Our Story…
William Hall & Co. was founded in 1986 by William Hall, but the story behind our name goes back much further.
We are proud to be built on a long-standing family tradition of engagement in land agency and surveying dating back to the early nineteenth century. Our current Principal, Anthony Hall, is the sixth successive generation of his family to practise in the profession.
That tradition began with two respected families in the profession coming together: the Smiths, long-standing agents to the Egerton family at Tatton Estate, and the Halls, founding partners of the highly regarded Manchester firm of surveyors Meller, Speakman and Hall. The two families were united through the marriage of J. Herbert Hall to Edith Smith in 1902.
The surveying tradition continued through their son, Derek Hall, born in 1913, who joined the family firm and became a Chartered Surveyor and Fellow of the RICS, acting as agent to prestigious clients including the Tatton and Dunham Massey Estates. Derek’s son, William Hall, born in 1945, likewise joined Meller, Speakman and Hall (later Meller Braggins), running their Chester office, before setting up William Hall & Co. in 1986 as a Chartered Surveyor and Fellow of the RICS.
The firm continues to go from strength to strength under the leadership of William’s son, Anthony Hall, following William’s well-deserved retirement in 2017. Anthony qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 2008 and subsequently as a Fellow of the CAAV in 2012, continuing the family tradition as Agent for the Gladstone family at Hawarden Estate, Flintshire, and as appointed Agent for the Gwydyr Estate, the Edge Estate, and the Llantysilio and Tregeiriog Estates.
For nearly four decades as William Hall & Co. — and for over two centuries as a family within this profession — we’ve worked alongside landowners, estates, and rural businesses across Cheshire, North Shropshire, and North Wales. We’ve grown, but our focus remains the same — rural practice is still all we do, and we remain a traditional, independent firm based in Hawarden, Flintshire.
We understand that land and property are rarely just assets. They’re a livelihood, a legacy, and often a home. That’s the perspective we bring to every instruction, whether it’s a straightforward valuation or a multi-generational estate strategy.
Our Approach
We combine two things that don’t always go together: rigorous, RICS-regulated professional standards, and genuine, practical rural know-how. Our surveyors don’t just understand market values — they understand stocking rates, cropping cycles, tenancy law, and the realities of running a rural business or maintaining a period property.
We work for:
- Landed and rural estates
- Institutional and private landowners
- Rural businesses and diversification projects
- Family farms and smallholdings
- Solicitors, accountants, and lenders requiring independent expert advice
Our Team
Anthony Hall B.Sc. (Hons), M.Sc., MRICS, FAAV, CMgr MCMI
Eleanor Smart-Wright B.Sc. (Hons), M.Sc., MRICS, FAAV
David Roberts B.A. (Hons), M.Sc.
Laura Walton B.A. (Hons), MBA, CMgr MCMI, ACIM
Janet Shaw
Helen Turner
Freya Powell
Our Timeline
William Hall & Co. is proud to be built on a long-standing family tradition of engagement in Land Agency and Surveying dating back to 1850. Further details of the professional achievements of 6 generations of the family can be seen below:
Herbert Hall
Agent to: The Rendcomb Park Estate Gloucestershire, The Tabley Estate Cheshire for Lord de Tabley, The Impney Hall Estate Worcestershire and The Ynysymaengwyn Estate Gwynedd for the Corbett family.
J. Herbert Hall
Architect & Surveyor at Meller, Speakman & Hall.
Agent to: Grenhall’s Brewery, The Church Minshull Estate Cheshire for the Loyd family, Lord Albemarle & Lord Derby (chief rents), The Manchester Co-oporation, The Toft Hall Estate Cheshire for the Leycester-Roxby family.
John T Smith Snr
Estate Agent & Auctioneer, Heaton Norris, Stockport.
John T Smith
Agent to The Tatton Estate, Cheshire for 50 years to four successive Lords Egerton.
Edith M Smith
Daughter of John T Smith & wife to J. Herbert Hall.
Derek P. M. Hall - Chartered Surveyor (FRICS)
Meller Speakman & Hall (Later Meller Braggins) Land Agents & Consultants Chartered Surveyor.
Agent to: The Tatton Estate, The Peover Estate and The Chelford Estate Cheshire for the Brooks family, The Swythamley Hall Estate and The Hare Hill Estate Cheshire for the Brocklehurst family, The Toft Hall Estate Cheshire for the Leycester-Roxby family, The Middlesmoor Estate North Yorks for the Ramsden family, The Dunham Massey Estate Cheshire for Lord Stamford, The Shrigley Hall Estate Cheshire for the Brabazon-Lowther family, The Little Ness Estate Shropshire for the Silcock family, The Arley Hall Estate Cheshire for Lord Ashbrook, Ardene Hall and The Tirley Garth Estate Cheshire for the O’Brien family, The Mere Estate Cheshire for the Langford-Brooke family, The Bostock Hall Estate Cheshire for the Carnegie family.
William F. E. Hall, B.Sc - Chartered Surveyor (FRICS), Fellow of the RIC & RICS Registered Valuer
W H Robinson & Co Chartered Surveyors (1968-1970) Trainee.
Meller Speakman & Hall (Later Meller Braggins) Land Agents & Consultants Partner, General Practice Aucteer and Estate Agent.
Chairman of Chester Association of Auctioneers, Estate Agents & Surveyors.
William Hall & Co Chartered Surveyors, Land & Estate Agents Principal then Partner, General Practice Surveyor.
Agent to: The Hawarden Estate Flintshire for Sir E William Gladstone Bt, KG, The Gwydyr Estate Conwy for Lancaster Estates, Lady Willoughby de Eresby, The Willington Estate Cheshire for the Tomkinson family, The Edge Estate Cheshire for the Wolley-Dod family, The Mainwaring Estate Conwy for the Mainwaring family, The Bretforton Estate Worcestershire for the Hall family, Chester Diocesan Glebe.
Anthony W. J Hall, B.Eng, M.Sc - Chartered Surveyor (MRICS) & RICS Registered Valuer, Fellow of the CAAV
William Hall & Co Chartered Surveyors, Land & Estate Agents Partner then Principal, General Practice Surveyor.
Agent to: The Hawarden Estate Flintshire for Sir Charles Gladstone Bt, The Gwydyr Estate Conwy for Lancaster Estates, Lady Willoughby de Eresby, The Mainwaring Estate Conwy for the Mainwaring family, The Edge Estate Cheshire for the Lewis family.
Regulation and Accreditation
William Hall & Co. is regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Our valuers act in accordance with the RICS Valuation — Global Standards (the “Red Book”), giving clients confidence in every figure we produce. Our Chartered Surveyors are also Fellows of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV), reflecting their specialist expertise in rural and agricultural practice.
We are also members of The Property Ombudsman (TPO), providing our clients with independent redress, and are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for the handling of personal data.