Proud to serve our customers since 1847
Robert Price is the largest independent builders’ merchants in South Wales and Herefordshire and is a family-run, local business with 31 branches in the group. Currently trading with four brands, Robert Price, Gower Timber, Tudors and Terry Howell. See our Branches page for the full list of service options and locations.
Established in 1847, our customer profile now ranges from national house builders to local tradesmen, public sector organisations to self builders, private and commercial contractors. Robert Price Group offers the full spectrum of industry divisions, delivering reliable and professional merchant products and services to all our customers.
A History in Pictures
We’re proud of our history at Robert Price. See a part of our journey in the images below.
175 years of Robert Price
Our history is rich and varied, having come a long way since our humble beginnings. Our principles and our commitment to local businesses, trades, and customers have remained paramount throughout.
Robert Price was established in Abergavenny in 1847, originally as stonemasons and later specialising in monumental works. The main office was situated at Lion Works, Lion Street, Abergavenny, where Robert Price lived with his family in the adjoining cottage, with his horses and drays kept at Park Road. An examination of many of the gravestones in churchyards in Monmouthshire will reveal the lettering “R. Price, Abergavenny” carved into their plinths and surrounds.
The Ebbw Vale branch opened in about 1880. Additional small monumental works at Brynmawr, Crickhowell and Blaenavon were opened by the turn of the century.
Having established himself as a stonemason, Robert Price, grandson of the founder, saw the business potential in supplying masonry to local tradesmen. Eventually in the latter part of the 19th century, following encouraging support from local builders, he developed the business into a builders’ merchant. With an oral “promise” not to compete as a builder, he started to stock and supply tradesmen in Abergavenny and Ebbw Vale with basic heavy side materials and of course hay for horses.
Monumental work continued until about 1939 with customers often paying in advance for their tombstones, which would then be inscribed except for the date of death.
Original deliveries were made by a handcart and ‘interbranch’ was courtesy of the rear platform of the double-decker bus service between Abergavenny and Ebbw Vale.
The business became incorporated in 1947 and continued to offer the high-quality products, knowledge and service which had established the company in Abergavenny and Ebbw Vale.
The Brecon branch opened its doors in 1977, and Monmouth followed in 1983, substantially increasing the coverage of service to new and existing customers for the first time in over 100 years.
The Beaver was adopted as the company’s corporate identity in 1988 and has become synonymous with top quality products and a high level of customer service.
The 1990s saw a period of rapid expansion for Robert Price, with branches opening in Aberbeeg in 1990, Cwmbran and then Chepstow the following year in 1991.
Both Newport and Swansea branches were established in 1994, with merchants in Caerphilly and Cardiff following in 1995.
A builders’ merchant in Pontypool began trading in 1996 with the Merthyr Tydfil and Bridgend locations opening in 1997.
Our first specialist location was acquired in 2003 with ‘Robert Price Timber’ opening in Taff’s Well, Cardiff.
A specialist ‘Robert Price Roofing’ branch started trading in Pontypool in 2006. In 2008, a branch specialising in insulation opened in Leckwith, Cardiff.
Three stores were established in 2013; a builders’ merchant in Barry and two roofing specialists in Cardiff and Bridgend; supporting the builders’ merchant locations already established there.
Abergavenny Agricultural Supplies was embraced into the Robert Price family in 2014 and has since been rebranded to Robert Price Agricultural.
Gower Timber in Penclawdd, Swansea joined the Robert Price Group in 2017, becoming the second timber specialist location.
In February 2021, Aberdare based builders’ merchants, Builders’ Bitz, was welcomed into the Robert Price Group. The company traded under the Builders’ Bitz name until 2024 when it was brought fully into the Robert Price branch network.
In early 2022, Robert Price extended its great service across the border after acquiring Hereford based company Tudors Building Supplies. Tudors has four separate branches; a builders’ merchants, roofing supplies stockist, landscaping materials supplier and a kitchen bathroom & home specialist. Tudors will continue trading under the Tudors brand for the foreseeable future, continuing to provide great service and expertise to Hereford and its surrounding areas.
The first two months of 2024 saw us add a further three locations to our network. Port Talbot Branch, which opened in January, was initially launched to support our partnership with Tai Tarian Housing Association, and will welcome all of our trade customers shortly. In February, Robert Price acquired the assets of Terry Howell Timber and Builders’ Merchants. A family business with sites in Newport and Pontypool, Terry Howell is the perfect addition to the Robert Price Group.
Cashbooks and hand-written journals have been replaced by the latest computerised technology and the transportation of materials has evolved from handcarts to a full modern vehicle fleet, with an available stocklist of almost 30,000 products.
Headquarters is still located in Abergavenny on the site originally used as Robert Price’s stables. The current directors are fifth and sixth generation, descended from the founder. It is still very much a family enterprise as initially intended by Robert Price 175 years ago, with directors involved in all aspects of the business.
As a leading organisation in the builders’ merchants industry, Robert Price is actively involved in the Builders’ Merchants Federation. The company also works closely with manufacturers and building authorities to ensure its staff and customers are all kept aware of the latest building practices and product developments.
We will continue to provide the best in high-quality products and services across South Wales and into England. Our unique range of locations, products and expertise across the variety of specialists under the Robert Price Group name is unmatched.
We strive to meet all customer requirements and ask that you get in touch or call 01873 858585 if you have any specific requests. Our service is currently conducted in an offline capacity as this gives us the freedom and ability to ensure our hallmark service can be provided personally by our team.
