McCarthy Edward FITT, Builder of Reading

From Kelly's Reading directory 1934

McCarthy Edward FITT , Builder of Reading

McCarthy Edward FITT was baptised at Empshott on the 9th March 1858 and by 1881 was a boarder and assistant in the household of Charles FILEWOOD, builder of Earley near Reading in Berkshire. Also in the household was Selina Blanche FILEWOOD, the sixteen year old builder's daughter.

Perhaps in 1883 and certainly by 1887 Charles FILEWOOD had stepped down and McCarthy Edward FITT had formed a partnership with Mr John WINTER as a builder. In 1888 McCarthy Edward FITT married Selina Blanche FILEWOOD in Cookham RD, Berkshire and two years later, in 1890, the partnership with John WINTER was dissolved.

In 1889 McCarthy Edward FITT was living at 3 Woodside Terrace, Hamilton road, Reading and the business established enough to take on an apprentice, James Martin HARRIS, of Long Sutton for four years.

By 1895 McCarthy Edward FITT had moved to 'Sparsholt' Eastern avenue but with premises at 133 London road trading as a Builder, Contractor and Monumental Mason.

In 1900 the building yard was established in Trinity place, Oxford road, next to Holy Trinity church and remained there until at least 1969.

McCarthy Edward and Selina had children,

Malcolm born 29th June 1889, builder and contractor.
Dorothy born about 1891
Leonard born 1893 builder and contractor

McCarthy Edward FITT had moved to 'Carlisle house' Oxford road and on his death in 1915 his widow remained there moving to 'Monksway', Southcote lane some time after 1925 where she died in 1934.

McCarthy Edward FITT constructed many prominent buildings in Reading including the Corporation Art gallery, the old British Dairy Institute late remodelled for the Police station. The Redlands and Wokingham Road schools and the ladies toilets for the King's Meadow baths (at a sum of Ł1240). For the government he built the gymnasium at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and locally to Reading the Sonning drainage scheme and Henley town hall.

In 1983 the firm celebrated its centenary (although as part of the Rochfort group) by presenting a piece of civic plate to the borough of Reading.