Hand Made Furniture & Sofas

The Mark Elliot
Story

The company started in 1987 in a small section of the workshops of the world renowned International Boatbuilding Training Centre, in Oulton Broad, Suffolk. We learned about furniture from some of the most skilled people in the industry who worked at the boatbuilding centre. The company, started with three employees initially (two of whom are still with the company), made bespoke pieces of furniture for upmarket retailers including Heal’s, Clement Joscelyne and Joshua Taylor.

In 1989 as the company grew it moved to converted barns at Ashby on the Somerleyton Estate. The workforce grew and kitchens were added to the portfolio. New ranges were designed and introduced with more retailers throughout the country joining the list of stockists including Hopewells in Nottingham, Lee Longlands in Birmingham, Bolingbroke & Wenley in Chelmsford and Barker & Stonehouse in Newcastle. Both contemporary and traditional furniture designs were incorporated into the ranges offered to cater for all tastes.

In 1992 the expanding company moved into a former furniture factory in Browston, Norfolk. After much deliberation it was decided that ‘we could do it better’ and so the Period Home Centre was born. The first Period Home Centre showroom was at Scratby Hall near Great Yarmouth. The company continued with its relationship with Heal’s whilst growing its own retail arm. The aim was to provide the people of East Anglia with exclusive handmade cabinet and upholstery at affordable prices. Most of the furniture was built in England supplemented by carefully sourced products from around the world.

In 1998 unfortunately the factory at Browston was lost in a fire. With the huge support of suppliers and our loyal customers the company was manufacturing again within 5 weeks in new premises in Oulton Broad - a mammoth task everyone said could not be done.

In 2005 the company was rebranded as Mark Elliot and the factory moved to its current location near Beccles. The majority of the staff have been with the company for over 15 years. We have a very loyal and highly skilled workforce, including some of the best wood machinists, veneerers, cabinet makers, polishers and upholsterers who make beautiful furniture and sofas to last a lifetime.

New showrooms continue to be added - our current stores are Bury St Edmunds, Norwich, Stamford, Monmouth, Holkham, Southwold and most recently Cheltenham.

After more than 20 years of heritage Mark Elliot Furniture was acquired by a private equity group in July 2010, which has now taken us into a new era of development and expansion, with exciting plans for continued growth the introduction of exciting new ranges.

The history continues...