One of Dover’s oldest companies closes after a century.

A.T. Blackman and Son Ltd ceases trading as a domestic heating and plumbing company today.

It had started as a building firm repairing destruction from the First World War.

The firm, in Dover High Street, says that this has happened due to ill health among management and the inability to find the highly skilled staff needed.

It is still financially sound.

A statement from the directors this week said: “The business ceases trading due to ill health of the management team and the inability to replace quality members of our premier team.”

It adds that this “resulted in insufficient installation and maintenance staff for us to continue to offer our traditional high level of service to our customers.”

Blackman has about 1,000 customers and some of its work will continue with one member of staff being made redundant, Ian Edwards.

He will go self-employed and arrangements have been made for him to undertake service maintenance and customers on contract will be contacted in due course.

The rest of the six fitters ar retiring or also going self-employed.

The company was founded by Arthur Thomas Blackman in 1919 as a firm for post-war rebuilding.

Over time it diversified into heating and plumbing.

This included bathroom and subsequently kitchen installations and for many years the manufacture of tiled surrounds.

The last directors are Richard Blackman and Tony Smither, grandchildren of the founder.

Mr Smither told the Mercury: “This is a blow to us because we have both been here for 41 of the 98 years.

“One problem has been finding people of the right calibre and we have had this problem over the last couple of years.

“We had two guys in the last three years who moved on after their apprenticeships.

“A year ago we had 12 fitters and we ended with just six.”

Mr Smither stressed that the company was not closing due to financial difficulty.

Blackman are agents for the Parkray and Rayburn Solid Fuel spare parts firm.

The directors are now seeking to sell off remaining stock including bathroom and kitchen furniture still in the showroom.