From our family to your home.
For three generations, Boydens has been helping people across Essex and Suffolk buy, sell, let and manage property with honesty, expertise and genuine care. As an independent family business, we know that every move is personal, which is why we're committed to delivering exceptional service at every stage of your property journey.
We're incredibly proud to have been named National Medium-Sized Letting Agents of the Year 2024 at the prestigious Negotiator Awards. This national recognition reflects the dedication of our team and our unwavering commitment to putting our clients first.
While we're honoured to receive national recognition, our greatest achievement is the trust our clients place in us every day. Whether you're moving home, growing your property portfolio or looking for expert advice, we're here to help – just as we have been for generations.
The Boydens story began over 170 years ago.
In 1852, George Boyden, a respected master builder and Quaker, established his own business in Colchester. Built on principles of honesty, craftsmanship and doing the right thing, those values laid the foundations for what Boydens still stands for today.
George's son, Aston Boyden, continued to grow the family business before the Second World War interrupted its progress. Following Aston's passing in 1947, the next chapter of the family's story was shaped by his son, Desmond Boyden.
After studying engineering and gaining valuable experience with both local and London-based Chartered Surveyors, Desmond recognised an opportunity to create a different kind of property business—one that combined professional expertise with genuine personal service. In 1966, he founded Boydens as a residential estate agency in Colchester, beginning a new era for the family business.
As the business expanded, Boydens moved to its current headquarters at Aston House on Crouch Street in 1988, where our head office proudly remains today.
David Boyden joined the family business in 1976 and spent the next five decades helping to establish Boydens as one of the region's leading independent estate and letting agencies. Under his leadership, the business expanded beyond Colchester, opening offices in Braintree in 1993 and Sudbury in 1995.
Our growth continued through carefully chosen acquisitions. Rather than simply expanding, Boydens became the trusted home for like-minded independent agencies whose owners wanted their clients to continue receiving the same personal service and community-focused approach.
In 2000, Boydens welcomed Gordon Suckling in Frinton-on-Sea into the business, followed by March & Co in Kelvedon in 2001 and John V Story in Clacton-on-Sea in 2014. More recently, Boydens has acquired Paul Bryan Chartered Surveyors, strengthening our award-winning block and estate management department, together with the lettings portfolio of Joscelyne Chase Property Consultants, further enhancing our presence across Essex.
Each chapter of our growth has been built on the same values that have guided Boydens for generations: trust, integrity and exceptional customer service.
Today, Boydens is proudly led by the third generation of the family, with Philip Boyden as Managing Director and David Boyden continuing to provide the benefit of his experience as Chairman.
While much has changed since 1966, our commitment to our clients remains exactly the same. We continue to invest in our people, embrace new technology and evolve our services to meet the changing needs of buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants and leaseholders across Essex and Suffolk.
Now employing more than 50 dedicated colleagues, with hundreds of homes for sale, over 1,000 managed rental properties and around 2,800 block management units under our care, Boydens is proud to remain an independent, family-run business built on service, trust and long-term relationships.
As we continue to grow, our ambition is simple: to combine the values that have defined Boydens for generations with the innovation needed to provide an exceptional property service for generations to come.
