HISTORY.

A Family Owned Business Since 1697

Established in 1697, formerly as blacksmiths and latterly as a heavy engineering pioneer during the industrial revolution in the Black Country, Folkes Holdings today remains an entirely family-owned business operating a diverse portfolio of operations, and is now lead by the 9th generation of the Folkes family.

Following the group’s rapid expansion during the industrial revolution, it became listed on the London Stock Exchange in the mid 1900s, during which time it extended its activities to commercial property while continuing to operate its engineering division. The group remained publicly traded until taken private by the Folkes family in 2002, at which point it had initiated its expansion into South Africa.

Folkes today utilises the knowledge and experience gained over three centuries. Our conservative yet dynamic approach to business has successfully enabled our trading and investing activities to realise steady growth over the course of three centuries.

The HISTORY

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1697

Enterprise founded “Lye Forge” as a blacksmith forge on the bank of the River Stour in Lye.

1830

During the Napoleonic Wars the business flourished with high demand for blacksmithed products for artillery.

1881

Somers Forge was awarded a Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria for forging excellence for railway and carriage components.

1914

Lye Forge survived the First World War, altering its status from an individual enterprise to a link in Britain’s war machine, operating 24/7 during this period.

1934

Depressed land value allowed Herbert Folkes to purchase 12 acres where Head Office now sits. The forge was newly equipped with a 4-tonne steam hammer, with Lye going from strength to strength.

1953

Company floated on the LSE and renamed The John Folkes Group. Net worth was £368k. This was also the year the current Chairman and CEO, CJF, was born.

1957

With a growing order book, a further 16-acre site in Kidderminster was purchased for £21k where a new 250,000 sqft factory was built — the only forge built on a greenfield site in the 1900s.

1965

Based in the West Midlands, Express Heat Treatment supplied high-volume and small-batch heat treatment and shot blasting services. Operated 24 hours with strict quality control standards.

1965

The property company was first established as John Folkes Developments. The first acquisition was “The Hayes,” a 21-acre site in Lye, where 300,000 sqft of industrial buildings were created.

1981

John Folkes retires and CJF takes over as the youngest ever Chairman of a public company at only age 28.

1985

Name of company changed to Folkes Group. The group then consisted of 39 companies, rationalised down to 10 during the industrial recession under Margaret Thatcher.

1990

Walter Somers and Clarkes Crankshaft acquired for £10 million — the largest acquisition to date. Tripled forging capacity, opened new markets, and consolidated the UK forging industry.

1994

Forged the largest rock-breaking chisel of its time (25 tonnes), still in service today — a testament to Somers Forge strength and longevity.

1999

Folkes Holdings South Africa PTY established on 16 February 1999, following the success of the UK real estate division.

2000

After modernisation at Somers Forge, Folkes Group had one of the most modern open-die forging facilities in the world. With 2 million sqft of industrial buildings, the group’s net worth exceeded £76 million.

2002

Folkes family de-listed the business from the London Stock Exchange and regained full control.

2006

Hibiscus Mall acquired in Durban.

2009

Acquired a 25,000-acre game farm — Glen Harry Game Reserve — in the Eastern Cape.

2014

Channel Islands office established setting up a wealth management division

2017

SA company made many acquisitions including increasing investment in shopping mall fund Rapfund, to establish majority shareholding and commenced developments in  industrial and tetial sectors.

2020

Total assets are worth £204.8m, constituting £134.4m in the UK, £57.8m in S.A., and £12.6m in the Channel Islands. At this point are the 10th oldest family run firm in the UK with 9th generation running the business.

2022

Somers Forge acquired A&B Richardson Engineering which further increased the machining capacity and capabilities