Two Centuries of Roofing Finally Come to an End
TWO CENTURIES of roofing finally come to an end as a heritage roofing, cladding, glazing and lead sand casting firm has appointed administrators.
Norman and Underwood Ltd appointed Begbies Traynor Sheffield branch on 13 July 2023 as the business closes its doors.
The prestigious roofing company undertook some highly specialised heritage contracts on the roofs of buildings of national importance. The contractors were entrusted with replacing the lead roofs of Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Dome, Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace and Salisbury Cathedral.
They also installed a secondary glazed roof over a John Nash original 18th century picture gallery roof at the National Trust’s Attingham Park.
Losses
Based in Leicester, the parent company Gallibond Limited reported a £11m turnover in 2021 and pre-tax profit of £40,428. The company’s profitability took a serious dent from losses made by its glazing division during the pandemic period.
In its end of year report, the directors stated they were “reasonably pleased with the financial position of the group… [but] it is disappointing that Norman and Underwood (Glazing Systems) Limited recorded sizeable losses.”
Two Centuries of Roofing
The company, which remained in family ownership for the majority of its two-century history reported in September 2022 that its key risks were securing the highly skilled specialist staff it depended on, as well as contracts that were “at appropriate levels to secure its overhead base”.
In June this year, the business filed a notice of intention to enter administration in an unsuccessful bid to give it enough time to find a buyer.
Norman and Underwood employed 65 staff.
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