Family Run for Over 160 Years
P.O. Joyce Ltd is a successful family owned and operated business in East Finchley, North London, dedicated to supplying high quality timber to its customers. We have vast experience as timber merchants and have been supplying our products throughout London and its surrounding area since 1863.
We offer a range of products that includes: Softwood and Hardwood timber, Sheet Materials, Mouldings, Decking, Fencing, Hardwood Flooring and General Hardware .
With our knowledgeable and experienced employees, we endeavour to provide our customers with efficient customer service, expert advice and quality products at competitive prices. We also offer plenty of parking to our customers, an excellent milling service to order and a friendly and efficient, next day delivery service.
Our Customer Base
A commitment to the professional builder and local tradesman has always been our priority, but now the DIY enthusiast and self-builder also represent an important part of our customer base.
Our Customers range from joiners, to building contractors, shop fitters, local carpenters, small specialist traders and D.I.Ys. They have one thing in common, the need for high quality timber products from timber specialists.
Family Tree
1st Generation - Benjamin Joyce (snr)
The founding member of the company, he was born to Thomas and Jane Joyce nee Seeley (who had 9 other children and lived in Whitwell, Norfolk – all christened in Salle) He and his father started as wood letter cutters in business at Stanhope St, London in mid 1830’s. Later Benjamin also started a timber merchants at East Finchley station in the 1860s, with just 2 other employees, they used handcarts to deliver all over the area. He was a religious man, a keen Wesleyan and a regular churchgoer.
1820 – 1891
2nd Generation - Edwin Jabez Joyce
Edwin came into the business after the death of his elder brother Benjamin junior and took over running the company in 1891. As more of East Finchley meadows were covered in homes and shops, Edwin was very proactive. Teams of horses supplied the vast majority of the timber and associated products needed for the development and growth of the area.
1854 - 1933
3rd Generation - Percy Oswald Joyce
Percy joined the firm later in life, after spending his early years as a ship’s carpenter travelling the world. His first task was to replace the horses with mechanical transport – they were put to pasture at the end of the 1920s – and registered the company for the first time as P.O. Joyce Ltd.
1883 – 1968
4th Generation - Stanley Edwin Joyce
A family man, he joined the business in 1946 after being ‘de-mobbed’ from the army. He started a building programme to replace the orchard and tennis courts with brick built sheds which was completed in the 1970s
1917 – 1997
5th Generation - Neil Joyce
Neil joined the firm in 1971. He wanted to maintain the company’s traditional values, but at the same time has continued the building programme adding a new hardware shop in 2008 and introducing new lines and ideas.
1952 – Present
6th Generation - Thomas Joyce
“I aim to maintain the standards that my forefathers have upheld before me, whilst growing the business.” – Thomas
1983 - Present
A Family Business
We understand the needs of our customers. With knowledge handed down six generations of timber merchants, our employees exceed expectations and meet most milling and product requirements.
Yet despite our progressive attitude, we have never forgotten our roots. P.O. Joyce Ltd remains a family-run business whose employees take great pride in every job.
Mission Statement
We endeavour to:
– Provide a friendly and efficient customer service
– Supply only high quality products at competitive prices
– Provide an excellent, efficient, reliable Milling Service
– Provide an excellent, efficient and friendly Delivery service
Our success is founded on our commitment to continuous improvement, training our employees and creating a healthy and safe working environment.
History
With the benefit of new research we are now able to update our family history.
Back in 1820 Benjamin Joyce (snr) was born to Thomas and Jane Joyce (who had 9 other children and lived in Whitwell, Norfolk, all christened in Salle).He was engaged as a boy in humble duties on the farm. His father Thomas was employed as a carpenter at the main hall in Reepham at the meagre wage of twelve shillings per week. Nevertheless he managed to bring up four sons and six daughters, and was always the possessor of a cow and a pig.
The eldest son (William) was the first to leave home for London, walking the whole distance, possessed of only a few shillings. He got employment with an engraver, and so learned the business. He then sent for his father (Thomas), and they started together as wood letter cutters in Stanhope Street near Fleet Street in 1834. Benjamin (snr) at that time was apprenticed to a boot maker at Reepham ; but at the age of 16 he too came to London and joined his father. His brother William then started engraving on his own account at 11 Bolt Court, Fleet Street. His occupation was given as ‘engraver , ‘ wood engraver & artist and engraver’(in different directories and census).
Benjamin’s(snr) knowledge of frame making was obtained from an old man whom he paid to teach him. How small their beginnings may be judged from the fact that he and his father used to get their weekly supply of wood on Monday mornings at London Bridge Wharf, and carry it home on their backs, cutting out their reglet (a piece of wooden spacing material used in typesetting) by the primitive means of a hand saw. Company name was Joyce and Co.
After some time Benjamin (snr) bought a flywheel and a circular saw bench,( which expenditure) his father thought would ruin them. Soon after this his father died (1845) and Benjamin (snr) carried on the business in partnership with his mother. Next a horse and a mill were acquired for sawing, but here a heavy bad debt nearly ruined them and the horse had to be parted with. By perseverance and courage he ultimately tided over his financial difficulties. About 1860, his own eldest son, Benjamin (jnr) , joined him and in 1863 his second son Alfred also helped in the business. Their trade continued to grow so that soon afterwards Mr Joyce built his own house (Ebenezer Lodge) and workshops with steam power at East Finchley, where Benjamin junior had charge. Alfred managing the business at Stanhope Street. When Benjamin senior died of TB in 1891 he was held in such high regard that nearly all the shops and houses had their shutters closed or blinds down and about five or six hundred persons surrounded the grave. Benjamin (jnr) died of TB two months before his father in 1891 so the next son Edwin Jabez Joyce took over the running of the yard near East Finchley station (Renting the site from the London and North Eastern Railway Company) whilst Alfred ran Stanhope Street assisted by his youngest brother, Theophilus. (Stanhope street was compulsorily purchased in 1903 and the business moved next door to the timber yard in Church Lane). Edwin brought in his eldest son Arthur Whitby Joyce as partner in the business but died of TB (1930) so his next son Percy Oswald Joyce joined the firm (1929) and as partner (1931).
The premises at East Finchley Station was leased by LNE Railway company and held by Joyce and Co for 70 years. A letter to quit was received in March 1938 giving a months notice. Percy worked hard to prepare the yard in Church Lane(which stabled the horses) to continue the company, building many sheds and walls to the specification of the council. He registered the company as P.O.Joyce Ltd in 1938.
Over 160 years later, P.O. Joyce Ltd. is still a family run business and is still supplying high quality timber to its customers.
Six generations of the Joyce family have been involved in the timber trade. Timber is not just a business to us; it’s a way of life. Since the company’s conception back in 1863, we have kept quality and flexibility as our watchwords. We believe we have the ability to adapt and evolve to changing market conditions and we have a strong belief in quality and customer service.