L oca l BUSINE SS
Murrays Celebrate Two Hundred Years Popular Rutland family firm Murrays are about to celebrate their company’s bicentenary. Amander Meade meets partners Grant Murray and his father Scott to dig a little deeper into the archives hree generations of Murrays have been successfully in business as Chartered Surveyors and Estate Agents in Rutland and their fascinating family history is entwined in that of the town itself. The origins of the company were established in 1812 when Mr David Royce established an auctioneering and land Management Company in Oakham. The company known at that time as Messrs. Royce flourished and grew under the stewardship of the Royce family who were notable for their astute business sense. Best known was the last in line, Mr David Needham Royce who also served on Rutland County Council from the day it was formed until his death in 1938. He was a very much loved character locally and it was said with affection when he died that there were few in Rutland who did not mourn his loss. During the 1930s, Scott’s father Roland Murray joined the firm as a partner and after a restructure in 1977, the company took his name. Scott followed his father’s profession and became a Chartered Surveyor as did his own son Grant and together they have developed and grown the business over three regional offices and overseen a few changes of their own. “All aspects of the property business have altered beyond recognition during the last century,” explains Scott, who has an encyclopaedic knowledge of local history and can tell many stories about the origins of well known property in the region and its ownership. The Murrays have an astonishing collection of original documents preserved since 1812 including logbooks containing handwritten lists of every lot that Messrs. Royce auctioned – a
Grant Murray and his father Scott
PHOTO: Elli Dean Photography www.rutlandphotographer.co.uk
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complete social history of Rutland in itself – and their Oakham branch operates from its Market Street offices which were purpose built 120 years ago. When he began helping out his Dad at the age of ten, Grant remembers cattle auctions in the market square and has grown up absorbing Scott’s passion for the region taking it forward and bringing his own expertise to the family firm. “During my lifetime working in property I would say it was the internet that has had the most revolutionary effect on how we work. That said, people don’t buy property solely from the internet, they still rely on teams like ours to find them the right home or buyer.” According to Grant, the winning formula is sound advice coupled with exceptional customer service. “We have a superb team who are highly trained and pride themselves on their very personal approach. Thanks to our history in the region, we also have unrivalled local knowledge backed up by the latest marketing technology to ensure
that the very best estate agency methods are utilised in the sale and letting of properties.” Well known for their Estate Agency and Lettings, Murrays also provide a wide breadth of professional services in Chartered Surveying, rural Land Agency, Commercial property, Planning and Development and are members of the leading property organisations, which ensure accountability and the very highest levels of service and professionalism. With such a rich heritage in the town, the Murrays continue to enjoy growth and are currently undertaking a programme of refurbishment across all three of their offices Oakham, Uppingham and Stamford to celebrate their continued success. I think Mr Royce would be proud of them.
Contact:
Murrays have branches in Oakham, Stamford and Uppingham. Search their website at www.murray.co.uk Oakham Branch: Market Street, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6DY Tel: 01572 755555 Stamford Branch: 11 Red Lion Square, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2AQ Tel: 01780 766604 Uppingham Branch: 18 High Street East, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9PZ Tel: 01572 822587 Residential Lettings: Market Street, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6DY Tel: 01572 755513
RUTLAND & MARKET HARBOROUGH LIVING SEPTEMBER 2012
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