Richardson’s is truly a family business, which has been inextricably linked with boating and holidays for hundreds of years. The company’s founder, Robert Richardson Jnr, can trace the history of the Richardson family back to his great-great-grandfather Robert Kemp, who owned a public house in Oulton Broad named The Lady of the Lake, which is still there today.
History of the Richardson's Group
Robert Kemp’s son, also named Robert, was a boat builder and built Norfolk Wherries on the east of Mutford Lock. This Robert had a daughter named Minnie, who married a Robert Richardson and had four sons, including another Robert, named after his grandfather. That Robert – who we refer to as Robert Richardson Snr – served his apprenticeship as a marine engineer and worked for many years at Chambers shipyard on Lake Lothing, Oulton Broad. He and his wife had three children, including our founder Robert Richardson Jnr. Robert Jnr bought four row boats for £36 in the early part of the Second World War, before he was called up. While he was away, Robert Snr let the boats for him, in addition to the existing fleet of day boats. Upon Robert Jnr’s return, Richardson’s was born.
