Ernest Doe & Sons celebrates 125 years of business

Ernest Doe & Sons Ltd will celebrate 125 years of business in 2023. To mark the anniversary of Ernest Doe founding the business in Ulting, Essex, third and fourth generations Daphne Chandler and Colin Doe, formally planted an evergreen oak outside the front of the showroom.

Daphne and Colin were surrounded by family as they planted the tree on ‘Doe corner’, followed by Colin reading some emotional words as to why it was so special to them. Ernie Doe, Colin’s grandfather and Daphne’s father, had his ashes buried on the site, although he has since been moved to join his wife, Blanchie.

The event was well attended, with Colin Doe commenting, “a lot of family here, because of course we are a true family business”.

Founder Ernest Doe took over the lease of a blacksmith’s in 1898, before buying the land as well as the neighbouring farm in 1910, but it wasn’t until 1920 that the business started to transform into what we would recognise today, with second generation Ernest Doe convincing his father to buy some of the 6,000 tractors sent over to the UK from the USA to help with the war effort.

But of course the Ernest Doe business will always be remembered for the triple D. Built from Fordson Supermajor tractor units, less the front wheels, the iconic machine created 100hp, far greater than anything seen yet.

Today Ernest Doe & Sons Ltd is one of the largest agricultural, horticulture and construction dealers in the UK, with 19 branches from Norfolk to Surrey, with fifth generation Angus Doe having taken over from his father as managing director.

The annual Doe Show on 7-9th February 2023 is set to be better than ever, with sales director Graham Parker saying: “It’s going to be completely different to celebrate the 125th year of Ernest Doe & Sons.”