The history of Chestertons

Chestertons is one of the oldest firms of estate agents in the world.

First established in 1805 by Charles Chesterton, the firm has continued as one of the most familiar names in property for well over 200 years and is now one of the most respected international property companies. 

Charles Chesterton (1779 – 1849) built his reputation as land agent and estate agent and it was recorded in 1805 that he was collecting rents for William Phillimore and the Phillimore Estate in Kensington. 1805 is therefore the date that has been accepted as the founding year of Chestertons, although it appears it is likely to have been a few years earlier. 

The Chesterton family business thrived for hundreds of years.  

Notable family members include the high profile and prolific writer G. K. Chestertons, who best known for his Father Brown stories and Architect Frank Sidney Chesterton who designed several houses on the Phillimore Estate.

After the second world war the UK suffered from extensive bomb-damage and faced an enormous amount of rebuilding.  Chesterton and Sons was at the forefront of much of this rebuilding and planning with the involvement of Sir Henry Weston Wells and Sir Oliver Chesterton on several planning commissions, as well as both serving as presidents of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Chesterton International’s expansion continued into the early 1990s with new offices opening over the UK and across the world.   By the late 1990s, Chesterton International had become one of the largest and most recognised property firms in the world with 158 offices across 36 different countries. 

In the spring of 2005 the company was split up, and part of the business – which included 16 branches in London – was acquired by Mercantile Group, the current owners. Under this ownership, the business focused on the flourishing London market and steadily grew its reach across the capital to 21 branches by 2008. 

In 2009, to bolster its presence outside of London, Chesterton acquired the highly-respected country agent, Humberts (established in 1842), and the business was re-branded as Chesterton Humberts. However, in 2014, the business de-merged to form two separate businesses: ‘Chestertons’ covering the London and international markets and ‘Humberts’ covering the UK country markets. 

Chestertons has grown to become one of the largest and most respected estate agents in London and has expanded the business into exciting global markets.

To read the full history of Chestertons, click here