IBBETTS CUSTOMER INTERVIEW: A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE FOR 175 YEARS
Arthur Ibbett Ltd is a family run business based in Great Paxton, near St Neots in Cambridgeshire. Celebrating an incredible 175 years of business this year, we caught up with Tim Ibbet to help share the story of their development and how they have grown from machinery repairs to offering a whole range of products and services for their local community and beyond..
THE BUSINESS FIRST STARTED BACK IN 1851
The company has a proud history dating back to 1851. Thomas Ibbett, a skilled blacksmith working on the railway, founded the business and named it after his son, Arthur.
Starting from humble beginnings, Thomas saved enough money to purchase a forge in Bells Yard, South Street, St. Neots, just off the market square. Throughout the 1800s, Ibbetts prospered as a versatile provider of agricultural engineering, blacksmithing, and machinery manufacturing, thus becoming a vital part of the local community. When Thomas passed away in 1904, his son Arthur took over, transforming the family enterprise by adding services like steam engine repairs, mill writing, and lawn mower sharpening.
“Our mission is to serve our community with high-quality products and expert advice”
As agriculture advanced into mechanisation, Arthur embraced innovation by importing American farm machinery, including renowned brands like John Deere, Allis Chalmers, and International Harvester. The First World War further accelerated growth as land cultivation increased, so Arthur expanded the business to include the sale of large American farm equipment.
Then in 1968, Cyril, Arthur’s son, played a key role in further expansion, moving the business to its current location on River Lane, Great Paxton. This increased the capacity in sales and servicing of both agricultural and garden machinery.
FIFTH GENERATION CONTINUES OUR DRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE
In the 1970s, Ibbetts sold its first Mercedes-Benz Unimog and by 2026, we proudly stand as the country’s longest-serving Unimog dealer. A true testament to our unwavering commitment to quality, innovation and customer service. Then, in 1990, Tim Ibbett, the fifth generation, took over as Managing Director, continuing the family legacy of excellence.
“We believe what sets us apart is the longevity of our family business and our independence”
Today we have 20 people who work for us. Our customers remain important to us, ranging from domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural and horticultural businesses. We offer sales of equipment and machinery as well as servicing, spare parts and repairs mainly for the agricultural and horticultural industries. We also now offer all sorts of garden equipment, pet and animal feed and ancillaries as well as clothing, footwear and workshop tools.
We believe what sets us apart is the longevity of our family business and our independence. We also put the customers first. Our mission is to serve our community with high-quality products and expert advice, ensuring that every customer has what they need to tackle any project, large or small. We’re here to provide friendly, knowledgeable assistance to help you succeed, whether you’re a homeowner, a local business, or a tradesperson.
Over the past ten years or so, with the online world, we have been developing our website to grow online along with social media pages like Facebook and Instagram.
Our trade can be very reliant on the weather and can be very tough in times of drought, but we do our best to offer a wide range of equipment that our customers need all year round and in every season, whatever the weather.
We continue to look ahead and look at new technologies and product ranges to ensure we keep supporting our customers with all their changing needs.
We have been using the Witham Group for over 20 years now and know the ranges of lubricants, oils, greases and paints are reliable and of quality.
A MILESTONE TO BE CELEBRATED
As we look back over the past 175 years, Ibbetts has witnessed the evolution from horse-drawn carts to modern battery-powered machinery, always adapting to new technologies and customer needs.
To celebrate this incredible milestone, Ibbetts will be hosting a grand open day on 4th June 2026, featuring live music, food, chainsaw carving, demonstrations and fundraising for Magpas Air Ambulance — as a heartfelt thank you to our loyal customers and community for supporting us through the decades and here is to a great future ahead.
For more information about IBBETTS:
www.ibbetts.co.uk
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