| Administrative History | The firm was founded by Mr A Bruce Hooley just after the First World War. (He had earlier worked as a clerk in a solicitor's office). To start with he worked chiefly as an auctioneer, also taking on some probate valuations. The occasional house sale was also undertaken . With the growth in house owner-occupation in the mid-twentieth century, the nature of the firm's business changed. House sales became more and more important, until they formed the bulk of work, while auctions of chattels were discontinued about 1950. Probate valuation has continued as a significant element in the work.
Business has evidently been drawn from Long Eaton itself and from surrounding areas in the three counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, including: eastwards; Borrowash, Spondon and Derby; westwards: Beeston and Nottingham; northwards: Kirk Hallam: and southwards, Barrow on Trent, Kegworth, Castle Donington and even Melton Mowbray. |
| Custodial History | These records were deposited in March 1984, December 1985 and August 1995. |