About us - a history

Wilson Wright & Co. are a seven partner firm of Chartered Accountants who have been servicing their clients needs since 1893.

It is not known if Mr Wilson Wright actually put up his brass plate on 1st June, 1893 but that was the day the Institute of Chartered Accountants issued his Associate certificate, enabling him to commence practice. He did so from premises in Anstey Road, Loughboro Junction, South East London. Mr Wright had qualified some six years earlier in 1887. These were early days, not only for Wilson Wright but also for the accountancy profession, the Institute itself only receiving its Royal Charter in May 1880.

The move to Central London came in 1904, when Wilson Wright opened office at The Provincial Bank Chambers, 1 Hatton Garden, just across the way from where the famous Gamages Store used to stand on Holborn Circus. There the firm was to stay for sixty-eight years until the move to 122 Chancery Lane in September, 1972. The firm left Chancery Lane in December, 1988 when the area was being redeveloped and moved to Kingsway. On 8th February 2010 the company moved to its current offices at Holborn Circus, no more than a few paces from the original office.

Ownership of the firm passed from Wilson Wright to a Mr Hodge and then to Mr Laurence Hyman. Mr Hyman died suddenly and prematurely, whilst running the practice in 1952 and the opportunity arose for Mr Harold Gould, who was working freelance and part-time for Mr Hyman to acquire the practice. Until that time, a period of fifty-nine years, the firm had not been much more than a sole practitioner with a few clerks and a secretary.

In order to grow the practise in 1957, Harold Gould acquired a small practice owned by Ernst Manton, which for a while, traded under the style “Gould & Manton” but it was soon merged with the main practice. It was from that time that the firm started to expand.

1957 was also the year that Brian Boreham, on leaving the Royal Air Force, joined the firm. Barrie Carmel was the next partner to join in 1967. At that time Ian Mablin was articled to the firm and, after qualifying in 1972, he too became a partner, followed shortly after by Michael Lerner. After thirty-eight years service, Mr Gould retired in September 1990. The firm continued to grow and in 1994 Adam Cramer was made up to partner. He had joined the firm in 1988 after qualifying. Warren Baker joined as a partner in 2001 and at the same time Kevin Maddison who had trained and qualified with the firm was made up to partner. Jamie Grossman became the seventh partner in 2008.

From the sole practitioner days of Wilson Wright, Hodge and Hyman, the firm, now numbering seven partners, with a full back-up of qualified and skilled members of staff, offers a full range of accountancy, taxation and related services. Apart from the acquisition of the practice of Ernst Manton in 1957, the growth of the firm has been organic.

The accountancy profession has changed dramatically since Mr Wilson Wright set up practice at Loughboro Junction in 1893. Gone are the days when accounts were typed using carbon paper – with a maximum five copies – the headings and totals then being ruled off in red ink – all impeccably done. Now the vast majority of accounts are prepared on computer during the progress of an audit. We like to think the end result is still impeccable and of the same high quality.

We act for a wide range of clients, both large and small, from public limited companies to sole traders. Our clients operate in a variety of commercial and industrial sectors and the service industries. Our expertise is providing the very best taxation and financial advice, in all its aspects, continues to attract a wide range of businesses and individuals. We act for UK based companies who have branches and subsidiaries in Europe and the United States of America and we have connections with accountants all over the world.

The partners like to develop a close relationship with their clients to enable them to provide a positive and valuable contribution to their business and financial affairs. Our maxim is – personal services of the highest quality.