Barnsdales History
Barnsdales was founded in 1905 and remains an independent practice of residential and commercial property consultants and Chartered Surveyors.
Barnsdales Ltd commenced trading as a residential practice trading as C Barnsdale, in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The practice was run by Charlie Barnsdale, FNAA and he was joined by his son Fred Barnsdale, FSVA in the 1930’s and began trading as C Barnsdale & Son, they then expanded the business into Scunthorpe trading as Barnsdale Layfield & Co which also operated as accountants. Fed's sister Norah Barnsdale also worked in the business for a short while.
In 1959, Fred’s son, Malcolm Barnsdale, FRICS, joined the business and he was joined by his brother Butch Barnsdale, FNAEA in the 1970’s after her returned from working in hospitality in London. The business established a commercial department in the 1980’s which quickly expanded. Malcolm Barnsdale took over as senior partner in the 1980’s following the retirement of Fred. Malcolm guided the business through a period of radical transformation in the 1980's with the opening of numerous satellite residential offices around Doncaster and Lincolnshire.
The business then went on to acquire the following businesses:
- Arthur Brown in Doncaster in 1980
- Earnest Wilson & Sons in Doncaster in the late 1980's
- North's in Hatfield in the late 1990's
- Bridge Estates in Doncaster in 2008
Butch Barnsdale retired in 2004 and Malcolm Barnsdale retired two years later staying on as a consultant for one final year until the business was joined by Jason Barnsdale, MRICS moving back from London at the end of 2007. Jason then bought out two other partners of the business and set about modernising and rebranding the business converting to a Limited company in 2009. This business also moved its Doncaster office from its traditional home of almost 100 years!
Under Jason Barnsdale’s leadership the business expanded with the moving of the Scunthorpe office to Lincoln in 2013 and the opening of the Sheffield office in 2008. At the same time the numerous satellite residential offices were closed.
In 2012 the business expanded further, introducing a property auction business and branding this as Regional Property Auctioneers in 2014 and the creation of a Facilities Management business initially in Manchester in 2015 before moving this to the Doncaster Head Office a few years later.
In the period between 2018 and 2022 the business acquired the following business to accelerate its expansion into a truly UK wide business:
- David Allberry & Co in Cirencester,
- Bridge Property Management in Rotherham
- Blake Property Management in Aylesbury
- Marriotts Commercial in Nottingham
- Martyn Stubbs Chartered Surveyors in Nottingham
These acquisitions created offices in Cirencester and Nottingham which continue to this day. In 2023 the business opened a Bristol office and a London office in Covent Garden.
The business created a Group structure in 2024, Barnsdales Group Holdings as part of its continued expansion strategy whilst simplifying reporting and accountability.
(pictured; Charlie Barnsdale at Doncaster Races, Friday 23rd June 1933)