COMPANY HISTORY

When Albert Rollings established his leaded lights business in 1928 aged 34, little did he know how much he and his family would achieve within three generations?

A Somerset man born in 1893 Albert set up his company in Harrogate where it flourishes today. Determined to provide a quality service, he initially concentrated on manufacturing and supplying leaded lights and soon found there was a growing demand for his reliable products and services.

In 1947 Albert’s 4th son Wilfred joined him in business, aged 20. The company was fast earning a reputation locally as a glass merchant. Wilfred took an immediate interest in the business and enthusiastically learned the ropes. A diligent and dedicated worker, he saw an opportunity to build on the firm’s achievements and explore new avenues. Thanks to Wilfred, the company expanded by introducing general glazing and glass processing, thus extending its normal geographical trading boundaries and winning new orders for work and became a limited company 1985.

These additional services took W D Rollings Ltd to new heights of success, earning it an enviable reputation for its glazing and glass processing services. These included secondary as well as general glazing, plus cut and decorative glass processing, with bevelling, polishing and drilling available as part of its customised service. The company had wisely invested in its own machinery and was, therefore, able to offer a reliable service with all orders completed on time.

Deservedly credited with broadening the firm’s business, Wilfred remained at its forefront until his retirement in 1994. The running of the company then passed into the hands of the family’s third generation and is now jointly run by Wilfred’s sons Stephen and Jeffrey.

Proud of their history and heritage, the brothers are similarly building on the firm’s success while seeking new challenges and service channels. Already W D Rollings Limited is establishing a name for itself within the refurbishment market, while gaining ever increasing orders from its established markets at home and abroad. So far contracts have been undertaken which have seen the companies products being installed in Europe, Japan, Belize and the USA which Alfred could never have foreseen when he first opened Rolling for business all those years ago.

With more than 75 years’ trading under its belt, the family firm has a proven track record that speaks for itself. Its future, as it heads towards its first century, is assured.

Now in the capable hands of the third generation, W D Rollings Limited continues to do what it has always done – lead the field in glass products and related services by providing a quality service at a competitive price.