Thomas Ford and Partners

What Thomas Ford and Partners does

Thomas Ford and Partners is a London-based architectural practice founded in 1926 by Thomas Francis Ford, specialising in historic building conservation, repair, and adaptive reuse. The firm operates from a single headquarters in Sydenham (177 Kirkdale, London SE26 4QH) with approximately 20 team members, delivering services across architecture, accredited conservation, condition surveys, quinquennial inspections, regeneration, and new build within sensitive heritage contexts. Its client base is concentrated in the UK heritage, ecclesiastical, museum, and public sectors, including the National Trust, V&A Museum, Brooklands Museum, three Anglican Dioceses (London, Southwark, Rochester), Westminster Cathedral, and various private estates and local authorities.

The practice's core technical offering centres on accredited conservation architecture (RIBA and AABC credentials) and deep expertise in traditional repair techniques — masonry, timber, structural repairs, lime, Roman cement, hot lime mortar work, glass, iron, steel, and concrete conservation. It is commissioned to undertake regular inspections of approximately 350 buildings, providing a recurring inspection and advisory revenue base. Service delivery follows the RIBA Plan of Work, with new build projects typically situated within listed building or Scheduled Monument contexts. The firm operates a small drawings and photographic archive available for research by appointment, and holds ongoing institutional appointments such as Surveyor to the Fabric for Westminster Cathedral.

Commercially, Thomas Ford and Partners generates revenue through three pricing mechanisms: percentage fees on building contracts above £75,000 (the primary model for larger projects), lump sum fees for defined small works and surveys, and time-charged billing for RIBA Work Stages 0 and 7. The go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, relying on direct client engagement, referrals, and repeat business from longstanding relationships; marketing is largely organic via the firm's website, Instagram, and Twitter/X. In 2020 the firm established a partnership with Studio Artec (Brescia, Italy), enabling cross-border UK-Italy project delivery and representing the firm's principal international expansion. Ownership remains private, with the firm operating as Thomas Ford & Partners Limited (Companies House registration 10558490) and no disclosed external investment.

Name

Thomas Ford and Partners

Legal name

Thomas Ford & Partners Limited

Website

https://thomasford.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Thomas Ford and Partners is a London-based architectural practice founded in 1926, specialising in historic building conservation, repair, and adaptive reuse for heritage, ecclesiastical, museum, and public-sector clients across the UK, with approximately 20 team members and a 350-building inspection portfolio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Historic Home Renovation & Preservation (HSAPAEAG), Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

Keywords

• Historic building conservation
• Architectural design services
• Heritage building repair
• Ecclesiastical architecture
• Conservation architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydenham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services - Percentage Fees: Fees for projects with a building contract over £75,000 are generally charged as a percentage of the building contract value. This is the primary revenue model for larger conservation and new build projects.
2. Architectural Services - Lump Sum: Lump sum fees are proposed for easily defined small works and surveys, including condition surveys, quinquennial inspections, and historic building reports.
3. Time-Charged Services: Work stages 0 and 7 are generally time charged when required for projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Thomas Ford and Partners is a London-based architectural practice delivering conservation, restoration, regeneration, condition surveying, and new build design for historic buildings and heritage environments. Its services span ecclesiastical buildings, museums, cultural institutions, parks, historic houses, and residential projects, delivered by a team of accredited RIBA and AABC conservation architects under the RIBA Plan of Work. The practice also provides quinquennial inspections, historic building reports, and cross-border UK-Italy services through its partnership with Studio Artec.

Product overview

Thomas Ford and Partners is an award-winning architectural practice offering a comprehensive suite of services centered on historic building conservation, architectural design, and heritage project delivery. The firm operates as a single unified practice rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture, providing core services in architecture, conservation, condition surveys, and regeneration. These services span multiple project categories including places of worship, cultural buildings, parks and education, historic houses, and new build residential. The practice also offers specialized sub-services covering specific conservation trades including masonry, roofing, timber, interiors, structural repairs, glass conservation, and lime/Roman cement work. Through its partnership with Studio Artec in Italy, the firm extends its services to cross-border UK-Italy projects. The practice follows RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) plan of work and is commissioned to undertake regular inspections of approximately 350 buildings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 350 buildings under regular inspection programmes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Studio ArteccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020In 2020, Thomas Ford and Partners established a relationship with Studio Artec, a firm of architects and engineers based in Brescia, Italy. This partnership enables both practices to work together on selected projects in Italy and the UK, combining their expertise in conservation and architectural services across both countries.
• Discourse ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommon association with Discourse Architecture, a theoretical forum, enables Thomas Ford & Partners and Studio Artec to offer combined services through both practices working together.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Purcell: One of the UK's largest and most established heritage architecture practices, with deep RIBA/AABC-credentialed teams covering cathedrals, castles, museums, and universities. Directly comparable on RIBA conservation credentials, ecclesiastical work, and award-winning historic restoration commissions.
• John McAslan + Partners: London architecture firm with substantial heritage and conservation work, including the King's Cross regeneration and historic building interventions. Comparable on London base, heritage regeneration, and museum/cultural institutional clients.
• Feilden+Mawson: UK conservation architecture practice with strong ecclesiastical, heritage, and museum portfolio including cathedral and historic house work. Comparable on RIBA/AABC credentials, quinquennial inspections, and award-grade conservation delivery.
• Buttress Architects: Manchester-based heritage and conservation architecture firm with RIBA award-winning work on cathedrals, civic buildings, and historic houses. Direct competitor in the UK heritage conservation architecture space with similar ecclesiastical and Grade I/II listed building portfolios.
• Donald Insall Associates: Long-established (founded 1959) UK conservation architecture practice with parallel expertise in cathedrals, country houses, and heritage regeneration. Closely comparable on ecclesiastical and listed-building conservation, quinquennial inspection work, and accredited conservation architect team.
• Caruso St John: RIBA Stirling Prize-shortlisted practice with strong portfolio in adaptive reuse and heritage-led new build within historic contexts (e.g., Newport Street Gallery). Comparable on heritage-sensitive new build, museums, and award-grade delivery.
• Simpson & Brown: Conservation architects working on castles, churches, and historic buildings across the UK, including major projects for the National Trust and English Heritage. Highly comparable niche positioning in ecclesiastical and historic building conservation.

Others

• Historic England: UK public body that advises on and grants listed-building consents — a key counterparty and quasi-regulator for TFP's conservation work (e.g., Heritage at Risk Register engagement at Crystal Palace Subway). Ecosystem participant rather than a competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Allies and Morrison: Major London-based architectural practice with deep heritage portfolio (e.g., Royal Academy, King's Cross) alongside broader urban design work. Adjacent competitor on heritage-led cultural and institutional commissions in London.
• Levitt Bernstein: UK architectural practice with established heritage and conservation capability alongside residential and urban design work. Comparable on heritage and listed-building project delivery in the UK market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tfparchitects
• Instagraminstagram.com/thomasfordandpartners
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thomas-ford-and-partners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Thomas Ford and Partners