Ringing the Bell for Rochdale for 111 years

Posted by on 1 May 2023

Photo © Founder H Bell

As part of Rochdale Development Agency’s 30th birthday celebrations we’re speaking to some of the region’s biggest names in business.

H Bell & Sons is proud to be one of Rochdale’s longest established companies, after clocking up 111 years in business.

Founded in Rochdale in 1912, the business is now run by fourth-generation brother and sister Chris Bell and Louise Scott.

Chris is managing director while Louise is company secretary, following in the footsteps of their great-grandfather Henry Bell, grandfather Henry Bell and father Harry Bell, who joined the business in 1953.

“We’re proud to live and work in Rochdale,” admitted Louise. “If you cut our Dad in two you’d see Rochdale in his blood. We don’t need to leave the town much as the majority of our work is in the Rochdale area. The whole workforce is local too, as well our supply chain and all the apprentices we take on.

“Rochdale is full of good people. There are a lot of good, long-standing businesses in Rochdale and we’re proud to be one of them.”

Specialising in construction in the health, education and conservation sectors, H Bell & Sons employ 23 staff and have a turnover of £4.5m.

Louise joined the business 23 years ago and said a lot had changed in Rochdale since the launch of the RDA in 1993.

“A lot of our work used to be linked to the mills but as Rochdale has changed so have our customers,” she said.

“Technology has changed everything. Now we can give clients a guided tour of a building even before we’ve built it!

“We’re proud to do so much work in Rochdale. For example we were involved in the formation of Rochdale Borough Council’s Registry Office and Wedding Ceremony Room at Number One Riverside.

“We’ve worked for local hospitals, schools, playgroups and countless other organisations.”

Louise recalled how H Bell & Sons came to be formed in 1912.

“My great-grandfather Henry and his brother came over from Ireland and started the business in Princess Street, Rochdale, where we still are,” she said.

“It started with a pushcart, then a horse and cart. They set up a plastering business and did a lot of work in London after the bombings.”

It was after Chris’ arrival in 1979 that the company expanded into other construction work.

Louise said: “We are a principal contractor so we do jobs from start to finish. We can do new build, bespoke build and everything is looked after in-house.”

Louise is also the social value officer for H Bell & Sons, planning and demonstrating how the business adds value back to the local area.

“We’re able to show that we work and spend our money in Rochdale,” she said. “As a business we’ve always been involved in lots of events in Rochdale and have been big supporters of local causes including Springhill Hospice, Petrus, Jolly Josh and Rochdale Food Bank. Measuring our social value enables others to really see the contributions we make.

“We love being based in Rochdale. During lockdown the Rochdale Development Agency really stepped up to help local businesses. The regular online meetings that we had meant we could share any issues we were all having. It made a massive difference.

“It’s great to see all the town centre improvements in Rochdale. It has great access to the motorways but, ultimately, its biggest asset is its people. It’s our commitment to the town that has helped us to keep getting better for the last 111 years.”