STEPPING onto a penny farthing and delivering by horse and cart.

That’s how one Southampton building supply company went back to its roots to celebrate 175 years in business.

Elliotts, an independent supplier of building products to the trade and public across the south, took goods to builders RH Hammond in traditional style.

From the Elliotts headquarters in Millbank Wharf, they used an authentic 19th century flatbed dray pulled by two horses on Wednesday to mark the 175th anniversary of the company.

The delivery method was chosen as a way to commemorate the original delivery method used when Elliotts was founded in 1842.

Stuart Mason-Elliot, chairman, said: “Back in 1842, my ancestor Thomas Elliott ran a vert different company.

“Our headquarters is still on Millbank Wharf in Northam but we now have 13 branches across the south and nearly 300 staff.

“We pride ourselves on our old-fashioned customer service and enjoy great relationships with our customers and suppliers.”

Stuart travelled to work on his penny farthing bicycle and dressed in 1840s attire to mark the occasion, as did managing director Tom Elliott.

The cart was loaded with sand and timber by staff dressed as 1840s yard staff before departing to make the delivery to Queens Terrace.

It was received by longstanding customer Richard Hammond, managing director of RH Hammond, which was founded in 1894 and is also still family owned.

Tom Elliott said: “We are proud of our heritage but, at the same time, we always make sure Elliotts is ahead of the game in supplying the latest and best products to our customers.

“Our range of building supplies is outstanding and we are constantly looking for new innovations for the business.”

Horse and cart was the original delivery method used by Elliotts in Victorian times in Southampton.

The more modern method today is run by the Elliot family and operates a fleet of 54 delivery vehicles across the south.

Lorry driver Billy Target said: “I’ve been with the company for 17 years and this has been one of the most memorable days.”

It began in 1842 with one horse and cart, but today has more than 300 employees and sells more than 12 million bricks every year.

The company makes on average, 248 deliveries every day and spans more than a million miles every year around the south coast.

Headquartered in Southampton, Elliotts has 13 branches across Hampshire, including the New Forest as well as specialist tool centres in Portsmouth and Winchester and its own roofing company.