200 years of Torbay law to be captured for ever

A special year for a Torbay law firm will be captured forever.

Kitson Boyce is 200 years old this year with a series of celebration events lined up. One of the first was the opening of a mini exhibition at Torquay Museum.

A time capsule is included in the exhibition with the public being invited and asked to suggest what it should include before it is sealed.

200 year Kitson Boyce timeline

A special timeline showing milestones in the 200-year history of the firm is also included as well as old photographs from yesteryear.

Rhodri Davey, Managing Partner of Kitson Boyce, said: “We’re thrilled to see our time capsule take pride of place at Torquay Museum for the next three months. 

“This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity for our local community to join us on this journey of celebration, reflect on our shared story, and help mark our legacy milestone. 

“We invite everyone to explore the display, share their ideas, and contribute suggestions for what should be included in the time capsule before it is sealed for future generations.”

Kate Barton, Partner, Kitson Boyce, added: “Seeing the exhibition come to life in the flesh after months of close collaboration with the Torquay Museum team has been truly fantastic. Their support and commitment have played a huge part in helping us celebrate our 200 years in such a meaningful way. We’re incredibly grateful for their partnership in bringing this milestone moment to our community.”

Founded by William Kitson in 1826, Kitson Boyce has grown into a leading and award-winning law firm across the entire region, with an ongoing office presence in Torquay, Exeter, and Plymouth. 

A 200 Legacy programme of events and initiatives have been designed to say thank you and give back to local communities. 

At the heart of these celebrations will be a 200-day volunteering initiative, supporting organisations across the Southwest. 

The firm will be partnering closely with local charities, including St Luke’s Hospice, Children’s Hospice Southwest and Torbay Communities, alongside collaborative activity with the Deaf Academy as it marks its own 200-year milestone. 

Events will continue throughout the whole year, with a charity golf day in September and a series of firmwide events to bring colleagues together to mark the occasion. Staff will be taking on a 200km challenge spanning all three office locations, partying with family and friends in Torquay.

Mr Davey said: “Celebrating our bicentenary is both a moment of pride and a profound reminder of the values that have shaped our firm for 200 years. As we look ahead, we do so with the same spirit of innovation and resilience that has carried us through two centuries of change. Our focus now is on shaping the next chapter - investing in our people, embracing new possibilities, and continuing to deliver meaningful impact for our clients and communities for many years to come.”

Tony Boyce

The timeline chart marks some notable milestones in the company’s history. Well-known solicitor and Torquay United director Tony Boyce is featured for establishing Boyce Hatton in 1954.

He was appointed chairman at Plainmoor in 1965 and led the club during some of its most successful, glory years.

It began in 1817 with William Kitson(founder of Kitsons and the ‘Maker of Torquay’). In 1825 the Law Society of England and Wales is founded and a year later Kitsons was established by William Kitson. In 1876 the firm took its first phone call.

Several mergers and office expansions/openings are highlighted. including a merger with Dymond and Co to become Kitson Dymond and Easterbrook in 1972; the acquisition of H J Barnett of Ashburton in 1985 and Wilde and Co of Newton Abbot in 1996; a large merger with Hutchings and Plum to become Kitson Hutchings Easterbrook and Co and a subsequent rebrand to Kitson Hutchings in 2001; office openings in Exeter and Plymouth in 2007 and 2008; a rebrand to Kitsons LLP in 2010 and finally a merger of Kitsons LLP and Boyce Hatton LLP to create Kitson Boyce LLP in 2023.

Kitson Boyce is nationally recognised for its expertise and is ranked as a ‘leading firm’ in the latest edition of The Legal 500 for the quality of its work. It was also named Law Firm of the Year in the Devon and Somerset Law Society Awards in 2024