield who became Sole Proprietor following the death of Frederick Henry Sunderland in the late 1930’s. After the Second World War the business continued to expand throughout the county with livestock markets in both Talgarth and Brecon with associated Land and Estate Agency Offices. In the early 1960’s a new partnership was formed upon the retirement of Mr Duffield. The new partners being Danny Clifton, Michael Duffield, Brian Lambert, Colin Manning and Gilbert Lawrence. Gilbert Lawrence died soon after leaving just the other four partners.
Also at that time there was the amalgamation of the firms of F. H. Sunderland & Co and E Hammond (Hammonds being the licensee for the sale of pigs and calves within the Hereford Livestock Market). This consolidation of the two firms in 1976 created a situation where F. H. Sunderland & Co became the principle auctioneers in Hereford Livestock Market.
F. H. Sunderland & Co moved to their premises in Offa Street in 1963 creating branch offices in Hay-on-Wye, Talgarth, Brecon and Bromyard. In 1985 Graham Baker was taken into the partnership having been with the firm since 1957.
Besides expanding its general business in rural agency the firm of F. H. Sunderland & Co continued to consolidate its livestock market operations entering into a formal agreement to create a new company known as Hereford Market Auctioneers Ltd of which the company now known as Sunderlands has a majority shareholding of 58% with Brightwells Ltd holding the balance.
Following the successive retirement of Danny Clifton, Colin Manning and Brian Lambert the partnership continued with Michael Duffield, Graham Baker, David Probert and John Dillon. In 1994 both Peter Kirby and Richard Hyde joined the partnership and at around the same time Michael Duffield retired, soon followed by David Probert. The partnership of four then continued throughout the 1990’s into the early 2000’s when Graham Baker retired in the year 2004.
Sunderlands has since expanded with the merger with the rural agency Thompsons to become Sunderlands & Thompsons LLP in 2008, and then merging with the management company known as Springfield Management and the well known local commercial agency of Turner & Co.
Following the retirement from the Partnership of both David Thompson and Andrew Lyke, the core partnership now comprises; John Dillon, Richard Hyde, Matthew Nicholls and Tim Reed.
The Company has further expanded to become the sole Auctioneers in Hereford, Talgarth and Builth Wells with phenomenal success. At the same time, the Residential, Rural and Commercial Departments have grown to cover all aspects of professional work throughout the County and beyond.
The trading name has reverted to Sunderlands and will hopefully continue to provide a professional service to all current and future clients.
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