250th anniversary: Tales from the attic
Alan Williams, Managing Partner of Fenn Wright, tells us about his most recent finds:
“Fenn Wright’s rich history begins in the late 1700s, before evolving into the successful firm we know it as today. John Fenn was the fifth in succession from a family of land and estate agents, and was responsible for inviting George T Wright to join in partnership after the First World War in 1918. It was at this point that the name Fenn Wright emerged.
“Although we now have several branches across Essex and Suffolk, our firm has been trading from Colchester since the early 1800s. We were originally based at 25 Head Street before moving to 146 High Street in 1874, where the office remains to this day.
“Colchester is home to the oldest high street in Britain. Built by the Romans some 2,000 years ago, the main street has remained at the heart of the town. In the ‘70s, most notably was the construction of the Lion Walk shopping precinct, which takes its name from a majestic Roman mosaic. The stunning piece of art, which depicts a lion was discovered during an archaeological dig between 1971 and 1974 and remains on display in the Colchester Castle Museum.
“The population has almost doubled since then, reflecting the town’s increasing popularity. Colchester continues to attract an influx of people with numerous developments underway and lots of opportunities for first time buyers and growing families alike.”