F.J. Charleton: Bridging 4 Generations

In 1935 our grandfather Francis John Charleton Senior started the family building firm of F.J. Charleton. His father James was a master bricklayer and stonemason, and Frank followed his father into the building industry.
Having worked as foreman bricklayer at the construction of the Silent Valley reservoir, Frank set up our business in the Co. Down village of Ballymartin, where we are still based today. With a reputation for first
class workmanship and honesty in business, the foundations for
success were laid, principles that have supported and shaped our firm for four generations.
In 1963 our father F.J. Charleton Junior took over the family business on the retirement of his Father. Frank Junior invested in modern machinery and with an increased workforce he expanded the business and the firm’s reputation based on his father’s founding principles.
Retiring in 1988, Frank Junior handed the leadership of the firm over to two of his sons, David and Alan. Employing first class local tradesmen the firm has gone from strength to strength and gained national recognition.
Now covering all categories of building work our ethos remains the same as that laid down by our forefathers. David’s sons Adrian and William are the fourth generation to carry on the family tradition and now share in the running of the business.

A Winning Team

A recant new build has has won the RIBA Northern Ireland Award 2015.
“The quality of construction is very high, exemplary and demanding detailing executed with evident local skill and obvious pride (who said craft was dead): a credit to architect, client and builder”

RIBA, Northern Ireland

Find out more


Being chosen as ‘UK Master Builders of the Year’ by the Federation of Master Builders for a new home we built in Newcastle, Co. Down has been our proudest moment to date.
To be selected as Master Builder from over 500 entries across the UK has been a great honour and one we would hope our grandfather would be pleased with if he were alive today.

A word from our past clients…

“Nothing was too difficult…”

Nothing was too difficult or too much trouble for David and his team,
they were the hardest working men I could hope for.
They were on site and working at 7.30am every day and cleaned
up every night. Relations on site were always amicable because
they knew what they had to do and just got on with it. There was
never any query or fuss.
David’s total honesty, attention to detail, professionalism and
modesty set him apart. Bounding with energy, David seemed to be
able to put 23½ hours into every day, had a wonderful ability to
recruit really good people and delegated so that it all progressed
with the minimum of fuss. He is my hero – he certainly deserves to
be Master Builder of the Year.
David Scott – Newcastle, Co. Down, N. Ireland

“A pleasure to work with…”

Carnacally House was built by F.J. Charleton around 2000, the
attention to detail and quality of build are a continuing source of
satisfaction and peace of mind.
When the conversion of an old Farriers Workshop into guest
accommodation was instigated in 2012, F.J. Charleton were a
natural choice.
We would highly recommend F.J. Charleton to anyone wanting a
top quality building project at a competitive price, managed and
actioned by a team of professionals that are a pleasure to work
with.
Hugh and Tish Dunn – Crossgar, Co. Down, N. Ireland