Owen Pugh and Company Limited was founded in 1946 specialising in the hire of plant and equipment to the open cast coal mining industry in Northumberland. During the 1960’s the company expanded into land reclamation and excavation contracting as well as more general construction plant hire.

The acquisition of Marsden Quarry near Sunderland in 2000 further expanded the company’s interests into the quarrying and supply of aggregates for the construction industry, and lime for agricultural purposes. Following the granting of the relevant planning permissions in 2005, Marsden Quarry commenced the operation of an inert waste landfill site.

The Owen Pugh Group now comprises three companies owned by Owen Pugh Holdings Limited. Owen Pugh & Company Ltd focuses on construction plant hire, Owen Pugh Contracts Limited on earth-moving and demolition contracting, and Owen Pugh Aggregates Ltd on the extraction and supply of aggregates and lime from Marsden Quarry.