In 1890 Frances Burton Mason started to practice as a solicitor in St. Werburgh Street in Chester. He was the son of a solicitor and had qualified in 1887.

The following year, Thomas Moore Dutton set up in practice nearby in Godstall Lane. Thomas Moore Dutton came from a farming family in Bunbury in South Cheshire. He had trained in Liverpool and worked in London, before returning to Cheshire,

Mason & Dutton worked closely for many years and then, in 1906, amalgamated their practices to form the present firm. They moved to Newgate Street where the firm stayed for 57 years. Mason died in 1914, having been greatly involved in the life of the city and county. A Senior Proctor of the Consistory Court, a Major in the volunteers, Clerk to the Governors of both the King’s School and the Queen’s School, Churchwarden of St. Oswald’s and President of Chester Caledonian Association.

A Grand National Winner!
T. Moore Dutton ran the firm as sole proprietor from Mason’s death until his own death in 1939. During this period the firm expanded, employing clerks and assistant solicitors, one of whom, W. P. (Billy) Dutton won the Grand National riding Tipperary Tim. When T. Moore Dutton died, his son, Ronald took over the firm. He was captain of the Cheshire County Cricket team and a keen hockey player. In 1940, Ronald Moore Dutton took Thomas Spencer Lea as an articled clerk, but he soon jointed the navy returning after the war to qualify in 1946.

Post War Expansion
In 1949, T. S. Lea and W. H. R. (Bill) Jones became partners. Bill Jones was another keen sportsman, playing hockey for England and cricket for Cheshire. The firm continued through the 1950s and 1960s acting for a mix of local businesses, public authorities, farmers and private individuals. In 1963 the construction of the Grosvenor Sopping Precinct necessitated a move from Newgate Street to the present offices in Hunter Street. In 1964, Richard Hoffman became a partner. In 1967 Ronald Moore Dutton retired, ending a family connection with the firm going back more than 60 years. He was succeeded as senior partner by T. S. Lea. In the 1970s, W. H. R. Jones became a District Judge and was followed in this role by Richard Hoffman in the 1980s. In 1981 Ged Fitzgerald joined the firm, specializing in Civil Litigation. He became a District Judge in the late 1990’s.

Practice for the Millennium
The firm’s public authority work disappeared with the reforms of local government and other statutory bodies in the early 1970s. In its place has come other work. Mason & Moore Dutton continue to offer the traditional high street mix of work but with the specialisms and up to date knowledge for the 21st century. The Legal 500 recognises our particular expertise in agricultural and family law and the other leading consumer guide, Chamber’s Directory, also recognises our eminence in agricultural law. We had, for many years, been awarded a Franchise by the Legal Services Commission but from April 2004 chose not to continue with this. We have Advanced members of the Law Society’s Family Law Panel amongst our partners and staff as well as Specialist Accredited members of Resolution and the Agricultural Law Association. This expertise is supported by a substantial investment in I.T. over several years.