Black Country industrial site up for sale for £1.35 million

The family-owned Marshall Welded Steel Ltd business, which was launched during the Second World War, closed this year amid economic uncertainty.

The 31,000 sq ft site on Dudley Road East features a Victorian house, workshops and storage buildings.

The business manufactured a variety of steel products before focusing on chain conveyors.

Wilf Marshall and Stan Reavenall set up the businesses at the end of the Second World War, where they sold their homes and took out bank loans to purchase the premises.

The company is now run by their sons Ian Marshall and Alan Reavall.

Mr Marshall, the current managing director, said: "My father used to say that when they first started business, they could sell anything that they made. Unfortunately, in those days, it was very difficult to source any material to make things with.

“He and his partner started off manufacturing a diverse range of steel products including such things as work benches, greenhouses, fish tanks and children’s toys.

“Around 60 years ago one of their customers complained that his overhead chain conveyor was of poor design and unreliable, and he offered a substantial cheque to produce a new one.

“This was the beginning of what became an extensive design and manufacturing capacity in the conveyors market, leading to over 70 years of successful trading.

“The company was profitable but with uncertainty in the economy we could see orders beginning to decline. So we decided to consolidate the business in 2019 and have decided to close the manufacturing side and sell the freehold on the premises.”

The front of the site was originally a large Victorian house with a rear extension and is currently used as offices.

But there is a possibility it could be changed back to offices.

Max Shelley, an associate at Bulleys, said: “This is an extraordinary opportunity to purchase a significant industrial site with great potential for refurbishment or redevelopment, and we’re already getting a lot of interest.

“The entire premises are on the market with a price of £1.35m, although the vendor would consider a separate sale of the offices in what was once a Victorian house for £250,000.”

Anyone interested in purchasing the property can email max.shelley@bulleys.co.uk or on 01215442121.