About Us

Larkins Fuel Merchants: Traditional Service Since 1922

Four Generations of Family Heritage Across Norfolk & Suffolk

The Horse and Cart Era (1922)

The Larkins story began in 1922 when Arthur Larkins moved to Old Buckenham. In an era when most local villages had several competing coal merchants, Arthur established our business by delivering exclusively by horse and cart. He was a true pioneer of his time, hand-shovelling raw coal from the Attleborough railway sidings and eventually becoming one of the very first local traders to embrace motor transport with his first commercial delivery lorry.

The 1950s & 60s: The Golden Age of Coal

After serving in the RAF during the Second World War, Arthur’s son, Reginald, joined the firm and officially took over operations in the 1960s. At that time, nearly every household used coal or smokeless fuel as their main winter heating. This era saw the family's iconic old Bedford trucks becoming a familiar sight at the local railway sidings, where Reginald spent years hand-shovelling coal directly from train carriages to meet massive local demand. The Larkins delivery rounds became a staple of village life, with Reginald making regular fortnightly delivery drops to different rural areas daily.

Innovation & Expansion (1970s & 80s)

In 1969, Reginald’s son, Nigel, joined the family business. Although the following decades saw a gradual decline in the number of households using solid fuel, the family managed to grow the business by offering a level of fast, efficient, and reliable service that larger firms couldn't match. By the 1980s, this commitment led to a significant expansion of our regular delivery loops. We established the weekly runs that many of our customers still rely on today, becoming a fixture on the roads of Attleborough, Wymondham, and Long Stratton. Nigel and Reginald became well known for their expert driving during this time, navigating their delivery trucks through the narrow confines of New North Road in Attleborough.

The Return of a Legacy

The local bond with the family firm was proven in the 1990s. Though the business was briefly sold in 1992, the community missed our traditional family service so much that Nigel was encouraged to return to the trade just three years later. In 1995, the Larkins name returned to the roads of Norfolk, stronger than ever.

The Kiln-Dried Pioneer

As regional demand for cleaner home heating fuel grew, 2011 marked a major turning point. Nigel recognised the move to cleaner fuels early on, securing a landmark partnership with Certainly Wood. He made us one of the very first independent fuel merchants in the region to specialise in premium kiln-dried logs, ensuring our neighbours got more heat and cleaner chimneys long before it became the industry standard.

The Fourth Generation: Martin

During this expansion, Nigel was joined by his sons, David and Martin. Having worked alongside his father for years and learning the business from the ground up, Martin officially took over the family business in 2024. Today, Martin continues to uphold the values established by Arthur over 100 years ago. Whether he is performing our traditional stacking service directly into your coal house or navigating a tight driveway for a clean driveway drop, the goal remains the same: a fast, efficient, and deeply personal service for years to come.

Our Partnership with Quality

We don’t just deliver fuel; we deliver the absolute best the UK has to offer. We are proud to be long-standing area suppliers of Certainly Wood, the pioneers of kiln drying, providing their sustainable British hardwood logs. By combining these with top-tier smokeless fuel lines from M&G, Oxbow, and Homefire, alongside high-purity water softener salt blocks and bags, we ensure our community has access to the highest-grade products available on the market.