Multi-million-pound deal keeps Henry Williams in Darlington

Following its sale last year to the rail infrastructure company Trackwork, Henry Williams is now moving from its base in Dodsworth Street to Innovation House, which stands on a five-acre site within the Faverdale Industrial Estate.

Innovation House was occupied by Subsea Innovation Ltd, part of the Tekmar Group, until 2024 and was sold to Trackwork for nearly £3m.

Richard Wilson, a Partner with Portland Dodds Brown, acted on behalf of Tekmar in the deal and said the outcome was a “win win” for all parties.

“It means the client received its asking price of £2.84m, a high-quality industrial unit will be brought back into use and an important part of Darlington’s railway heritage is retained in the town,” he said.

At the time of Henry Williams’ purchase, a representative from Trackwork told Rail Business Daily: “The acquisition will strengthen Trackwork’s presence in the UK rail market whilst allowing Henry Williams to retain its brand identity and continue to deliver the outstanding service that its clients expect.

“Both Trackwork and Henry Williams look forward to realising the full potential of this exciting new development.”

Henry Williams was established in Glasgow in 1883, manufacturing control and signalling equipment for the rapidly expanding railways network.

In 1911, it moved to Darlington, then home of the country’s rail industry, producing switch levers, points, cranks and joints.

During the First World War, it switched production to manufacture artillery parts and bombs.

Work returned to the railways during the inter-war years before Henry Williams again supported the war effort, supplying more than two million mortar bombs and even paying for a Spitfire.

But for most of its 145 years in Darlington, Henry Williams has kept pace with advancing technology as well as the changing requirements of the UK’s railway industry, describing itself as “a powerful force…a versatile and multi-skilled engineering business.”

Portland Dodds Brown was formed in late 2024 when Portland Estates Management acquired Dodds Brown, Teesside’s 130-year-old commercial property business.

As well as supporting clients in the sale and lease of their assets, Portland Dodds Brown – based in Stockton – also provides management services for commercial developments and properties in the North East, Scotland, Wales and Yorkshire, managing in excess of £100m worth of commercial real estate, with 70% located within the Tees Valley.