From Park Place to Splott — 80 Years of TB Davies
Tracing our Cardiff roots through eight decades of growth and innovation.
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80 Years of TB Davies
As we celebrate 80 years of TB Davies, it’s a perfect time to look back at how far we’ve come — and how deeply our story remains connected to Cardiff, the city where it all began.
Our journey started in the heart of the city at 27 Park Place in 1945. Post-war Britain was rebuilding, and so were we. Our founder, Bryn Davies, and his close friend Colin Morgan, set up their first small office there after returning from service. They began by selling sterilisers and disinfectants before securing the Capothene Cables agency — a pioneering move that introduced plastic-insulated cables to a market still dominated by rubber.
That modest start laid the foundation for a company built on trust, hard work, and innovation.
A City that Shaped Our Story
As Cardiff grew, so did TB Davies.
The company moved from Park Place to Charles Street, expanding through the 1950s as post-war reconstruction created new opportunities. By the 1960s, we were trading from Neville Street, where a young Patrick Gray joined the business — marking the start of the family leadership that continues today.
It was in these formative years that TB Davies introduced aluminium ladders to the UK market — a revolutionary step at a time when timber still ruled. Convincing customers to trust this new technology wasn’t easy, but it reflected the same spirit of progress and belief that began at Park Place.
Growth, Grit & the Move to Llandough
By the early 1970s, TB Davies had outgrown its central Cardiff offices and relocated to Llandough Trading Estate, where we began manufacturing, expanding our product range, and building a national reputation for reliability and service.
Under Patrick Gray’s leadership, the company continued to evolve — embracing telesales, mail order, and later e-commerce through Ladders-Online, long before online retail became the norm. Our product portfolio expanded to include mobile safety steps, loft ladders, and industrial access solutions, serving customers across the UK.
Coming Home to Splott
In 2015, TB Davies came full circle — returning to its roots in Splott, just streets away from where our founder Bryn Davies was born.
Our 3.5-acre Lewis Road facility is more than just a headquarters — it’s a symbol of our enduring connection to Cardiff, and our commitment to British manufacturing and family values.
Today, we continue to manufacture ladders on site, representing leading global brands such as Little Giant and Xtend+Climb, while remaining proudly independent and family-owned.
Eighty years on, our story is still one of craftsmanship, care, and community — and of a company that never stopped climbing.
Looking Ahead
From a single office at Park Place to a modern facility in Splott, TB Davies’ story is a reminder that strong foundations and shared values can carry a business through generations.
As we look toward the future, we’re as focused as ever on our founding principles — Quality, Dependability, and Caring — and on continuing to help people work safely at height.
