This article is an extract from the Stansted Chamber of Trade Guide in 1977 and was written by Aubrey Levey (now deceased)
A SHORT HISTORY OF AN OLD STANSTED FAMILY BUSINESS
The earliest mention of the Levey family traced so far is when one Thomas Levey married at Manuden in 1649. He was a carpenter and most of the family have been in that or related trades. However, two or three have been farmers and at least one was an innkeeper. The carpenter's and jobbing builder's business descended through the years from father to son, with various Thomas Leveys, Frederick Leveys and Robert Leveys being the men in charge.
Always able to stand on its own feet, probably the business reached its largest size in the hands of two members of the family, both named Robert and separated by more than a hundred years. Really first-rate tradesmen can be found in every generation, to mention only a few, Robert of the 18th century, Frederick Senr. of Victorian times, Frederick Junr. and his son, also Frederick, and this later Frederick's cousin, Frank. One branch of the business ran for many years in the control of three Georges and this continuity of Christian name, too, was a feature of the family; yet from time to time members broke away to open up on their own.
Branches of the Levey family as carpenters and builders were established in Bishop's Stortford, Stansted, Manuden and Birchanger.
The full provision of funerals certainly goes back five generations and this is now the main concern of the business, with the growth and sale of pot plants and horticultural sundries as a side-line since 1958. This latter development has grown steadily with the passing years and a friendly relationship has been established with several of the larger and old-established nurseries for the prompt supply of items impossible to grow on a small glasshouse unit. Private enterprise has been the manner of the family business down the centuries and they like to think the same desire to serve and to please exists today.
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