J Gard & Sons Ltd, was established in 1919 by Jack Gard.

He moved to Chelmsford from Deptford to work as a Timber Handler. After learning the trade he set up a business in 1919 from a site in Beehive Lane Chelmsford and started chopping and selling firewood, which at the time was an essential commodity. In 1921 the business expanded, and more land was obtained, a small mill was built in order to retail timber, fencing and sheds. As the company grew it moved on to a greenfield site in Baddow Road, which is now Parkway, long before the Army and Navy roundabout was built. Gards continued trading through the good times and the bad, even having to dismantle their own racks to sell as lengths of timber during World War II and survived the recessions over the years. Through the 100 years the company has remained a family business which it continues with Kevin Gard, the great grandson of the founder, having worked through the business, now one of the Directors carrying the company forward into the next 100 Years.

Martyn Gard, Managing Director and Grandson of the founder took the company to new premises in East Hanningfield in 2005 as it had far outgrown the site on Parkway and with ever increasing traffic at the Army and Navy relocating once again was the only way the company would be able to continue developing its business.

The site in East Hanningfield has adequate customer parking and can enable trading well into the future. Now one of the largest independent Timber Merchants in Essex, Gards offers a full range of timber and fencing materials to both the trade and general public. Good customer service has always been key to the business and with friendly and knowledgeable staff this is what sets them apart from the Superstores along with keen prices and good stock range.

If it’s a full garden makeover or a replacement length of bespoke skirting Gards cover all aspects of timber and associated products. They still offer the specialist machining and a full cutting service. With a fleet of 10 vehicles Gards can now also offer a full range of bagged decorative stones and aggregates along with porcelain and sandstone paving.