Thirty years of Murrills
House history from 1952 An extract from Margaret Bell’s memoires
Associated British Combustion Ltd (ABC) acquired Murrills House and moved in during 1952. Not a great deal is known about them, but ABC was at that time a small but flourishing company that began life in the late 1940’s at nearby Meonstoke after the Second World War.
Their logo proudly declared that they were ‘the makers of the World’s finest oil burners’. It was aptly matched by their products and was greatly assisted by breaking into the market at the point in time when oil was the cheapest fuel available.
The Company Chairman and Managing Director, Commander R.B. Cooper MBE, BSc, ARCS,
who was a retired naval officer, gathered around him a loyal, enthusiastic staff. My husband, Colin Bell, joined them in 1955 and stayed with them until 1983, rising through the ranks to become Technical Director. He thoroughly enjoyed working at Murrills House and loved the surroundings.
For a long time the gardens and tennis courts at Murrills House were proudly maintained in their original state by the gardener who had worked for the previous owner. Commander Cooper threw the house and gardens open for the Portchester Conservative Association to hold the annual garden party throughout the ‘50s and ‘60s.
The Transport Manager and Caretaker lived on site at Murrills Cottage. As the business developed a factory, a large drawing office, test rig and canteen were built on the site and the workforce rapidly grew in numbers as the business flourished.
The house also had a residential ghost - a grey lady - and there were some staff members who were not happy to be left on their own at the end of a day’s work.
ABC had secured contracts with the admiralty, War Office, Foreign Office, Ministry of Supply, Central Electricity Generating Board, South of Scotland Generating Board, leading shipping
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