A Wootton family building business existed in the village for some hundreds of years, culminating in the company known as “Wootton Brothers” which traded from 1946 to the mid 1980s from premises adjoining what is now the Village Shop. During the 1950s and early 1960s there were up to 40 employees, many of them from the village. These photographs include a number of these men working in Sulgrave or neighbouring villages.

Photo: Unknown.
Early 1900s. The original thatch on Yew Tree House is replaced by slates. Joe Wootton,
then owner of the family business, is seated on the ladder next to the lady in the
dormer window.

Photo: Unknown.
Early 1920s. Joe Wootton, seated on the left, with some of his employees. Construction of
council houses at Thorpe Mandeville.

Photo: Unknown.
1920s. Bert Wootton collecting builders’ materials from Culworth Station on the
old Great Central railway line.

Photo: Unknown.
1920s. Oliver Wootton, one of the younger brothers,
whose job it was to unharness the horse and take him
to pastures beyond the old railway line.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
1960s. Oliver Wootton repainting windows in Manor Road.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
1960s. Charlie Dore, a stonemason originally from Stonesfield
in Oxfordshire also working in Manor Road.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
1960. L to R, Harold Wootton and Fred Pollintine working on the conversion
to flats of The Old Bakehouse, Manor Road.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
1960s. Sidney Wootton adding a front porch
to “Dippers” in Little Street.

Photo: Unknown.
1960s. Unknown venue. Left to right: Charlie Dore, Bernard Green, Ken Finch
and Len Branson.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
Early 1970s. Conversion of what was once known as “Stratford’s Bungalow” to the house
now known as Castle Cottage.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
Early 1970s. Cheerful smile from Charlie Dore,
working on Castle Cottage.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
Early 1970s. Further view of the Castle Cottage works.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
Early 1970s. Roy Branson (left) whose father was
born in the village, visits the site of Castle Cottage
with Sidney Wootton (right).

Photo: Colin Wootton.
Early 1970s. Castle Cottage. Ben Wootton neatly trims a brick
to size with a blow from his trowel.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
1970s. Re-roofing Syresham Church. Wootton Brothers’ two carpenters
Vince Cugini and Eric Constable.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
1970s. Re-roofing Syresham Church. Vince Cugini
with one of his favourite tools, a home made
adze. He was an Italian conscripted soldier,
held until 1945 in the prisoner-of-war camp
on the Helmdon Road. He stayed on after the war
and worked for Wootton Brothers until he retired.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
1970s. Carpenter Eric Constable working on
the re-roofing of Syresham Church.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
1970s. Re-roofing of Syresham Church.
A young apprentice working under the watchful
eye of carpenter Eric Constable.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
1970s. Albert Cleaver (left) and Rupert Wootton working on the re-roofing of Syresham Church.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
1970s. Rupert Wootton working on the
re-roofing of Syresham Church.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
1970s. Two young apprentices working on the re-roofing of Syresham Church.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
1970s. Re-roofing of Syresham Church. Sidney Wootton visits the site and discusses
the work with plumber Brian Archer.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
Early 1970s. Extensions to “The Braid”, Little Street, undertaken by the then owner
Les Pointer, with occasional outside assistance.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
Early 1970s. Extensions to “The Braid”, Little Street, undertaken by the then owner
Les Pointer (left), with occasional outside assistance.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
Early 1970s. Extensions to “The Braid”, Little Street, undertaken by the then owner
Les Pointer, with occasional outside assistance, (here Sidney Wootton).

Photo: Catherine Wootton.
Early 1970s. Extensions to Spencer House, Little Street. Colin Wootton (then owner).

Photo: Catherine Wootton.
Early 1970s. Extensions to Spencer House, Little Street. Alan Tims.

Photo: Catherine Wootton.
Early 1970s. Extensions to Spencer House, Little Street.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
1970s. Sidney Wootton working on Chapman’s Close, School Street.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
Early 1980s. Sidney Wootton, retired, demonstrates wood turning to Ruben Branson,
whose grandfather was born in the village.

Photo: Colin Wootton.
1982. Geoff Monaghan. Construction of Mulberries,
Helmdon Road.

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