Property developer leaves historic headquarters after 133 years

J. Pullan and Sons, the family-run property developer and investor, is moving from its historic headquarters in Beeston to offices in Leeds city centre.

Pullan’s is leaving Manor Works in Beeston, where the company had settled in 1885, to Joseph’s Well in Westgate.

Joseph’s Well, which is owned by Pullan’s, has recently undergone a major refurbishment, which has transformed the 156,000 sq ft five-storey building, which was originally built for Leeds clothing magnate and MP Sir John Barran.

Pullan’s, which employs 38 staff and has an office staff of 10, is moving into 2,500 sq ft offices this week.

Bruce Strachan, property director of Pullan’s, said: “Clearly it was a major decision to move out of Manor Works, our home for 133 years. There are ties to the site and the area from where our tradesman workforce was largely drawn.

“However, times have changed. Manor Works was perfect for us when we were traditional builders and bespoke joiners. The company has evolved into managing and developing our own properties and financing joint ventures with others.

“Many of our development projects are in central Leeds including Apsley House, Brotherton House (the old West Yorkshire Police headquarters), 2 Park Lane and, of course, Joseph’s Well where additional buildings are in planning.

“This wasn’t a decision taken lightly. But it was an exciting decision that made sense, especially when Joseph’s Well had the ideal space for us.”

Sir John Barran pioneered the Leeds ready-made clothing industry in the 1850s, introducing the band knife for cutting multiple layers of cloth. In 1887 he added Joseph’s Well to his existing factory in Park Square. As Mayor of Leeds, he secured the purchase of Roundhay Park for the city. Sir John also served as the Liberal MP for Leeds from 1876 – 1885.

Meanwhile, just two years before Sir John bought Joseph’s Well, Joseph Pullan settled J. Pullan and Sons Ltd at Manor Works. The firm built ancillary works for the UK’s rapidly-expanding railway network.

In the early years many public and private buildings were constructed including the iconic Alhambra Theatre, Barnsley, much of Beeston, and more than 100 houses adjacent to the Duchy Estate in Harrogate.

In the 1960s, sensing that the construction industry was very competitive and margins were slim, the company moved into property development and investment, buying Howley Park Estate in Morley.

With the improving transport links, especially the proposed M62, and a skilled local workforce, the estate became popular with national companies seeking distribution depots and local employers requiring modern manufacturing premises. One of the earliest tenants was Asda, trading then as Associated Dairies.

The firm then developed estates at Dudley Hill, Bradford, and Lofthouse Gate in Wakefield, before buying Joseph’s Well in 1981 and the Pawson Brothers’ quarry in Morley in 1994 – and, more recently, 2 Park Lane, Brotherton House and Apsley House, all in Leeds.

The company is now managed by Mark Pullan, the great-great grandson of founder Joseph.