1820 - Benjamin Ferry and George H. Crickmay play their part in the building boom of the early 19th Century.

In 1846 George R. Crickmay was articled to his father George H. Crickmay.

1850 - G. H. Crickmay found a new local rival in the name of John Hicks, a classical scholar who began practicing in Bristol (1837) before becoming the resident Architect of Dorchester, working out of 39 South Street. John Hicks becomes Dorchester’s resident architect. Hicks builds or restores nearly 30 churches in Dorset.

A young man (the son of a local builder) became a ‘pupil’ of Architecture with John Hicks - his name was, of course, Thomas Hardy.

In 1862 Thomas Hardy leaves Hicks and continues his studies in the Practice of Sir Arthur Blomfield in London.

In 1867 Thomas Hardy returns as Hicks' assistant.

In 1850 Crickmay & Son began practicing from St. Thomas Street, Weymouth. G. R. Crickmay became not only a locally renowned architect, but also worked extensively in London, with a registered address at 17 Parliament Street, Westminster.

Following the death of John Hicks in 1869, his business is bought by George R. Crickmay and at this time with work still in abundance, Crickmay wrote to Thomas Hardy and asked for his assistance with those projects he had already started. Thomas Hardy duly accepted and continued to work in Dorchester for a further year, before leaving to concentrate solely on writing.

1871 - Samuel Jackson moves to Maiden Street in Weymouth, having moved from Luton and began practicing as S. Jackson & Sons and provided G. R. Crickmay with a new rival.

1872 - George L. Crickmay is articled to his father, G. R. Crickmay.

1881 - George L. Crickmay returns to Weymouth from travelling in France, Italy and Belgium and with his father began practicing as G. R. Crickmay and Sons.

1881 - Crickmay and Sons design Dorset County Museum.

1884 - G. R. Crickmay is proposed and becomes an F.R.I.B.A.

1888 - George L. Crickmay is proposed and becomes an F.R.I.B.A and also a member of the Architectural Association in London.

1888 - Samuel Jackson becomes a founder member of the Society of Architects, which in 1925 amalgamated with the R.I.B.A, to which he was given an honorary membership.

In 1892, Samuel's son Sydney is the first of five brothers to join the family firm.

George L Crickmay’s sons become associates of the RIBA and the family firm expands.

George Steel, a Weymouth born architect, joins Sydney Jackson to form Jackson and Steel.

John Stark, who was born in Weymouth and educated at the Hardye’s school in Dorchester and the Portsmouth College of Art, having become a member of the RIBA was invited by Sydney Jackson to join him in new offices in 51 High West Street, Dorchester and began practicing as Jackson & Stark.

Shortly afterwards Sydney Jackson died, at the age of 82, leaving John Stark as a sole practitioner. He is joined by Ronald Jones, who also studied in Portsmouth and the prestigious Architectural Association in London.

John Stark was later appointed as the Diocesan Surveyor for Salisbury and he was also the Architect for the Mill Street Housing Society.

By 1964 Crickmay & Sons have offices in Dorchester, Weymouth and Yeovil. John Frehe, David Hedworth and Roy Fewtrell join the Crickmay practice.

Anthony Jaggard, a sole practitioner from Lulworth who had attended the Liverpool School of Architecture, joined John Stark and Ron Jones – John Stark & Partners came into being.

After the untimely death of John Stark in 1972, aged just 53, Ron Jones and Anthony Jaggard continue the practice.

Michael Howarth returns to John Stark and Partners in 1979, having previously spent summer vacations working at the Practice, before becoming a member of the RIBA. He becomes a Partner in 1981.

On the 1st October 1999 two of the longest-serving and best-known architectural Practices in the Weymouth and Dorchester area became one when Roy Fewtrell, Ronald Jones and Anthony Jaggard stepped down to become Consultants, and at the same time Michael Howarth was joined by Roger Hussey and Christopher Read to become the new Partners in the amalgamated John Stark and Crickmay Partnership – ensuring the continuity of both Practice names into the new millennium.

Michael retires and Christopher steps down, paving the way for Daniel Cantrell (2007) and Anthony Williams (2017) to join Roger at the helm.

Directors Roger Hussey, Daniel Cantrell and Anthony Williams rebrand the practice, to embody the Crickmay Stark Architects vision for today and move us forward with a bold new identity whilst retaining our established heritage of nearly 200 years.

It's the end of an era and the start of an exciting new one, as the team moves from the Princes Street office, home to the Practice for several decades, to new offices at 57 High West Street, Dorchester, back on to the 'High Street' where George Crickmay and John Stark had their offices all those years' ago.