History

The name of the Firm derives from the founder of Winterbothams, Lindsey William Winterbotham, who set up that practice in 1848 in No. 5 Rowcroft, the founder of A E Smith & Son, William Smith, who set up that practice in 1835 in Nailsworth and Penleys LLP which was one of the oldest firms in the South West having been established in Dursley by John Vizard in 1758.

Lindsey Winterbotham died in 1884 as a result of an accident at Slad and was succeeded by his son. The family connection continued until the death of Frederick Winterbotham in 1940. Mr Gadsden’s father joined the Firm (as it was then) in 1932 and it became known at Winterbotham & Gadsden. After the Second World War the Firm (as it was then) amalgamated with Ball, Smith & Playne of Kendrick Street, an even older firm, and became Winterbotham, Ball & Gadsden. The name Winterbothams was adopted in 1985.

William Smith’s brother George worked with him in offices at High Beeches in Nailsworth. Alfred Smith, nephew of William and George, became a partner in the firm and it was when his son Geoffrey joined that the firm became A E Smith & Son. He was the last partner of the firm descended from the original family.

Stokescroft became the home of the firm in 1973 following extensive renovation works. Before Stokescroft the offices had been in the building now named Smith House at the bottom of the 'W' on George Street. The Stroud office opened at Frome House in 1978 having previously been an Imperial House.

Members of the Vizard family had practised in London (where William Vizard acted for Queen Caroline when George IV tried to divorce her), Salisbury and Monmouth. They continued to practice in Dursley until 1905 when Mr. T. T. Vizard retired. Mr. R. H. Penley joined the firm in 1895 and his grandson Mr. J. F. Penley O.B.E., T.D., is one of the present Partners. 

Winterbothams and A E Smith merged in 2008 to form AES Winterbothams and in 2010 AES Winterbothams merged with Penleys and became known as Winterbotham Smith Penley (WSP Solicitors).