One of country's oldest agencies marks 275 years in business

South east agency RH & RW Clutton is marking its 275th year in business, with the claim that it is thought to be the oldest surviving firm of land agents in England.

The company - which now operates as an estate agency, estates management firm and commercial property consultancy as well as a land agency - began in 1743 with  William Clutton taking over the business in 1765.  

In 1851 one member of the family left the company to set up the now better-known Cluttons agency in London. 

Meanwhile RH & RW Clutton, as it had become, continued in business and in 2014 senior partner George Back (pictured) and managing partner Victoria Back have been running the firm with the support of five other partners - Robert Windle, Oliver Harwood, James Tillard, Peter Hughes (also pictured) and Richard Grassly.

It 2016 it merged with Petworth-based estate agency, Peter Hughes Country Property and last year merged with Park & Bailey Commercial.

“Not only are we the oldest surviving independent chartered surveyors in the country but we have now extended our offering across three offices, to include diversification, farm grant applications, strategic estate reviews, forestry, residential sales and lettings, investment, lease advisory, financial and tax planning, renewable energy, building surveying and property management” says George Back.