BRIDGEMAN ART LIBRARY LIMITED(THE)

🌳Matureactive
01056394 · ltd · incorporated 1972-05-31
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Dec 2024
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
77/100
Strong
🔔
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What this business does
Primary activity: Other photographic activities
Sector: Professional, scientific & technical
Investor take
Pursue
Active trading company with a 84-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 77/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 84). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 12 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

9 live charges · 7 lenders · oldest 39.7y

35/100
too messy

Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.

  • · Oldest live charge is 39.7 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · 7 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
  • · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.

Data confidence

Overall: high (82/100)

Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.

Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
9 charges (9/9 with lender, 9/9 with type)
90
Directors & officers
14 officers (3 active, 14 linked, 10 with DOB)
84
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
10 connected companies via shared directors
75
Filing history
162 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
77/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.

Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
69
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
£0£0£0£0£0£0Dec 2023Dec 2024

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102
Metric2024-12-312023-12-31

Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.

🔒Filing-note intelligence

4 signals detected in this company's narrative notes — going-concern language, audit opinion, contingent liabilities, related-party transactions.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →

Recent activity

Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
2
filings
  • • 1 confirmation-statement
  • • 1 officers
Last 180 days
4
filings
  • • 2 confirmation-statement
  • • 2 officers
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (54 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-04-14
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  2. 2026-04-11
    ➖
    BRIDGEMAN, Robin John Orlando resigned
    director
  3. 2026-01-15
    📄
    termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM02
  4. 2026-01-14
    ➖
    LOCKINGTON, Richard resigned
    secretary
  5. 2025-09-25
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-group
    accounts · AA
  6. 2024-09-18
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-group
    accounts · AA
  7. 2023-10-05
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-group
    accounts · AA
  8. 2022-09-14
    ➖
    HULSE, Jonathan Michael resigned
    secretary
  9. 2022-09-14
    ➕
    LOCKINGTON, Richard appointed
    secretary
  10. 2022-09-14
    📄
    appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP03
  11. 2022-09-14
    📄
    termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM02
  12. 2022-09-12
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-group
    accounts · AA
  13. 2021-11-25
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  14. 2021-11-16
    ➖
    BRIDGEMAN, Luke Robinson Orlando resigned
    director
  15. 2021-09-29
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-group
    accounts · AA
  16. 2021-06-04
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  17. 2021-05-24
    ➕
    RUSSELL-COBB, Piers Andrew Conrad appointed
    director
  18. 2020-12-21
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-group
    accounts · AA
  19. 2020-10-02
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  20. 2020-10-01
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  21. 2020-01-07
    📄
    appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP03
  22. 2020-01-07
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  23. 2020-01-07
    📄
    termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM02
  24. 2019-12-24
    ➖
    BRIDGEMAN, Victoria Rose resigned
    secretary
  25. 2019-12-24
    ➕
    HULSE, Jonathan Michael appointed
    secretary
  26. 2019-12-24
    ➖
    BRIDGEMAN, Victoria Rose resigned
    director
  27. 2019-12-09
    ➖
    BRIDGEMAN, Orlando Henry Geoffrey resigned
    director
  28. 2018-08-13
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #5
  29. 2018-08-07
    🔒
    Charge registered #9
    Lender: Coutts & Co
  30. 2018-08-07
    🔒
    Charge registered #8
    Lender: Coutts & Co
  31. 2018-08-07
    🔒
    Charge registered #7
    Lender: Coutts & Co
  32. 2018-08-06
    🔒
    Charge registered #6
    Lender: Coutts & Company
  33. 2016-05-31
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #4
  34. 2016-05-31
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #3
  35. 2016-03-21
    🔒
    Charge registered #5
    Lender: Esmond Francis Ralph Orlando Bridgeman as Trustee of the Bridgeman Pension Scheme
  36. 2011-02-28
    ➕
    BRIDGEMAN, Luke Robinson Orlando appointed
    director
  37. 2011-02-28
    ➕
    BRIDGEMAN, Orlando Henry Geoffrey appointed
    director
  38. 2010-01-07
    ➖
    ANDREWES, Edward William Eden resigned
    director
  39. 2009-09-15
    ➖
    MATHER-LEES, Pandora Alexandrina Jane resigned
    director
  40. 2009-09-15
    ➖
    WHITLEY, Edward resigned
    director
  41. 2008-10-01
    ➖
    BRIDGEMAN, Robin John Orlando resigned
    secretary
  42. 2007-03-30
    ➕
    BRIDGEMAN, Esmond Francis Ralph Orlando, The Right Honourable appointed
    director
  43. 2007-03-29
    ➕
    BRIDGEMAN, Victoria Rose appointed
    secretary
  44. 2007-03-29
    ➕
    ANDREWES, Edward William Eden appointed
    director
  45. 2007-03-29
    ➕
    BRIDGEMAN, Victoria Rose appointed
    director
  46. 2007-03-29
    ➕
    MATHER-LEES, Pandora Alexandrina Jane appointed
    director
  47. 2007-03-29
    ➕
    WHITLEY, Edward appointed
    director
  48. 2003-10-16
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: Nigel Spencer Sloan, Victoria Harriet Bridgeman, Robin John Orlando Bridgeman as Trustees Ofthe Bridgeman Pension Scheme for Further Details Please Refer to the Form 395
  49. 2001-06-27
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  50. 2001-06-27
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
Showing most recent 50 of 54 events

Owner dependency

98/100
Critical — business is the founder

The business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.

FACTORS
  • +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "BRIDGEMAN" — strong identity link between founder and business.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 19 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Founder age: Director aged approximately 84 — succession pressure is live.
  • +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.

Succession & seller-readiness

83/100
Likely off-market candidate

Strong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.

SIGNALS
  • primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 84 years old. Natural succession window is now.
  • secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 19 years.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 54 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
  • supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.

Red flags

2 med ·
2 director resignations in last 12 months
medium

Multiple recent departures can indicate governance disagreement, succession event, or preparation for sale/stress.

Evidence: LOCKINGTON, Richard resigned 2026-01-14; BRIDGEMAN, Robin John Orlando resigned 2026-04-11

Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
medium

Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Viscountess Victoria Harriet Bridgeman
Individual · British · DOB 03/1942 · age 84
25–50%
25–50%25-50% shares · 25-50% voting06/04/2016

From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.

🔒Co-director network graph

Radial SVG graph showing every company connected via shared directors, colour-coded by status.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →

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———————
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions

8 specific questions generated from this company's actual signals — liquidity, leverage, director age, charge count, red flags, age-of-company.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →
🔒Advanced scoring suite

Exit-route ranking, improvement thesis, quiet-distress detector, covenant-pressure proxy, extraction monitor, approaching triggers, ownership drift, local cluster, value trap, debt capacity, archetype classification — 48+ scoring modules.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →

Company details

Statusactive
Typeltd
Incorporated1972-05-31
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC74209 — Other photographic activities

Registered office

17-19 Garway Road
London
W2 4PH

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-04-28
Last: 2026-04-14

Officers (3 active · 11 resigned)

BRIDGEMAN, Esmond Francis Ralph Orlando, The Right Honourable→
director · ~52y · appointed 2007-03-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BRIDGEMAN, Victoria Harriet, Viscountess→
director · ~84y
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
RUSSELL-COBB, Piers Andrew Conrad→
director · ~73y · appointed 2021-05-24
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BRIDGEMAN, Robin John Orlando→
secretary · resigned 2008-10-01
Resigned
BRIDGEMAN, Victoria Rose→
secretary · appointed 2007-03-29 · resigned 2019-12-24
Resigned
HULSE, Jonathan Michael→
secretary · appointed 2019-12-24 · resigned 2022-09-14
Resigned
LOCKINGTON, Richard→
secretary · appointed 2022-09-14 · resigned 2026-01-14
Resigned
ANDREWES, Edward William Eden→
director · ~88y · appointed 2007-03-29 · resigned 2010-01-07
Resigned
BRIDGEMAN, Luke Robinson Orlando→
director · ~55y · appointed 2011-02-28 · resigned 2021-11-16
Resigned
BRIDGEMAN, Orlando Henry Geoffrey→
director · ~43y · appointed 2011-02-28 · resigned 2019-12-09
Resigned
BRIDGEMAN, Robin John Orlando→
director · ~96y · resigned 2026-04-11
Resigned
BRIDGEMAN, Victoria Rose→
director · ~54y · appointed 2007-03-29 · resigned 2019-12-24
Resigned
MATHER-LEES, Pandora Alexandrina Jane→
director · ~66y · appointed 2007-03-29 · resigned 2009-09-15
Resigned
WHITLEY, Edward→
director · ~55y · appointed 2007-03-29 · resigned 2009-09-15
Resigned

Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.

Mortgages & charges

9
Total charges
4
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:9 of 9 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
NatWest Group
Coutts & Co
A registered charge—07/08/2018—
outstanding
NatWest Group
Coutts & Co
A registered charge—07/08/2018—
outstanding
NatWest Group
Coutts & Co
A registered charge—07/08/2018—
outstanding
NatWest Group
Coutts & Company
A registered charge3 properties06/08/2018—
satisfied
Esmond Francis Ralph Orlando Bridgeman as Trustee of the Bridgeman Pension Scheme / Robin John Orlando Bridgeman as Trustee of the Bridgeman Pension Scheme / Victoria Harriet Lucy Bridgeman as Trustee of the Bridgeman Pension Scheme / Nss Trustees as Trustee of the Bridgeman Pension Scheme
Esmond Francis Ralph Orlando Bridgeman as Trustee of the Bridgeman Pension Scheme / Robin John Orlando Bridgeman as Trustee of the Bridgeman Pension Scheme / Victoria Harriet Lucy Bridgeman as Trustee of the Bridgeman Pension Scheme / Nss Trustees Limited as Trustee of the Bridgeman Pension Scheme
A registered charge—21/03/201613/08/2018
satisfied
Nigel Spencer Sloan, Victoria Harriet Bridgeman, Robin John Orlando Bridgeman as Trustees Ofthe Bridgeman Pension Scheme for Further Details Please Refer to the Form 395
Debenture1 property16/10/200331/05/2016
satisfied
Nigel Spencer Sloam, Victoria Harriet Bridgeman, Robin John Orlando Bridgeman Luke Robinson Orlando Bridgeman Esmond Francis Geoffrey Orlando Bridgeman
Debenture1 property12/06/200131/05/2016
satisfied
C.Hoare & Company
Legal charge1 property01/11/199127/06/2001
satisfied
N S Sloam / Rt Hon. Viscountess Bridgeman / Rt. Hon. Third Viscount Bridgeman
Legal charge1 property26/09/198627/06/2001
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (162 total)

confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-04-14
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-04-14
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2026-01-15
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-01-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2025-09-25
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-01-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2024-09-18
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-01-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2023-10-05
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-01-04
appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
officers · AP03
2022-09-14
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2022-09-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2022-09-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-01-13
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2021-11-25