Covers is founded by a local timber hewer of Fernhurst, West Sussex - William Cover
1846
William Cover, the founder of Covers
William's son, David, joined the business. The company was eventually named after him.
1857
1846
Covers began trading at the Canal Basin in Chichester, West Sussex
Canal Basin, Chichester
1883
Original advert from a local publication.
The Green family, who originated from Chesterfield, moved to West Sussex and purchased Charlton Sawmills near Chichester
JH & FW Green purchase Canal Wharf, Chichester. This was their first activity in the city of Chichester
1932
1944
Original advert from a local publication in 1883
1949
Premises at the Hornet, Chichester is purchased.
Covers delivery fleet in 1955
1955
1963
The Covers delivery fleet in 1955
Timber operations are moved from the Hornet, to Quarry Lane in Chichester
1964
The timber yard at The Hornet premises in Chichester
The purchase of Quarry Lane site in Chichester, a redundant gravel pit that would become the companies headquarters.
The Quarry Lane site in Chichester
Fire destroys the Lewes sawmill
1974
Aftermath of the fire at the Lewes depot in 1974
1973
Chatfields & Sons sawmill and timber yard in Lewes is purchased by the company
1986
The company purchases Olbys in Bognor Regis
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Business are purchased by Covers in Brighton, Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath
1987
Olbys on Hawhthorn Road in Bognor Regis, purchase by Covers in 1986
Patrick Green is appointed Chairman of Covers
The Bognor depot is moved to a new building in Station Yard. This is where you will still fine Covers, Bognor
1992
The Bognor Regis depot in Station Yard
Patrick Green appointed Chairman in 1987
1994
1988
Chichester depot operations are also moved from the Hornet to Quarry Lane
Wheelers of Portsmouth and Gosport is purchased
Covers celebrates it's 150th Anniversary
1995
Edgoose Timber Merchants in Aldershot, Hampshire is purchased on 1st August 1995
1996
1999
Covers Portsmouth is moved to its new site on Norway Road
Supplement that was created for the company's 150th anniversary
Gosport depot is moved to a new site on Gunners Way
2003
2004
A new depot at Blackwater Park, Aldershot opens
Brighton Depot moves to its new location on Home Farm Business Centre
2005
Alresford and Southampton depots are purchased from MSR
2007
Expansion of Head Office in Chichester. Covers Trade Centre is opened
Rudgwick depot is purchased from Crinda landscapes
2008
The Covers Trade Centre, opened in 2007
Covers Home Ideas opens on the Quarry Lane site, Chichester
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Covers launch supplier and customer event, Covers Bonanza
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Horsham depot moves to Foundry Lane, and the Tunbridge Wells depot is purchased
2012
Rupert Green, appointed chairman in 2014
2014
Rupert Green is appointed Chairman
Henry Green is appointed Managing Director
Customers and suppliers at our Bonanza event that was launched in 2012
Henry Green, appointed Managing Director in 2014
Launch of Covers Help for Hospices charity
2015
2018
OTBS Bexleyheath is purchased
Artwork from our first Covers Help for Hospices week
Covers E-Commerce website is launched
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Southampton depot moves to Empress Industrial Estate
2019
The Covers E-Commerce website launched in 2019
2022
Covers celebrates it's 175th anniversary
Rupert and Henry Green celebrating our 175th year of service to the construction industry!