William Leech plc
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Leech plc was a British housebuilding company based in Tyneside. The company operated from 1934 until it was acquired in 1985.
| Type | Public company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Home building |
| Founded | 1934 |
| Defunct | 1985 |
| Fate | Acquired |
| Successor | Beazer |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | William Leech (Chairman and founder) |
History
The company was established by William Leech, a former window cleaner in 1934[1] as William Leech (Builders) Ltd.[2] It bought very large landholdings in the Cramlington area[3] and was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1976 when its name was changed to William Leech plc.[2] It achieved an output of 2,500 units in 1979.[4] It announced a merger with Bellway in 1981 but this was called off within days: "the lifestyle of the two firms looked pretty incompatible".[5]
The company was then acquired by Beazer in 1985.[2] The company retained its brand and Newcastle head office until Beazer itself was acquired by Persimmon in 2001, following which both brands were phased out.[6] The Leech Homes name was revived by Persimmon in 2005 as a brand aimed at housing for the over-55s.[7] As of 2025, it remains registered with Companies House as a dormant company, still in the ownership of Persimmon plc. [8]