Oxfordshire-based Blanchford Building Supplies closed down last week without warning after 87 years in business.

The business, which was a member of the NBG since 2000, operated from five branches across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire; in Headington, Bicester, Wallingford, Princes Risborough and Haddenham. Employing around 60 people, the business supplied building materials, timber and landscaping products to trade and retail customers.

The business' last published accounts for the year ending 31 December 2023, indicated a turnover of just under £15.4 million, with an operating loss before tax of just under £700,000 (up from £71,510 in 2022). A fall in turnover of 4.6% compare to 2022 is blamed on "fierce competition from both national and local rivals." The business registered around £5 million in assets, but £2 million of debts. 

The company's website and social media accounts have all been deleted. 

The first branch of Blanchford & Co Ltd, trading as Blanchford Building Supplies, was opened in 1938 on Queens Street, in central Oxford, by brothers Fred, Cecil and Ronald Blanchford, but the business soon moved to Headington in east Oxford, where is was headquartered until now. 

The Blanchford brothers retired in the 1950s, and were replaced by two employees who became Managing Directors. Another family was introduced into the company, which established continuity in ownership ever since. 

A second store opened in the 1960s in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, which hosted a kitchen & bathroom showroom alongside building supplies. In 2012, another branch opened in Wallingford, Oxfordshire - before a final store launched in Bicester.

Reacting to the news of the sudden closure on a local Facebook group, several people declared themselves "gutted", while another contributor said: "This is really bad news, Blanchfords has always been a great independent builders merchants. Straight forward pricing and great service."

Another comment lamented: "This is very sad; a huge loss to the local area," while many recalled long-standing familial connections with the business, such as: "So sad.Huge part of my childhood. was going there with my dad to buy supplies and being sat up on the counter as I wasn't tall enough to see over it." 

Reading-based administrators, Tim Townley and Danny Dartnaill, of BDO, have been appointed to wind down the business. In a statement to BMN, a spokesperson for the administrators explained that "the business had been experiencing working capital constraints in recent years due in part to rising costs and general price increases.  

"While efforts were made to secure a buyer for the business, this proved impossible and the directors were left with no alternative but to place the company into administration."

Danny Dartnaill said: “It’s always sad to see a long-established business in the local community cease operations.  

“Regrettably, we have had to make 40 people redundant and we are supporting them to make their claims to the redundancy payments service.  

“A further 19 employees will be retained in the short term to assist Administrators with the orderly wind down of the business and the sale of business assets for the benefit of creditors.” 

Data for January 2025 shows a dramatic spike in builders’ merchant insolvencies.

This story was updated on 24 February 2025 with additional information.