The firm was established in 1969 by our founding Partner Alfred Daines. He was joined in 1982 by Chris Carley and in 1985 by Nigel Perry. Following Alf Daines retirement in 1995, the firm has been successfully taken on operating from offices in Manchester and Carlisle. The two offices have recently divided into separate organizations but retain very close informal links with staff collaborating on many projects in their respective areas of specialism.

Our Managing Partner, Chris Carley, was born in Bolton in 1954, and was educated at Bolton School and the University of Leeds. Following graduation he joined the Highways Department of Cumbria County Council and trained professionally in design of major highway structures. Since joining the firm in 1982, he has been responsible for the structural design of many major buildings in structural steel, reinforced concrete, load-bearing masonry and structural timber. He has also personally inspected in excess of 15,000 individual buildings ranging from domestic properties up to major commercial and industrial buildings. Chris Carley is frequently asked to provide expert evidence in litigation matters and often attends court as an Expert Witness.