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The Alston family has been involved with furniture for over two centuries. As far back as 1776 there were Alstons repairing furniture in their Chelsea workshop.
The present family’s direct ancestors started the business in Sudbury, Suffolk. William Alston (1839-1919) and his brother Ambrose (1834 – 1902) were both master cabinet makers during the middle of the 19th century. William Alston later became a furniture dealer as well, selling from premises in 95 North Street, Sudbury. The business prospered and moved to 9 Old Market Place, Sudbury in 1875 Both of William Alston’s sons, Hammond and Percy worked in the business and together they then created one of the first all electric workshops.
The premises at Old Market Place became a retail furniture shop as well, with additional workshops. One of which was to eventually form the beginnings of the upholstery operation much later on. In 1921 Percy Alston’s son Leslie started an apprenticeship with his father and then completed this at Fisher Trade Woodworking in London’s East End.
In 1937 Leslie started his own manufacturing business at a redundant coconut matting factory in Long Melford. The business was set up with a £6,000 bank loan. Leslie’s brother Roy joined him there to help run the new venture. The company later adopted the trade mark Albro as an abbreviation of Alston brothers, this continued into the 1980’s.
During the Second World War, the factory in Long Melford switched its production to ‘utility’ bedroom and dining furniture. Extra work was also taken on to manufacture coffins for the war effort.
Later in the war, the Long Melford factory was burnt out and new premises were sought in Ipswich. Initially production was resumed within Wrinch's factory in Nacton Road, Ipswich. Land was also purchased adjacent to Wrinch's and a factory was built by joining war surplus Nissen huts together to form a linear building and a continuous production line was created within it. This temporary structure survived until 1971 when new building was errected over the old huts ensuring that not an hour of production was lost.
The cabinet business has remained at this site to this day. During this time a new Head Office has been built and a programme of continuous investment in machinery maintained. It has manufactured almost exclusively bedroom furniture during this period.In the 1950's and 60's this was centered on suites of bedroom furniture of veneered teak , walnut and mahogany finish (a suite comprised a ladies wardrobe , a gents wardrobe and a dressing table). The 1970's saw the introduction of modular bedroom furniture ranges in veneered and painted finishes.In more recent years the company has become a market leader in the production of traditional and contemporary bedroom ranges of laminate and painted finish.
Leslie Alston remained in charge of this business until his death in 1976 at which point his oldest son Rex (John) took over as Managing Director with Leslie’s brother Percy (Roy) as Chairman. In 1979 Alan, Leslie’s other son became Chairman and Managing Director assisted by his bother Rex and with their cousin Noel (Percy’s son) as Sales Director. John P Alston joined the family business in 1974 becoming a Director in 1987 and Managing Director in 1995. In 2008 David Alston became company Chairman, taking on this role directly from his father. Also in this year John's daughter Jessica Alston joined the business as a design assistant.
In parallel during the post war years, the original businesses in Sudbury flourished, both with retailing,repairs and removals. The retail side would eventually comprise separate furniture, china, baby linen and toy shops. The china shop was the personal responsibility of Percy Alston (snr)until his death in 1969 whilst his son Percy (Roy) was responsible for the other shops.
The upholstery workshop at Old Market Place,Sudbury was boosted by a contract to refurbish chairs for local airfield in 1949. This encouraged Leslie Alston to start an upholstery manufacturing business with two friends – Charlie Rayment and Fred Avent. The new business started in 1950 making fireside chairs and three piece suites from premises in St Peter Street, Colchester. Subsequently the business expanded and in 1958, moved to a 14,000 sq foot factory in Maidenburgh Street, Colchester. This council owned factory was a four floor building which made production problematic. Consequently it was decided to build a new factory and to this end, 4 acres of land was purchased in Gosbecks Road, Colchester. The task of building the factory was given to Alan Alston, Leslie’s youngest son. In 1964 the new factory opened for production.
Leslie Alston had also purchased a kitchen cabinet business in Rayleigh, Essex. The change in fashion away from freestanding kitchen cupboards meant that this became increasingly less profitable. It was therefore decided to move it,s woodworking machinery into the new upholstery business in Gosbecks Road, to provide the basis for a wood mill of its own.
The Upholstery business flourished and within 10 years, further satellite factories were opened in Hadleigh, Suffolk and Clacton, Essex.
The recession of the early 1980’s saw a contraction of the business and the satellite factories were closed down and production and investment consolidated at the Colchester site. Up until 1995 Alan Alston continued to be responsible for the running of the business. In 1995 David Alston, Alan’s youngest son became Managing Director of the company and the responsibility passed on.In 2008 John Alston took on the role of chairman from his father.
Durring the companies life it has manufactured sofas, sofa beds, chairs and recliner chairs. Originally sofas were in leather but this soon changed to vinyl in the 1950's ,to be followed by plain velvet (dralon) in the 1970's and various chenilles and modern velvets more recently.
The company continues to make all its production from its factory in Colchester and is now one of the leading producers of upholstery in the UK.
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