Martell's commenced trading as independent retailers in 1917, when William George Martell took over the lease of 7 London Road, Elephant and Castle. The previous lessee, whom had been the Manager of the shop decided to close that particular branch of their bedstead business.

In 1924, following the death of William George Martell, his eldest son, Edward William Martell, left his job as a qualified Toolmaker to take over the running of the family business.

Six years later, Edward and his wife Ada started an independent business in Sutton, Surrey. Based in Sutton Common Road, they had formed Martell's of Sutton Ltd. This proved to be a successful move.

They later moved the business to three units at 10-14 Stonecot Hill, Sutton.

In fact, we still trade from there today and show a respectable range of beds, bedroom furniture and sofa beds as well as having a specialised chair centre.

During 1954, Martell's opened a new store in East Grinstead, West Sussex, at 68 London Road. These premises were extended a few years later to accommodate a full range of home furnishings.

Roger Edward Martell joined the company in 1960, starting as a Sales Assistant / Delivery Driver. He is now the current Managing Director and has seen the extension of the Sutton store, as well as the opening of our Queens Walk, East Grinstead store in 1974. The latter has since been extended to 15,000 sq ft of retail space, with further expansion planned.

The Martell's store in Queens Walk, East Grinstead sells not only normal furniture store items such as upholstery, dining and bedroom furniture, beds and sofa beds, carpets and curtains, but also includes lighting, linen, gifts, toys and an impressive model department stocking products from Hornby, Bachman, Revell, and Airfix, to name but a few.

Martell's is currently run by Roger Martell, his wife Margaret, their son Charlie, their daughter Elizabeth Lawrence, and of course the knowledgeable staff that make Martell's the friendly, family business that it is.

To read more about the history of Martell's and the man who started it all, you can now read "Some Bods Move On" by Edward W. Martell online.

SOME BODS MOVE ON

"An unsolicited appreciation from a printing worker completely unknown to me at the time."
E.W. Martell

Dear Mr. Martell, I feel slightly out of line writing this letter to you, however you will be interested to know that I did the machine setting in type of your book. My reason in writing this is to congratulate you on your writing such an interesting personal history, the chapters provided a most satisfying work to set, indeed, one of the most interesting jobs I have set of late. You must have had some terrible times in the "Second World War" - so graphically portrayed by you. I could almost see your van in the middle of that field in Turners Hill and the "Horse Marine." At the end, reading about "your journey being necessary" - food for thought here! A most excellent account to read and I wish the book and your family all the best. (Signed) C.P.S. Terry.

Click here to read: "Some Bods Move On" By E.W. Martell