Britain's oldest family business celebrates 500th birthday after surviving wars, floods and even plagues

Britain's oldest family business has celebrated its 500th birthday - after surviving wars, floods and even plagues.
Butchers shop RJ Balson and Son started life as a market stall in 1515 during the reign of Henry VIII.
It has been in its current shop in Bridport, Dorset since 1892 - the year Liverpool FC was founded.

 

Historic: Balson's Butchers in West Allington, purchased in 1892 for the sum of £275

The popular family business has passed through an astonishing 26 generations and survived 23 monarchs.
It has overcome two World Wars, recessions, fires, food scares and more recently competition from supermarket chains.

 

Transport: Balson's Butchers first horse and cart delivery vehicle outside Symondsbury Church, Dorset

Half a millennium later, RJ Balson and Son is still thriving serving locals with sausages and bacon.
Their website says: "The family joke is that we've just never made enough money to be able to retire."
The business was founded in the town's market shambles just 23 years after Christopher Columbus discovered America.

Official: The Shambles trading licence that dates from 1515 on the wall

It moved between the town hall, pubs and markets in the area before settling in their current shop in the 1890s.
Current owner Richard Balson, 58, started working for the business 40 years ago when his father was master butcher.
He still cooks the secret original sausages and home-made faggots that have been handed down through the generations.

 

Promise: Britain's oldest family business has celebrated its 500th birthday

Richard said: "One of the reasons we're still in business is that we've kept it small.
"The temptation is to add another shop or two, but you can only really keep an eye on one shop at any one time."

 

Dedication: Owner Richard Balson says he has another 30 years in him

"People come in and they know they will get a friendly, personal service.," Richard continued.
"We've served people's mothers, fathers, grandparents. We really play on that, and our customers love that interaction. "

 

Pride: Richard has sons and grandsons waiting to take over

"We're as busy as we have ever been, he added. I have a son and he has two sons, my grandsons, so we do have the next generation waiting in the wings. "
"But it's not something we're worried about at the moment. I have another 30 years left in me."