History

We have a long and proud history of supporting, helping and advising the good people of Cheshire and North Wales which dates back to 1792. With over 230 years under our belt, we are the most established legal practice in the region, however, we truly believe that we are a business which looks forward not back.

We constantly strive to grow and improve our business and the services we provide. Our team are all committed to changing the lives of our clients, colleagues and the wider community through their work – this is our purpose.

Here we celebrate our history, the events which have shaped us and the long-held trust generations of clients have put in us…

In 1792, under the reign of George III, with William Pitt the Younger as Prime Minister, Birch Cullimore began trading as a firm of solicitors from 20 White Friars, Chester City Centre.

For perspective, in France the same year, King Louis XVI and his queen Mary-Antoinette were imprisoned when the French monarchy was abolished, leading to Napoleon Bonaparte becoming powerful and waging the Napoleonic Wars. 12 years after Birch Cullimore began trading; the Battle of Waterloo marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars.

History of our former home at 20 White Friars

The site was formerly occupied by the Carmelite Friary of the White Friars of Chester. The Friary was established in about 1290 and survived until the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1593, the site of the Friary passed into the ownership of Thomas Egerton, Attorney General to Queen Elizabeth I. It is believed that at that time, the building was used for the office of the County Palatine of the County of Cheshire.

By 1651, John Earl of Bridgewater held the site and one of the tenants of the property was Giles Vanbrugh, a sugar refiner who took the property on in 1667. His son lived in the property from the age of three and went on to be knighted as Sir John Vanbrugh – one of the greatest architects of the Georgian era – he designed, amongst others, Castle Howard and Blenheim Palace.

The building at 20 White Friars

It is uncertain who erected the present building called Friars, but it can be seen from the outside that the building was probably built in 1742.

Birch Cullimore

Birch Cullimore began trading from Friars in 1792. The firm began under a solicitor called Massey.

In the 1860s, Henry Birch and John Cullimore became partners, and the firm acquired their name and the subsequent services of their sons and grandsons. Rae Cullimore and Harry Birch retired from the partnership in the 1980s.

In about 1912, one of the partners in Birch Cullimore first became Under Sheriff for the County of Cheshire and those duties have been carried out from the office ever since.

Mason & Moore Dutton

Meanwhile in 1891 Francis Mason joined with Thomas Moore Dutton and set up a practice in central Chester. They practised initially from Newgate Street.

In March of 1928 trainee solicitor at Mason & Moore Dutton, William “Billy” Dutton, managed to win the Grand National (in his spare time!) riding on 100/1 shot Tipperary Tim.

In 1963, Mason & Moore Dutton moved from Newgate Street in Chester due to the construction of the Grosvenor Shopping Precinct. The firm subsequently moved to Hunter Street prior to having to move once more to White Friars in 2006 following plans for the construction of the Northgate development in Chester.

Financial advice

Ahead of their time, in 1993, Birch Cullimore was the first solicitors in Chester to add financial advice to the legal services offered. This cemented their position as the premier private client solicitors in Chester, enabling families to have their legal and investment needs met, by one firm.

The union of two historic firms

In 2009 the two firms, Birch Cullimore and Mason & Moore Dutton, merged. In recognition of both firms’ history and shared future, part of each firm’s name was used to create Cullimore Dutton.

2019 saw Cullimore Dutton acquire successful, Chester-based, Yates & Co. Independent Financial Advisors, adding mortgage advice alongside further expertise in pensions, investments, and insurance, all under the Cullimore Dutton umbrella. This cemented Cullimore Dutton as not only Chester’s most established law firm, but also the only choice for families and individuals who want the security of knowing their mortgage, equity release and investment advice is being provided by experts who are completely independent.

2020 saw the appointment of a new senior management team with five new directors appointed from within the firm.

Our new home

In September 2022, our business took up new offices at 27 Newgate Street Chester.

With such a rich history and a positive vision for the future, Cullimore Dutton will continue to grow and go from strength to strength.