Our heritage

Our story

Our story is one of energy, passion, ambition, people and teamwork. We harness the power of our experience, stretching back since 1810 to deliver certainty for our clients.

1810

The history of CHt stretches back to 1810, when Z.D Berry started his own business manufacturing heavy kitchen equipment and swimming pool heating systems.

1911

Royal Liver Building, Liverpool invisible panel warming by Richard Crittall & Co Limited

1922

London County Hall, Westminster, London Heating and ventilation by Richard Crittall & Co Limited

1929

Imperial Chemical House, Westminster, London Invisible panel warming by Richard Crittall & Co Limited

1930

London Transport, 55 Broadway, London SWl Electric thermal storage heating by Richard Crittall & Co Limited

1955

Proudly became one of the founding members of the Heating and Ventilating Research Council, today known as the Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA)

1964

Z.D Berry & Sons advertisement for advanced mechanical services for fine buildings of progressive design

1967

Richard Crittall developed a mechanical services operation, which included air-conditioning system design, and soon became a well respected name. As their individual reputations grew, Richard Crittal & Co Limited and Z.D Berry & Sons Limited merged in 1967, forming Richard Crittall and Z D Berry Limited.

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1970

Meanwhile, F H Wheeler commenced trading in 1913 as Electrical Engineers & Contractors. The company growth was rapid and by the early 1970’s it had become one of the leading companies in its field – employing some 1,400 people and a turnover in excess of £6 million.

1973

The companies merged to form Wheeler Crittall Berry Limited and began the emergence of a major new player in the Building Services field. To complete the organisation provenance, the Furse Electrical Installations Company established in 1893, joined the other organisations in 1973 and the name Crown House Engineering was adopted.

1989

Their principal interests were in the provision of engineering services to the construction industry. The amalgamation enabled the Group to justifiably proclaim to be one of the largest multi-service companies in the UK. In 1989 Crown House Engineering became part of Tarmac plc.

1999

Following Tarmac’s decision to demerge its construction service activities, Crown House became part of the newly formed Carillion plc in July 1999 and played a key role in helping Carillion to establish itself as a leading construction and business services group.

2004

In June 2004, Crown House Engineering became part of Laing O’Rourke. The acquisition and re-branding as Crown House Technologies Limited enabled the Laing O’Rourke Group to move closer to its goal of total service provision in the delivery of major projects, with CHt providing advanced mechanical, electrical and communications solutions.

2022

On the 1st April 2022 Crown House Technologies Limited became an entity of Explore 2050 Engineering Limited, however remains trading as Crown House Technologies.