Symm has had a continuous presence in Oxford since the reign of King George III. It employs the real characters behind some of the city’s glorious buildings - indeed the current Chairman, Malcolm Axtell, is the great grandson of the talented mason, Thomas Axtell. Thomas was a partner of the Victorian master builder, Joshua Symm; their building and decorating history stretches back 200 years.
The first fully documented project was the building of a classical church, completed in 1815 - it’s still in use today! In the mid 1800s, Symm embarked on a six-year extensive new build programme at Exeter College. Conceived by renowned architect, Sir Gilbert Scott, the buildings included the Rector’s Lodgings, Library and striking gothic chapel, modelled on Ste. Chapelle in Paris.
The Symm archives make interesting reading and to ensure that the information was not lost for ever, Malcolm Axtell embarked on chronicling the fascinating history of the past two centuries in an illustrated book: BUILDING OXFORD’S HERITAGE. Copies available on request.