Some buildings were finished with Portland stone façades while the Lloyd's warehouses had Edwardian Baroque frontages built from red brick and orange terracotta or faience, and exposed glazed steel-frame backs.

[3] Father and son were influenced by trips to North America and they perfected the steel and concrete technique.

[5] Philip Garland Fairhurst continued his father's practice and was also president of the Manchester Society of Architects in 1947–49.

[citation needed] Like his father and grandfather, Harry M. Fairhurst was president of the Manchester Society of Architects in 1969–71.

[5] Harry studied architecture at Cambridge, was awarded the OBE and was President of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society (1979–81).

[6] Ian Fairhurst was involved in the family practice for many years and later changed his career to farming.