Five generations of the Ausden family have owned and operated Geo Ausden Ltd since the turn of the nineteenth century.

We are proud to have provided over a hundred years of quality service to businesses large and small in Watford, and throughout Hertfordshire and the surrounding area.

History

George Ausden Jr was born in Watford in May 1884. He was one of seven children. His father, George Snr, was from the Great Missenden area of Buckinghamshire, and had moved to Watford to take up employment with the railway. They lived in Sutton Road, Watford.

George was an entrepreneur from an early age. He left school at 13 and soon had his own barrow selling greengroceries. He later saw an opportunity to make some money from scrap metals.

George founded the company around the beginning of the 20th century. He dealt not only in metals, but also rags, bottles, rabbit skins, and much, much more.

After a number of different premises in Watford, including one in Market Street and one in Hemel Hempstead, the company moved to its current location on Lower High Street in 1925.

After the founder’s death in 1938, two of his sons, Stanley and William, took over the business. They ventured into steel stock for the building trade and the company grew. Operating from two sites in Lower High Street, the business flourished during the war years as metals were important to the war effort. They became steel stockholders for the building and related trades.

A third generation joined the company in the late 40’s when Stan’s twin sons, John and Pete, along with Bill’s son, Roy, came into the fold. The three took over the running of the company in 1964 when their fathers both died within six months of each other.

The company has continued to prosper in more recent years. Roy was bought out in 1989. John and Pete retired in 1995, and sadly Pete died only a few months later. John passed away in 2009.

The company is now run by John’s sons, Grant and Steve Ausden. Working along side them are their sons, Bradley and Jack.

The company’s main operation remains metal recycling, primarily non-ferrous. However, steel stock is a growing part of the trade, with fabrication and drilling part of the service provided.