Costain has a distinct pedigree which dates back to
1865 when Richard Costain - a 26 year old jobbing builder from the
Isle of Man with vision - founded the original construction
business in Liverpool. For 140 years Costain has been at the
forefront of UK and international construction and was floated as a
public company in 1933 with a share capital of £600,000.
Costain's achievements have shaped the landscapes
across the globe. For example, in the mid 1920s, Costain built
houses throughout south east England - 1,000 houses were built in
Selsdon alone - for £425 each. Furthermore, in 1935, Costain built
eleven miles of the Trans-Iranian Railway, seven tunnels and two
viaducts in isolated mountainous terrain - a feat for which it got
paid just £1 million. Also in the 1930s, Costain owned, developed
and built Dolphin Square -then the largest block of flats in Europe
and also built Lambeth Bridge House, as the headquarters for the
Ministry of Works, which was the largest office block in Europe at
that time.
The company has operated continuously in the Middle
East since 1935, and in central and southern Africa since 1947. In
Asia, it built the 210mw power station for Sri Lanka's Victoria Dam
and hydro-electric scheme - at the time, this was Britain's largest
overseas aid project. Costain played an active role in the war
effort of the 1940s, with wartime work including 26 aerodromes,
part of the Mulberry Harbours, munitions factories and 15,000
post-war prefabricated Airey houses.
The company expanded rapidly in the 1960s and into
the 1970s through its successful presence in the Middle East; and
during the same period steadily diversified into coal-mining and
property in the key markets of the UK, Australia and US.
The decade began well, as in 1971 Costain became
the first UK contractor to win the Queen's Award for Export
Achievement - and has since won nine further Queen's Awards.
Indeed, during the early 1970s, more than half the Group's turnover
came from international operations in 25 countries.
The shape of Costain is constantly changing as new
markets are embraced, but the unique Costain way of incorporating
in-depth attention to detail and service remains.
Costain has a distinct pedigree which dates back to 1865 when
Richard Costain - a 26 year old jobbing builder from the Isle of
Man with vision - founded the original construction business in
Liverpool. For over 140 years Costain has been at the forefront of
UK and international construction and was floated as a public
company in 1933 with a share capital of £600,000.
Costain's achievements have shaped the landscapes across the
globe. For example, in the mid 1920s, Costain built houses
throughout south east England - 1,000 houses were built in Selsdon
alone - for £425 each. Furthermore, in 1935, Costain built eleven
miles of the Trans-Iranian Railway, seven tunnels and two viaducts
in isolated mountainous terrain - a feat for which it got paid just
£1 million. Also in the 1930s, Costain owned, developed and built
Dolphin Square - then the largest block of flats in Europe and also
built Lambeth Bridge House, as the headquarters for the Ministry of
Works, which was the largest office block in Europe at that
time.
The Company has operated continuously in the Middle East since
1935, and in central and southern Africa since 1947. In Asia, it
built the 210mw power station for Sri Lanka's Victoria Dam and
hydro-electric scheme - at the time, this was Britain's largest
overseas aid project. Costain played an active role in the war
effort of the 1940s, with wartime work including 26 aerodromes,
part of the Mulberry Harbours, munitions factories and 15,000
post-war prefabricated Airey houses.
The Company expanded rapidly in the 1960s and into the 1970s
through its successful presence in the Middle East; and during the
same period steadily diversified into coal-mining and property in
the key markets of the UK, Australia and the US.
The decade began well, as in 1971 Costain became the first UK
contractor to win the Queen's Award for Export Achievement - and
has since won nine further Queen's Awards. Indeed, during the early
1970s, more than half the Group's turnover came from international
operations in 25 countries.
The shape of Costain is constantly changing as new markets are
embraced, but the unique Costain way of incorporating in-depth
attention to detail and service remains.