W. & C. French

W. & C. French, also known just as French, was a civil engineering company based at Buckhurst Hill in south-west Essex.

History
The business of Messrs W. and C. French was established by William French and his brother Charles French in 1870.

Second World War
In the Second World War it constructed many RAF airfields and also built Mulberry harbour units.

Public company
On 19 September 1949 it became a public company, when the Chairman of the company was Charles Samuel French, the son of William French. Another director was Brigadier John Linnaeus French CB CBE (18 November 1896 - 12 March 1953), a former commander of Colchester Garrison, and brother of Charles. Its transport depot was at Loughton. They had other depots at Colchester and Wisbech and carried out most of its work in East Anglia. The company was acquired by Kier Group in 1973.

Major projects

 * The Coronation Channel at Spalding, Lincolnshire on the River Welland completed in 1953
 * BOAC maintenance depot (now British Airways) at Heathrow Airport completed in 1955
 * Hanningfield Reservoir completed in 1957
 * London Heliport completed in 1959
 * Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir (Walton South Reservoir) completed in 1962
 * New facilities at New Hall, Cambridge completed in 1965
 * Grafham Water completed in 1965
 * Wraysbury Reservoir completed in 1971
 * Covenham Reservoir completed in 1978

Roads

 * M18 Thurcroft (M1) to Wadworth (A1 M) completed 1967
 * M6 Carnforth to Farleton completed 1970
 * M6 Farleton to Killington completed 1970
 * M62 Pole Moor to Outlane completed 1970
 * M62 Outlane to Hartshead completed 1972
 * M62 Pollington to Rawcliffe completed 1975
 * M23 Hooley to Merstham completed 1975
 * M11 Redbridge to Loughton completed 1975
 * A12 Ufford to Wickham Market completed 1976

Airfields

 * RAF Alconbury
 * RAF Balderton
 * RAF Bassingbourn
 * RAF Boxted
 * RAF Debden
 * RAF Downham Market
 * RAF Earls Colne
 * RAF Graveley
 * RAF Knettishall
 * RAF Langham
 * RAF Mildenhall
 * RAF Rivenhall
 * RAF Thurleigh
 * RAF Wyton