One of Norfolk’s longest-established rural chartered surveyors and land agents is to merge with the county’s biggest independent estate agents, Arnolds Keys.

Arnolds Keys has among its partners Jan Hÿtch, who won widespread respect as last year’s President of the NAEA.

Irelands, which traces its history back to 1860, will merge with the firm tomorrow.

The Irelands name will be retained within the Arnolds Keys group.

Irelands partner Simon Evans will become a partner of Arnolds Keys, while senior partner Mike Gamble will take on the role of consultant. Associate Tom Corfield will become an associate of Arnolds Keys.

Irelands’ other five staff members will join the merged firm, continuing to work under the Irelands banner.

Irelands offers a full range of agricultural and rural property services, including estate management, property sales and acquisitions including farm valuations, sales of farms, smallholdings and other agricultural land, and acting for purchasers of land and farms.

The firm advises on a range of agricultural issues such as Single Payment Scheme applications, farm stocktaking valuations and environmental stewardship. It also offers landlord and tenant advice on such matters and rent reviews and tenancy successions, as well as an auctions and dispersal sale service.

Arnolds Keys managing partner Guy Gowing said: “We have for some time had the ambition of adding agricultural property expertise to our portfolio of services.

“The merger with Irelands gives us that important piece of the jigsaw which was missing.

“There is a lot in common between the two firms: both are long-established, independent and locally-based, and so the fit is very good.”

Arnolds Keys was formed in 2012 with the merger of long-standing independent property firms Arnolds and Keys. Arnolds was created at the turn of the 20th century, whilst Keys came into existence in 1953; both were independent partnerships.

Pictured from left are Mike Gamble and Simon Evans of Irelands, and Guy Gowing of Arnolds Keys