Corporate History

WKH Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors is the modern product of two long established, North Hertfordshire firms - Wickham, Hunt & Co and Watt Knowles.

Wickham, Hunt & Co

Wickham, Hunt & Co actually emerged first and was formed in the City of London in 1862. They operated from Finsbury Square until the blitz of 1940 destroyed the firm’s offices and prompted a move to North Hertfordshire. Since then, three generations of the Hunt family have worked from a variety of offices in and around Hitchin. A second office was opened in Letchworth in 1987. Wickham Hunt & Co brought two partners to WKH Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors, Chris Maylin and John Sheehan.

Watts Knowles

Watts Knowles was founded in 1903 as a sole practice, but by 1920 J C Knowles had joined W H Watts to found the existing partnership. The firm relied mainly on its Letchworth office until the early 60’s when it expanded into the market town of Royston. After a brief presence in Welwyn Garden City, a Baldock office was opened on a full time basis in the late 70’s. In recent years Watts Knowles expanded by acquisition merging with J A Kennion & Co and also acquiring E J C Brown’s practice. The WKH partners from Watts Knowles are Nigel Willimer, Stuart Guyton, David Smyth, Peter Woodhall, Tim Maris and Paul Marsden.

Recent Developments

In recent years WKH has expanded by organic growth but also by acquisition, merging with J A Kennion & Co, and acquiring practices owned by E Brown, M Arnold & S Hubbard as well as the purchase of the Payplus Limited payroll bureau in July 2008. In January 2009 Stuart Hutchison and James Price, who had both been with WKH for over 5 years, joined the eight Partners already representing WKH.