The history of the Mouldings family: one hundred not out!

Although the business we know today as R Moulding & Co was formally founded in 1908, the building connection goes back to the nineteenth century when William Moulding, of Wanborough, North Wiltshire, became a stonemason. He died at the age of 72 in 1839 and was buried in Wanborough Church graveyard.

The building tradition continued through his sons Richard and William who worked as masons and carpenters in Aldbourne. William married Sarah Sealy Alexander and they had two children William Alexander and Jane Ann. He established a successful building business which included two cottages in West Street, Aldbourne, later to become an inn known as the Masons Arms.

William Alexander had two sons: Richard and William Alexander. Richard left to seek his fortune at the turn of the century, leaving the younger William (known as Uncle Bill) to carry on the business as a builder and undertaker in Aldbourne until his death in 1961.

Meanwhile, Richard worked his way around the south of England and eventually settled in London where he met his wife Flora. His skills were soon noticed by the racing millionaire A P Cunliffe who asked him to return to Wiltshire to build race horse stables at a site known as Druids Lodge.

After living for a while at The Boot in Berwick St James, Richard moved to Ryeville, South Newton where his son Richard Alexander was born in 1908.

A hard but fair man, Richard Moulding (1877 – 1950) was the founder of the Mouldings business. Amongst other things, he built the last cob house (York House at Druids Lodge) in England in 1913 using traditional materials. He successfully steered the business through the hardships of the First World War and the recession of 1926 but he did not forget his country and joined the Royal Flying Corps in September 1917 which took him to France. He returned in 1919 to continue the business.

His sons Richard Alexander (Alec) and Stanley William (Ted) joined the business which then became R Moulding and Sons. By the time Richard died in 1950 the partnership of Alec and Ted was well established but, as with every business, there were setbacks including the fire that destroyed the joinery workshop in 1953. In 1964 the brothers decided to incorporate the business as R Moulding and Company (Salisbury) Ltd.

Alec Moulding was an accomplished stonemason and his work can still be seen in three of the breadstones in the wall at Great Wishford Church near his home. After Ted’s untimely death in 1969, Alec quickly involved his sons Richard (Dick) and William Alexander (Bill) as young directors.

During this period Dick gained a reputation as a ‘new build’ expert, building new houses, rectories and small developments, including twelve houses at Great Wishford while Bill was more involved with restoration, small works and company structure. The office manager, Harold Parkin, trained Bob Begg to take over his role.

There have been hard times in the building industry, notably the housing crash of 1988 – 1992, where many local building companies had to cease trading, but R Moulding and Company has successfully weathered these storms and continues to go from strength to strength. Dick retired in 2002 and Richard Timothy (Tim), his son, took over and joined Bill as co-director.
Together they have been able to convert what originally doubled as the family home and office into an extensive office facility, whilst maintaining the character of the original building where Alec was born.

Additionally, new staff have been recruited and the company is now in a sound position to counter any future problems which loom in the shape of global financial and national housing difficulties.

The company is currently involved in various aspects of contracting including private new builds and restorations as well as term contracts with Wiltshire County Council, Salisbury Diocese and English Heritage.

Over the last 20 years Mouldings have carried out restoration work on Salisbury, Winchester and Portsmouth Cathedrals, Wimborne Minster and Romsey Abbey as well as Portland, Lulworth, Sherborne, Wardour and Old Sarum Castles and Stonehenge for English Heritage.

On a personal note

The Mouldings have always been keen sportsmen with cricket and South Newton Cricket Club their passion. Alec, Dick and Tim (three generations) have all been players and have all managed to score at least one century. As in the building trade, you need some skill, determination and luck for survival if you aspire to make it to one hundred!

Characters along the way

Over the last century there have been many characters who have played their part in the history of the Mouldings business:

Digby, the scrounger.

Ted Blake, Stan Ransome, Jim Bryant and latterly Perce Ransome, winner of the Chamber of Commerce long service award in the 1970s.

George Wells joined the firm in 1937 as a painter apprentice in Shrewton and, after the Second World War, returned to carry out high class decorations until his retirement in the early 1990s. He is still to be seen in the office from time to time.

Stoner ‘the Joker’ and his plastic snake.

Ted ‘the Lead’ whose lead burning work can still be recognised on church roofs throughout Wiltshire.

Those more familiar with the Mouldings family will remember

• Rip the churchyard dog
• the sixpence nailed to the floor at Berwick St James
• the bat in the overflow at Peter Sellers’ house
• the rocking horse’s tail
• the long barrow

and there will surely be many more characters and stories to add over the years to come.