The beginning
Our story starts back in 1901 with the birth of our founder, Charles James Thorne.
Known as CJ, he quickly gained a reputation as a wheeler dealer, moving from job to job and never comfortable working for someone else.
In 1939, being unable to fight in WWII for medical reasons, CJ’s entrepreneurial tendencies and determination to help the war effort came to the fore. He purchased a two-lorry haulage firm, R. Prangnell & Co, operating from rented premises in Eastbourne.
The business grew rapidly, with the addition of a maintenance depot and the purchase of various pieces of plant and equipment, which CJ used to establish an earth-moving operation.
Joined by his two engineering brothers, under CJ’s direction the company soon established a reputation as skilled plant operators. They became a particularly popular choice for local authority contracts to create new playing fields.
Quality throughout the supply chain
In the late 1940s the company purchased the old brick yard at Union Point in Uckfield, where they constructed offices and a workshop. This has been its home ever since.
Over the next decade or so, the civil engineering side of the business expanded, particularly in the wastewater sector.
While the business grew, CJ couldn’t resist opportunities for side ventures. One such endeavour started with a chance encounter at an auction with someone from the film industry. This led to him constructing replicas of the snow sledges used by Scott of the Antarctic, for the eponymous 1948 film starring John Mills. So successful was this that CJ went on to supply military equipment for films such as Ice Cold in Alex, The Heroes of Telemark and Dunkirk.
A family business
CJ Thorne passed away in 1971, leaving his son Richard to manage his legacy. Under Richard’s leadership the company went from strength to strength, and expanded into new markets such as potable water treatment.
The quality of its staff, and the longevity of their service, have always been key to the company’s success. Four employees have exceeded 50 years with the company, with a further five having completed 40 years’ service, underlining the family feel of the business.
The 1990s and early 2000s earned the company notable recognition. This included the Institute of Civil Engineering (ICE) Thomas Brassey Award for the design and construction of a new roof over the Paradise Reservoir in 1998, and, again, for the restoration of the Sheffield Park Cascade in 2005. Thorne’s work for the National Trust at Sheffield Park also secured that year’s Sussex Heritage Trust Landscape & Gardens Award.
Growing into the new millennium
In 2006, Richard’s son, Chris, took over as Managing Director. Under this third generation of family ownership the company has continued to expand its operations to offer a “one-stop-shop” for many of its clients.
For example, 2007 brought the acquisition of Hobart Paving & Civil Engineering, which was complemented by the subsequent acquisition of J.P. Hunter Surfacing in 2019.
And the company continues win awards. These included the Sussex Heritage Trust Commercial Building Award for its work on the Kings Road Arches in 2015, the East Sussex Business Awards Business of the Year in 2019 and the Uckfield Business Awards Best Place to Work in 2022.
The transfer of ownership to an Employee Ownership Trust in early 2025 will safeguard the future of the company and we are immensely proud to be continuing CJ’s legacy.
