A FAMILY building company with a 400-year history has reached the end of an era as employees clocked off for the last time, reports Beth Broomby.

Windermere builders G.H.

Pattinson Ltd, which was part of a larger group of businesses belonging to the Pattinson family, closed its doors after centuries of trade on Friday, August 31.

Directors said the decision to close the building arm of the company was due to an ongoing "reconstruction" of their group but said they were not prepared to comment further as the process was not yet complete.

As a result of the closure more than 20 people were made redundant but Pattinson Ltd spokesman Diana Mathews said the company's imminent closure had been announced in April, and in the interim a number of employees had found other jobs.

The Pattinson family has been building since the 1500s and was responsible for constructing many of Windermere's landmark properties, such as the Windermere Hotel, Windermere Station, St Mary's Church and the Belsfield Hotel, Bowness-on-Windermere.

Mrs Mathews said: "There has been a reconstruction of the Patterson group of companies and as a result G.H.

Pattinson Ltd is no longer continuing in business.

Different members of the family wish to go in different directions."

The Pattinson group, which includes Pattinsons (Windermere) Ltd, Pattinson Estates Ltd.

The Langdale Green Slate Company Ltd and Pullwoods Estate Co, will continue to operate pending the outcome of the reconstruction.

But Mrs Mathews said when the restructuring was complete the estates companies would continue in some form but not in their "existing" form.

However, building trade may not have ceased permanently on the Beresford Road premises as a number of former employees hope to set up their own building company on the site.

Mrs Mathews said negotiations were still continuing between directors and a group of around ten employees but stressed that if the new building company went ahead it would not be legally connected to the Pattinson group.

"We wanted the best for the workforce.

Some hope to continue with their own business and we plan to transfer some of our assets to them under favourable conditions."

Mrs Pattinson described the closure as "a very sad time" but said the company, which offered a "bespoke" building service, had built up an excellent reputation over the centuries.