History

History of Peter Dudgeons

Dudgeon was established in 1947 by Mr. Peter Dudgeon to make top quality sofas for the residential market. In 1952, Peter Dudgeon acquired the showroom site in Brompton Place. For twenty-five years, the company manufactured here as well as displaying sofas but a fire then destroyed the building. After rebuilding, the company re-established its showroom on the original site whilst the workshops moved to a 7,000 square foot site in West London.

After the founder's retirement 1966, the company was managed by his son, William Dudgeon, he was determined to carry on making furniture of the same traditional quality and designers, who retired in 1993. Hugh Garforth-Bles had joined William Dudgeon in 1986. The firm has developed from making chairs and sofas to grace state occasions, and now makes best quality furniture for British embassies and high commissions.

In 1993, Hugh Garforth-Bles became a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers, who is 83rd in Order of Procedence of the City Livery Companies. In 2004 he was invited to join its Court. In May 2011, he was elected the 50th Master of the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers.