Happy Centenary To Us!
Walter Lilly are delighted to mark 100 years as a premier provider of construction and maintenance services across London and the South East.
Celebrating a legacy dating back to April 1924, our excellent reputation stems from a commitment to delivering exclusive homes, iconic landmark and heritage buildings, and state-of-the-art science and higher educational facilities. This milestone highlights not only our continued success, but a hard-fought journey of growth and unwavering dedication.
Since our establishment we have evolved from a modest family business founded by tradesman, Walter Gent Lilly, who capitalised on his good fortune after winning the freehold to a London builder’s yard in a game of cards, to a prominent leader within the specialist construction market. To this day, the family business spirit at Walter Lilly lives on, having continued trading under this name since our acquisition by Y.J. Lovell Group in 1955 (who later became Renew Holdings plc). Our portfolio has since expanded to include some of London’s most prestigious buildings including Café Royal, Southwark Cathedral, 1 Cornwall Terrace – Britain’s most expensive terraced property at the time – and 100 Park Lane, one of the few surviving aristocratic townhouses in London.
More recently, we successfully delivered our largest project to date, the £84m Laboratory of Medical Sciences for the Medical Research Council. The project has garnered industry wide recognition including a victory in the Integration and Collaborative Working category at the Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards.
As the focus across the industry shifts towards the UK Government’s 2025 net zero target, we are working closely with our clients to prioritise sustainability within construction. Examples include the Natural History Museum’s Urban Nature Project, delivered as a net zero carbon and zero waste contract, and the reservicing of a number of Grade I London Palaces to assist in achieving carbon neutral estates.
Walter Lilly’s reputation for delivering the finest quality projects has resulted in our remaining profitable year on year despite challenging and fluctuating market conditions. With only nine Managing Directors in our 100-year history, and the average length of staff service being 10 years, the Walter Lilly name continues to thrive.
Managing Director Chris Butler, says “We are extremely grateful to our loyal clients, dedicated employees, and trusted supply chain partners who have been integral to our success throughout this remarkable journey. This anniversary represents not only a century of hard work, determination, and continuous improvement, but also the immense potential that awaits us as we look to the future.”
Stay tuned across our website and socials over the next 12 months to follow our commemorative campaign honouring a century of Walter Lilly excellence.