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Heritage & History

In the late 1960’s Tom Ferncombe relocated from Ireland to southwest London in search of work. The 1950s had seen the largest net emigration from the country compared to all preceding decades and whilst this trend declined subsequently, it remained a feature through the 1960s and well into the 1970s. The economy was largely based on agriculture at this time, with less than a quarter of the working population employed in industry. It is perhaps understandable why our company founder decided to make his living elsewhere. 

Tom’s early days in London saw him providing labour to other contractors and builders. An early morning would see him picking up Irish labourers from the Edgeware Road, “there were plenty about back then” Tom recollects, and transporting them to wherever they were needed. This could be quite some distance and Tom remembers travelling to parts of Norfolk, Essex, Kent and of course London itself. The same journey would then be completed each evening. Through contacts, Tom started working for O.C. Summers Ltd, first laying gas mains around Croydon and then undertaking drainage work in the London Borough of Wandsworth.

Having worked in the Borough through O.C. Summers for Wandsworth, the reputation had been built. When an opportunity arrived to tender for the contract directly in 1973, Tom took it and was awarded the work. As a result, Cappagh Contractors was incorporated in 1973 and the formal company history begins. The rest, as they say, is history...

What our clients say

In my time working with Cappagh I have found them to be both highly knowledgeable and dependable partners in helping Thames Water to maintain its Waste Water network.  They have proven on several occasions to be able to react at short notice and support us in emergencies, often exceeding our expectations.  In my experience the Cappagh staff exhibit a real “can-do” attitude and genuinely care about doing a great job for Thames Water.

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Matt Rimmer

Matt RimmerHead of Waste Networks, Thames Water

Cappagh have supported Morgan Sindall Infrastructure for over 10 years in delivering numerous complex projects at Heathrow in both the Landside and Airside environments. They understand the complex nature and uniqueness of working at a fully operational Airport. The Cappagh teams are committed to the ethos of Morgan Sindall Infrastructure and Heathrow providing constant support day or night to the planned works. We look forward to working with Cappagh on future projects and challenging the status quo in the industry to deliver clients’ expectations

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Ed Challis CEng MICE FCMI

Ed Challis CEng MICE FCMIOperations Director, Morgan Sindall, Construction & Infrastructure Ltd

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