Accountants based in Bath | UK

About Us

The firm was founded in 1871 by Mr David Owen before the formation of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales. The firm was known as David Owen & Co with an office in Devizes. David then joined the Institute and was immediately made a fellow in 1891. A review of the Institute’s archives show that David also opened offices in Bristol and for a while in Queen Victoria Street, London near to St Paul’s Cathedral. He later opened offices in Bath, Warminster and Malborough.

David’s son Ralph D Owen joined the firm and he became a member of the Institute on 6 February 1907. Ralph eventually succeeded his father around 1931 as senior partner and the firm became known as Ralph D Owen & Co with offices in Bath and Warminster. The Bath office was for a number of years at 47 Milsom Street. With records missing during the war years it is not possible to establish the exact date the practice moved to its current location in Queen Square but it was certainly no later than 1947.

On Ralph’s death in the late 1950’s the firm became known as R D Owen & Co was continued by Leslie Fudge and Christopher Sullivan with the same two offices. The practice became specialist in taxation and became involved with the tax affairs of some household names as well as looking after local professions and traders.

On 1 April 2008 the practice merged with Pethericks & Gillard Limited of Midsomer Norton and Wells. The directors of Pethericks & Gillard Limited have rightly decided to retain the long established trading name and continue to maintain the two offices at Bath, controlled by Robin Browning, and Warminster, controlled by Ian Gillard. They wish to build on the existing traditional values by incorporating the latest technology and their compliance systems, which have been awarded the Quality Check award by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants of which both are members. Both are also members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales thereby proudly following in the footsteps of the founder.

If you are looking for a team of reliable, professional, approachable accountants who will do more than just respond to your needs - who will work with you in a proactive manner to help you succeed, we would be delighted to be of service.