Our History

A Landmark in the Area

Our office is based in the beautiful Chesterton House, one of Loughborough’s finest Georgian buildings, built in 1802. But it’s not just about the architecture — Chesterton House was home to England’s first grammar school for girls in 1850, a real milestone in education and opportunity.

Later, the building was owned by William Warner in 1919, who named it after his uncle — a nod to local entrepreneurship, which mirrors our own mission to support financial success in our local community.

Today, Chesterton House is a carefully restored historic landmark and forms the heart of three listed buildings in Rectory Place. We’ve proudly called it home since 1991, and as custodians of this special place, we balance preserving its legacy with creating a welcoming, modern space for our clients.

Just as the house itself has evolved through the centuries, so too has our business.

From Insurance to Values Based Planning - How it all Began

Chesterton House has always been about growth, change, and staying true to our purpose: helping people build better futures.

The Early Years

The story began in 1985, when Andy Jervis set up James Jervis on Frederick Street in Loughborough. The firm focused on insurance for the local community but quickly outgrew its first office. Within a year, it moved to 34 Leicester Road.

In 1986, the Financial Services Act reshaped the industry. Andy responded by launching a new financial services business, designed to meet the demands of the changing landscape.

By 1991, the insurance arm was sold so the firm could concentrate fully on financial advice. With this shift came a new home at 2 Rectory Place and a new name – Chesterton House Financial Services.

Building on Strong Foundations

Growth continued. In 1996, Richard Urwin joined Andy, and together they introduced a fee-based model for Financial Plans – a bold move away from commission-based advice. By 2000, they had launched Values-Based Financial Planning, a philosophy that still guides us today.

In 2003, Chesterton House partnered with Moss Solicitors to launch Woodgate Financial Planning Ltd, led by co-Director David Wright. With Chesterton House’s back-office systems behind it, Woodgate thrived.

By 2007, Chesterton House Financial Services had officially become Chesterton House Financial Planning Ltd.

Expansion and New Services

The 2010s were a decade of growth. We celebrated our 25th anniversary with the launch of Chesterton House Accounting Services LLP and Chesterton House Legal Services. Our home at Rectory Place expanded too, with the addition of No. 3 next door.

Our new garden at No. 3 became a highlight. Transformed in 2017, it was the setting for our first summer garden party the following year – now a much-loved tradition.

In 2018, we acquired Woolley Beardsleys and Bosworth Solicitors, moving our legal team into 29 Rectory Place and trading as Woolley Bees.

Recent Milestones

By 2023, we celebrated three major anniversaries:

35 years of financial planning
20 years of Woodgate
10 years of both our accounting and legal businesses

That year also saw Woodgate fully integrated into Chesterton House, creating one streamlined financial planning service. A formal board of Directors was appointed, with Rachel Kitching Burrows as Managing Director, Dawn Hubbard as HR Director, and Jon Potter as Compliance Director. David Wright became Financial Planning Director, while Andy and Richard took on roles as Chairman and CEO.

Today and Beyond

In 2025, Chesterton House Accounting Services LLP was sold to long-standing partners Paul McGrath and Amarjeet Singh, while Woolley Beardsleys and Bosworth became part of Rothera Bray Solicitors. These changes mean our clients now benefit from an even wider network of professional services – all while we remain focused on what we do best: delivering exceptional financial planning.