The UK’s oldest ongoing land agency, RH & RW Clutton, has merged with Petworth based estate agency, Peter Hughes Country Property, to create a stronger business in order to provide West Sussex and the South East with a complete professional property service.

The merger combines the expertise of two well established property businesses to enhance and expand all aspects of estate management, professional services, residential sales and lettings, commercial agency and building surveying.

RH & RW Clutton, which has roots dating back to 1743, is a highly experienced firm of chartered surveyors, land agents and estate agents, specialising in property management across the Southeast, with offices in East Grinstead and Guildford. Peter Hughes Country Property was established in 2005 and successfully sells and lets a wide range of country properties in and around Petworth.

The new company will be operating from all three offices, under the temporary name RH & RW Clutton incorporating Peter Hughes, and the operating name Clutton Hughes, until a full re-brand programme begins next year.

George Back, RH & RW Clutton’s senior partner, will head the merged firms. Peter Hughes joins as a partner and head of residential agency and will be working between both Petworth and East Grinstead offices whilst James Tillard will continue as head of rural agency in East Grinstead. Richard Grassly will continue as head of commercial, based in Guildford. Together, they will provide a complete sales Agency service for all property types.

Back commented; “We have identified a variety of significant benefits merging with a local estate agency, so the partners are very excited Peter Hughes and his colleagues have joined us. Success in the property world relies on reputation and personal service, and Peter’s record speaks for itself. Being an estate agent since 1982, he is one of the most experienced residential estate agents in West Sussex and brings a wealth of extensive knowledge and experience to the firm. We feel that Peter Hughes’ reputation for providing outstanding personal service fits in very well with our existing standards. I’m delighted that the merger has enabled us to not only expand our existing office base, but also it enables us to provide a complete professional property service to a growing number of clients in and around Petworth.”

Hughes added: “I am delighted to have joined RH & RW Clutton as the firm is a natural Partner to my business in Petworth. They offer a wide range of professional services and have a strong reputation for offering a very personal service to their clients, something I have always striven to do. The partners have been very supportive and encouraging during the process of the merger and are very keen for clients to see that the additional expertise that RH & RW Clutton can offer, compliments the residential and commercial agency side of things extremely well.”