Today’s nostalgia spread is a celebration of a local developer which has been providing homes in Tendring for over a century.

The year is 1896 – H L Rose and Sons was founded and four generations later it has evolved into a company known as Rose Builders

From a business that employed about 20-30 people in the early 1990s, the Lawford-based firm now has more than 200 employees, many of whom have been a loyal labour force since leaving school.

Graham Lay Flurrie, for example, started out as an Apprentice Bricklayer, and is now in a senior management role, after 42 years with the company.

“It really gives the business gravitas and longevity,” says Steven Rose, managing director of Rose Builders.

Steven has been running the company for the past 30 years and says part of the success of the business is down to the traditional values passed from generation to generation.

One of the highlight of those values is the social housing built for the then Tendring Rural District Council.

As seen in the pictures, some of this include the council houses in Wignall Street in Lawford , which were built in 1921 as well as the council accommodation in Harwich Road, Mistley from 1922.

Rose Builders were also in charge of building six villas in Colchester Road, Lawford in 1936, which were used as cottages for Edme employers.

Mr Rose said: “These were built post war when there was a lot of poverty and housing needy people around.

"Something had to be done to help socially.

"These houses have lasted more than a hundred years and they are part of the building environment throughout Tendring

"They are recognisable solid houses, which were built to decent standards of the time."

Rose Builders will also be providing 22 affordable homes to the Lawford Housing Enterprise Trust, which aims to help locally connected young people get on the property ladder.

Visit rosebuilders.co.uk