Matthew Charlton, the company founder, was born in 1822 in the village of Stamfordham, Northumberland.  In 1842, after serving his apprenticeship as a Slater, he founded the company of Matthew Charlton.  Matthew died at the age of 82 in 1904 but his sons John and Andrew carried on the business in partnership under the title of Matthew Charlton & Sons. 

John Charlton moved to Hexham in the early 1900s and rented a small yard that was part of the railway coal depot.  He continued there until the first parts of the premises were purchased in 1906.  John had three sons, Robbie Matty and John, who all served their apprenticeships as Slaters.  Robbie and Matty continued with the family business and John went into another profession.

Robbie and Matty served throughout the First World War (Matty was wounded at the Somme), and on their return and they joined their father in the business. Robbie took over a branch at Stamfordham, while Matty remained in Hexham. John’s daughter, Catherine joined the family business in 1919 and took charge of the office, remaining with the company until 1935.  John Charlton died in 1933 aged 73. 

Robbie and Matty were joined by the nephews, Douglas in 1939 and Rowland in 1941, and they in turn, served their time as Slaters.  Eventually they volunteered for war service in the Second World War, Douglas to the RAF and Rowland to the fleet air arm.  Matty died in 1954 aged 66 and Robbie in 1961 aged 75.  Catherine died in 1988, aged 92.  Douglas died in 1987, aged 67.

Up until the 1940s, the company had dabbled in the merchanting business, and as far back as 1913, the records show a mixed consignment of cement, lathes, timber, chimney pots etc. The builder’s merchants side of company took off after 1945 when Douglas and Rowland returned from the forces.

In 1955, the company split into two separate limited companies, Matthew Charlton and sons (Slaters) Ltd and Matthew Charlton and sons (builders merchants) Ltd.  Douglas Charlton managed the Slating business and Rowland Chow and the builder’s merchants business.  A piece of land, previously an orchard, was purchased in Chareway Lane, Hexham where the Matthew Charlton and sons (Slaters) Ltd moved to in  May 2002 and were the builders merchants joinery department is located.

In January 1977, Roland Charlton MBE, died.  He was the company's chairman and the founder of the builder’s merchants

Matthew Charlton and sons (Slaters) Ltd is still a thriving business and over the years we have opened a department in Penrith and moved our Stamford depot to Ponteland, so that we can serve a wider geographical area from our three bases.  We carry out high quality work, which is of good value for money in our specialist field of traditional roofing.  Our long list of successful contracts, from castles to cottages, from cathedrals to council houses, is testament to this effort.

In November 2001, the assets of Matthew Charlton & Sons (builder’s merchants) Ltd were sold to Jewson PLC (who continues to trade under the name of the Matthew Charlton banner) in order that the Charlton family could concentrate on the roofing business, which continues today.