01327 366429History
Nyfield can trace its origins back to 1867, when John Bosworth established a building business in Daventry as a bricklayer. He was later joined by his son-in-law, Horace Wakeford, and together they formed Bosworth and Wakeford, operating as a building contractor.
The company’s first move into property development came during the Great Depression, when Bosworth and Wakeford undertook the construction of The Inlands Estate in Daventry. This project was developed in part to provide continued employment for its workforce during a challenging economic period. A number of these properties were retained by the company and continue to form part of our rental portfolio today.
In the 1950s, the business expanded its property investments further through the acquisition of Shimmells Milk Bar on Daventry High Street, followed by additional High Street properties in the years that followed.
In 1946, the company formally separated its property and construction activities, creating Stepnell Estates and Stepnell Ltd. This structure proved highly successful, enabling each business to generate its own work while creating a stable and diversified group.
The company’s offices and yard relocated from Daventry to Rugby in 1960, opening up new opportunities alongside the town’s growth. Significant developments followed, including the construction of industrial estates at Butler’s Leap and Cottage Leap in the 1980s, and the commencement of the Rokeby housing estate in the 1960s. This development included Rokeby Court, which remains within our ownership today.
Many of these projects were bespoke developments, delivered in close collaboration with local individuals and businesses to meet their specific requirements. This approach has helped to foster long-standing relationships and support sustainable, long-term development.
Our continued investment in property development has enabled us to grow a dedicated in-house team to support our operations, including professional surveyors and a small works and maintenance team.
The future
Property development and investment remain central to our business. Now operating as an independent company, our developments and acquisitions continue to be underpinned by long-term relationships. Our long history has shown us that supporting businesses and individuals to thrive is fundamental to our own success.
We are actively progressing a pipeline of new opportunities to build on this success, while continuing to invest in and enhance our existing property portfolio to ensure it remains sustainable and fit for the future.