The History of Marston Properties

Marston Properties is a family-run business established in 1938 and now in its fourth generation of family involvement.

Find out more about Marston Properties and our history using the interactive timeline below.

1895

William James Marston sets up in Fulham

William James Marston sets up as a zinc roofer in Fulham.

Baked beans were first produced, tinned pineapples arrived from Hawaii, x-rays, pasturisation, the first road engine and the motion picture projector were invented.
1900

Zinc and Iron Plate Worker
Zinc and Iron Plate Worker
1901

Queen Victoria dies
Queen Victoria, ruler of the British Empire, dies January 22nd 1901.
1908

The Olympics come to London

The Olympics are held at White City in Hammersmith.
1910

A new premises

A new premises for the company on Wandsworth Bridge Road.
1914-18

The Great War

The Marston family assists Belgian refugees and John W Marston joins up.
1923

Stephendale Road

Company acquires new premises in Stephendale Road SW6
1929

The Great Depression

The world economy enters the Great Depression, which lasts into the late 1930s.
1931

Sports Pavilion Regents Park

The Company builds the Sports Pavilion in Regents Park.
1932

The Lillywhites
The Company football team 'The Lillywhites'
1933

Electricity board showrooms
Marston were contracted by the electricity company to build showrooms in Fulham Broadway which are still used by London Electricity today.
1935

Magdalen Park Estate
The construction and sale of 71 houses at the Magdalen Park Estate on a greenfield site close to Wandsworth Common.
1935

Fulham Town Hall
The Company works on the extension of Fulham Town Hall
1936

Fulham Maternity Home
In 1936 Marston won the tender to build Fulham Maternity Home in Parsons Green. This was a very large contract for Marston and all the foundations were dug by hand. The hospital contract helped Marston achieve its biggest annual profit.
1940

W J Marston dies
William James Marston dies aged 74. The funeral service at Dawes Road Congregational Church was attended by 3 former mayors.
1939 - 1945

World War ll
The world is at war but business continues.
1941

Building air raid shelters
The Company works on building air raid shelters, whilst most of the staff are enlisted.
1945

Rebuilding After The War
World War II is over and the reparations begin and last for many years.
1946

Houses in Hythe
Marston's win opportunity to build homes in Hythe
1947

Hotel Imperial
Marston acquire the Hotel Imperial in Hythe, Kent.
1951

Festival of Britain
Festival of Britain held on the South Bank.
1954

Rationing Ends
Nine years after the end of the war there is a welcome end to rationing.
1955

Browning Estate
Work on the Browning Estate a large housing scheme for the London County Council begins.
1956

Bousfield School
Marston builds London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Bousfield School, now a listed building.
1960

Open air theatre
Marston builds Bishops park open air theatre, the project is a ground breaking piece of engineering.
1962

Richmond Swimming Baths
Marston take on the construction of Richmond Swimming Baths, which is now a listed building.
1965

First £500k project
Marston contracted its first £500,000 project on land purchased by J W Marston. LCC abolished & Hammersmith and Fulham formed.
1966

More contracts
Marston take on an educational building contract for the Oratory School.
1967

Tottenham Hale Station
Marston win contracts to construct Tottenham Hale Station, 75 flats for Richmond Borough Council and two more contracts for educational buildings.
1968

The Plough Brewery
Marston acquire The Plough Brewery in Clapham.
1971

Concorde takes to the air
Concorde makes her first supersonic flight and decimalisation is introduced.
1971

Marston's third hotel
1971 sees the construction and opening of Marston's third hotel - the 75 bed Hogarth Hotel, SW5.
1978

Winter of Discontent
Widespread strikes by local authority trade unions, blizzards and deep snow add to people's misery.
1980

St Mary's Church
Marston win the contract to rebuild St Mary's Church, Putney Bridge.
1981

Marlin House
Marlin House development of 28 flats is completed.
1984

Tideway Yard
Refurbishment of the old Richmond Borough Councils' repair and maintenance depot on the Thames at Mortlake to create 40 B1 units.
1985

Coombe Hill Stables
Six homes developed in Kingston
1988

Tideway Wharf
Tideway Wharf – 18 apartments on the river at Mortlake.
1989

Bridgewood Manor Hotel
Marston's latest hotel is opened by the Tourism Minister John Lee.
1989

The internet is born
Tim Berners-Lee invents the World Wide Web.
1989

Cavalry Gardens
29 houses developed in Putney incorporating communal swimming pool, sauna and sun patio.
1990

Marston Hotels formed
It was decided to expand the Hotel Company and Marston Hotels was formed.
1991

5 Colinette Road SW15
Award-winning flat conversion.
1991

Lancaster Mews
16 new homes built
1993

Coulsdon Manor
The hotel company continued to prosper with the acquisition of Coulsdon Manor, a 35 room hotel set in 140 acres of parkland - complete with golf course.
1994

Knaresborough Place SW5
Conversion of nursing home in to affordable apartments
1995

WJ Marston & Son Ltd celebrates centenary
Construction of Stratford Manor complete. Barings bank collapses due to a rogue trader.
1995

Swindon Covered Market
Swindon Covered Market
1995

First UK Lidl
Construction of the first UK based Lidl
1996

Tun Yard completed
Tun Yard completed
1997

Royal College of Organists
Conversion of the former Royal College of Organists into private dwelling. End of the British Empire on the hand over of Hong Kong.
1998

Oxford Belfry
Oxford Belfry purchased. W J Marston & Son last contract.
2001

Purchase of 51 Derbyshire Street
Purchase of 51 Derbyshire Street and conversion in to 11 B1 units.
2003

Business Unit Conversion
Purchase of 27 Ackmar Road Parsons Green and conversion in to 13 B1 units.
2006

Carlton Square
Completion of 47 apartments at Carlton Square SW15
2006

Sale of Marston Hotels
Sale of Marston Hotels (16 hotels). Marston's hotels and its Reflections health and leisure brand is acquired by the nine-strong QHotels group.
2008

Marston Properties celebrates 70 years
Marston Properties celebrates 70 years with a party at Fulham Palace.
2009

World Recession
World recession follows banking crisis.
2010

Eardley Crescent
Eardley Crescent conversion from offices in to 5 apartments
2011

New Kings Road
Former Club converted to 6 flats and a new pre-prep school