Dugdales was started in 1906 by William Eddie Dugdale selling sheep dip to local farmers. It then progressed to producing ventilators and sheet metal goods. Throughout the 1920's we manufactured gas boilers and supplied manhole covers, grates and water bowls to a wide area of northern England.
In 1932 an electrical department was opened by Thomas Harger Dugdale and the following year branches in Ingleton and Bentham, run by Norman Dugdale were opened under the name of Farmers Stores.
The agricultural section was opened at Settle and Skipton in 1947 with the speciality of milking equipment developing as the dairying industry progressed from bucket milking, to pipelines and then to parlours together with the move to bulk milk collection.
The introduction of milk quotas in 1983 saw a considerable reduction in demand for milking equipment and the fitting side of the business was closed although a large stock of milking machine spares is still stocked.
In December 1957 the electrical side of the business was enrolled with the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting, known as NICEIC, and in 2005 became a member of the NICEIC Part P approved scheme.
In 1987 Thomas Harger Dugdale retired from the business and it was continued by Ian and Barbara Johnson (nee Dugdale).
In 1990 following the move by Skipton Auction Mart the Skipton branch moved from the Victoria Street to the new Auction Mart site off Gargrave Road.
In 2001 following the foot and mouth epidemic which had a considerable effect on the agricultural side of the business, the warehouse next to the Victoria Hall was converted and in November 2001 The Garden Shed was opened.
Over the past 100 years and through three generations the business has evolved to meet the changing needs of the local community.
