Fox Brothers Established 1932
1930
1930
Fox Brothers were founded in 1932 by Jack Fox. The first few months of the company saw Jack and his brothers working together before Jack took full ownership of the company – Hence the name ‘Fox Bros’. The early days of the company saw Jack Fox operating 2 to 3 wagons out of the now-former brickworks buildings at Hoo Hill, Layton.
1940
1940’s
Jack Fox’s son, Harold Fox (HF) known to many as Barney joined the company to work alongside his father after leaving the merchant navy. This was around the mid-1940s after serving on several merchant ships including the Empire Flint, City of Durham and Evagoras. After the war, the company quickly expanded, opportunities presented themselves with acquisitions of land through British Rail and additional tipper wagons and plant machinery bought from the exiting Americans. This also led to one of the company’s first big jobs working on one of the runways at RAF Burtonwood in 1946
1950
1950’s
In 1956 Fox Brothers became a limited company, ‘Fox Bros Blackpool Ltd’
A strong mutual respect between the owners and employees had created a family orientated and hard-working ethos for the company allowing more growth and success. Many employees were ex-military, some even POW, it was important to HF that they were looked after, taken on as gardening staff or working in the office if no longer able to do the more laborious tasks.
1960
1960’s
Fox Brothers added housebuilders to their services, acquiring land in the years 1961/62 by the side of the Lancaster canal running through Garstang. Here they built a housing estate consisting of between 20-40 houses and then went on to build houses across Fylde, Wyre, Gr Eccleston and other parts of Lancashire.
Mid 60s also saw Fox Brothers become involved in works on the Preston New Road dual carriageway, another big landmark job for the company. This also led to one of the company’s first big jobs working on one of the runways at RAF Burtonwood in 1946.
1970
1970’s
The 70s oversaw crane hire services being offered by Fox Brothers, with the first telescopic cranes 120T Coles bought in 1968 and subsequently hired out long term to ICI. At the height of business, Fox Brothers was operating and hiring out up to 17 telescopic cranes. Fox Brother’s operator’s licence increased with the gradual fleet expansion, with the licence now covering 14 heavy good trailers, 4 trailers, 2 tipping trailers, 40ft flat bed trailer and a low loader.
HF took on full control of the company as Jack Fox continued working in a director’s role – One of the first steps HF took was to clear the premises at Holyoake Avenue of all the old plant equipment that was previously being stored there. From here Fox Brothers built on the yard increasing it’s size until it was soon an industrial estate with Fox Brothers keeping units as offices and workshop but letting out other properties on the estate
1979
1979
Saw the passing of Jack Fox who left the company in full to HF.
1980
1980 – 90’s
The 80s and 90s saw the company grow in local reputation and continue to offer the services they have provided and specialised in for years. In the early 90s, Fox Brothers left their premises at Holyoake Avenue and bought a transport depot on Holly Road, Red Marsh Industrial Estate in Thornton.
2000
2000
Further fleet expansion of tipper wagons in 2005 increased the operator’s licence to cover up to 22 vehicles.
2007 saw the passing of HF, full control and ownership of Fox Brothers was passed on to the 4th generation of the family.
2017
2017
Fox Brothers head office moved premises to Whitehills Business Park in Blackpool along with further fleet expansion as haulage, earthworks, ready mix concrete and contracting became the business’s core services with the plant hire operation sold off.
2018
2018
2019
2019
Oversaw the fleet size grow further to over 60 trucks and trailers including the acquisitions such as walking floor trailers opening up more contracting work such as recycling and landfills. The transport yard moved premises to cater for the increased sized fleet to Squires Gate Industrial Estate in Blackpool with the new concrete yard also on site. A conscious effort on branding saw the company move on to social media channels, create a new website and get involved in more charitable and community projects.
Further ventures are planned with high profile contracting works, demolition jobs, ready mix concrete supply and bulk haulage opportunities – Fox Brothers is establishing itself on the map as one of the high profile haulage and construction companies.
We Provide Haulage, Earthworks and Demolition Solutions!
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