Harris & Bailey commenced business in 1912 as a partnership between Alfred Frank Harris and George Henry Bailey.

Harris had previously sold newspapers at the then Addiscombe Station and Bailey was a Gravel Merchant. Premises were rented in the Addiscombe Station goods yard and in 1913 Bailey departed and a limited company was formed. Alfred Harris died in 1935 and shortly afterwards the Peet family acquired 50% of the shareholding.

The Company survived the effects of WW2 and in the 1950’s a newer influence of younger staff joined the company in time for the post war building boom. During 1960 the company managed to purchase the freehold of the Hastings Road premises and by 1966 had completely re-developed the site into a modern warehouse and trade counters. This resulted in a satisfactory increase in turnover and enabled the company to open negotiations for the freehold purchase of the former goods yard site of Addiscombe Station which was satisfactorily completed in 1980.

As it was a former shunting yard a complete rebuilding program was necessary and the company’s staff spent time in the USA, Europe and Scandinavia looking for up to date ideas within our industry. Armed with this information the site was re-developed with a large open warehouse together with ample storage for the heavy side of the business on the periferary together with full ‘drive round’ facilities. It was realised that parking for customers and delivery vehicles was becoming an important issue and because of this foresight over 80 customers’s vehicles can be parked off road. 

The rebuilding program contains many different and modern innovations including a full size sit down Café which was another first for the Builders Merchants industry at that time. Members of the Harris and Peet family still hold an interest in the Company together with members of senior staff many of whom have been with the company since their schooldays.