Lushers Ltd
MAINTAINING HERITAGE

W.S. Lusher & Son Ltd was a respected building firm that operated for over 90 years from School Lane, Sprowston. The company was founded in 1924 by William Slaymaker Lusher (1894–1978) (as seen in the adjoining image), whose middle name was derived from his grandmother’s surname. William’s entry into the building trade was influenced by his family’s deep roots in related trades. His grandfather, Humphrey Lusher, worked as a sawyer, and his father, Joshua Lusher, was a skilled carpenter. William followed in these footsteps, becoming a carpenter's apprentice at 17. After serving in World War I, he returned to Norfolk and started his own business from his home at 31 Tillett Road​.

By 1934, W.S. Lusher & Son Ltd had outgrown its initial location and moved to a larger site in School Lane, a former brickworks. The company expanded steadily, building a reputation across various sectors of the building industry. Notable projects included Norwich’s City Crematorium (1935) and the Westlegate Tower (1959). Over time, Lusher’s carved out a niche in property restoration, taking on major projects such as the 14th-century Briton Arms and Norwich Cathedral. Their restoration of the cathedral spire in 1962 and the Cloisters in 2002-2003 are testaments to their expertise. The company’s work at Sandringham House since 1978 earned them the prestigious Royal Warrant.

Lusher’s reputation for high-quality restoration and bespoke joinery grew as they collaborated with renowned institutions like English Heritage and the National Trust. They even established an in-house joinery shop in 1978 to craft custom pieces, such as the sanctuary furniture and choir stalls at Norwich Cathedral in 1998.

William Slaymaker Lusher was succeeded by his son, William (Bill) Ivan Lusher (1926–2010), who led the firm for decades. Bill, a passionate advocate for trade apprenticeships, was instrumental in training many of the company's workers and was actively involved in the National Federation of Builders. In 1991, after decades at the helm, Bill retired, handing over the leadership to his son, Mark Nicholas Lusher.

Mark led the firm for over 30 years, and in 2015, his daughter Kim Sabina Lusher, representing the fourth generation, was appointed general manager. Despite the family’s efforts to diversify into contemporary construction and withstand the 2008 recession, financial challenges mounted, and in August 2016, the company was placed into administration.