CHARTERED surveyors, estate agents and auctioneers Stags officially took over one of Tavistock’s oldest businesses today — Ward and Chowen — a firm that had traded in the area for 180 years.

Partner in Stags, Peter Symons, said this week the company would be trading as Stags incorporating Ward and Chowen because it valued the brand and respected the history and reputation the firm had in Tavistock.

The takeover will bring Stags’ total number offices in the Westcountry to 21 and its livestock markets to three.

Tavistock Livestock Centre, which was also run by Ward and Chowen, will be added to Stags’ livestock operations in South Molton in North Devon and Honiton in East Devon. Stags will run the former Ward and Chowen base from Tavistock and will not be taking on the lease at Yelverton. The staff at Yelverton will, however, be relocated to the Tavistock office.

‘It’s all about the staff,’ said Mr Symons. ‘We have spent three weeks with the Ward and Chowen staff and they are a lovely crew. They are really integrated in the community here and we cherish that.

‘We have seen lots of potential in the staff and there are opportunities for them to grow in our business. We spend a lot of time on training and, as in any firm, it is the staff that make the difference.’

Mr Symons also said that there was an extraordinary history to Ward and Chowen that was in the process of being archived.

• Pictured from left to right, are Stags partner Andrew Luxton, who is head of residential lettings and property management, senior partner Peter Symons and Neil?Woolcock, owner of Ward and Chowen outside the offices in Tavistock.