H J Widdows & Son
The firm was established in Leigh, Lancashire in 1878 by Henry James Widdows who continued in practice with his son as H J Widdows & Son until the 1930s when he was joined by Eric Davis.
In the 1940s the practice became known as Widdows Davis & Clegg and subsequently Widdows Davis & Frankland in the 1960s when John Frankland became a Partner. The firm ultimately became Widdows Mason in 1987 following a merger with Masons Solicitors of Bolton.
In 1996 the firm's new half a million pound head office opened opposite the Bus Station at 18-20 King Street, Leigh. This building dates from 1840 and was originally the Police Station and Magistrates' Court, being used as Leigh's Town Hall from 1875 until the present Town Hall building was constructed in Market Street between 1904 and 1907.
Up until the move to the current premises the firm had operated from Bradshawgate Chambers in the days of H J Widdows & Son and subsequently from a suite of offices in Turnpike House on Market Street.
The official opening of the new building was carried out by Robert Taylor of Taylor's Confectioners in Leigh; Widdows Mason's oldest clients, who had been with the firm since the 1920s.