Originally a plumber, Fredrick Edwin Thompson (grandfather to David and Ian) formed Thompson & Leigh in 1946 to supply plumbing & sanitaryware to the building trade. The original premises were at 272 Broadway, Bexleyheath. The company also started to make fireplaces in a small lock-up, expanding in 1947 to premises at Harrow Manorway, Abbey Wood and quickly scaling up to produce over 100 per week, primarily sold to local authorities and builders.

Douglas B. Thompson joined Thompson & Leigh in 1955 after serving in the RAF.

The plumbing supplies side of the business expanded and bought the premises next to 272 and soon after built a warehouse to accommodate the increasing stock level, which quickly filled and grew into additional units alongside. As a result, the company’s turnover soon exceeded £300,000.

Due to ill health during the mid-sixties, Fredrick E. Thompson decided to sell the company. J H Sankey acquired the plumbing side in 1966. Douglas B. Thompson then worked for Sankey and ran the South East Region for ten years, turning over £30 million per annum before joining the main Sankey board as operations director. J H Sankey (part-owned by the Coal Board) was sold in 1983/1984.

Douglas B. Thompson & Pamela Thompson decided to return to selling plumbing, heating & sanitaryware to the local trade and formed Thompson & Leigh as it is now. They opened a warehouse in Crayford close to the Black Prince interchange and just 5 minutes from the Dartford tunnel. They opened accounts with major suppliers like Armitage Shanks and Wavin Plastics (Osma). Two additional units were then added on to Thompson & Leigh in the same estate within 2-3 years.

Ian Thompson joined the company soon after the formation and David Thompson a few years later. Ian & David Thompson now run eleven Thompson & Leigh branches consisting of nine trade counters and two 4000sq foot bathroom showrooms.