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A subsidiary of Rood Lane Properties Limited, engaged in the business of letting office accommodation at 13 Rood Lane, City of London.

Victor Kullberg was a watch and chronometer maker, of 105 Liverpool Road, Islington (before 1869 known as 12 Cloudesly Terrace).

The company has its origins in the formation of Lambert, Ridley and Company, coal factors and ship and insurance brokers in 1845. By 1869 the name had changed to Lambert Brothers and Scott, with a head office at 85, Gracechurch Street, London. The company expanded and moved into other areas of business including: the merchanting and exporting of coal; ownership of carrying vessels; insurance of ship and cargo and purchase and sale of ships.

Newton Dunn joined the company in 1876, became a partner in 1892, and the first chairman of Lambert Brothers Limited in 1902. The newly formed public company continued as coal depot proprietors, coal exporters, foreign coaling agents, and shipowners and ship and insurance brokers. Coal remained the mainstream of the business, but the company moved increasingly to more diverse areas, like ship and aircraft brokering. Later years saw the expansion of overseas business, notably with the installation of a subsidiary, Ybarrola Depositos de Aceite Combustible S.A., at Bilboa to meet bunkering and agency needs of ships involved in the export of iron ore.

Lambert Brothers Limited was bought by Hill Samuel in 1968, who were in turn acquired by TSB Group Plc. In May 1992 the shipping business was purchased by Inchcape Group, although the company is still owned by TSB and called Endeavour Marine Services.

John Lane, of King Street, Covent Garden, was an attorney-at-law, as were his son Thomas Lane and grandson John Lane. Thomas was clerk to the Goldsmiths' Company from 1785-1820 and was succeeded as clerk by his son John (1820-52).

The firm was established by six lawyers in 1836 as Legal and General Life Assurance Society with offices at 10 Fleet Street, City of London. It changed its name to Legal and General Assurance Society in 1919. Its head office moved to Temple Court, Queen Victoria Street in 1962. The company initially dealt with life assurance business, but grew to become a major financial services company also providing pensions, investments and general insurance plans.

The firm was established by six lawyers in 1836 as Legal and General Life Assurance Society with offices at 10 Fleet Street, City of London. It changed its name to Legal and General Assurance Society in 1919. Its head office moved to Temple Court, Queen Victoria Street in 1962. The company initially dealt with life assurance business, but grew to become a major financial services company also providing pensions, investments and general insurance plans.

The Victory Insurance Company was based successively at Lombard House, King William Street, Leadenhall Street, and, after 1971, Folkestone. It was founded in 1919 and taken over by Legal and General Assurance Society in 1973.

The first recorded meeting of the Liverpool Independent Legal Victoria Burial Society took place on 3 March 1843. From as early as 1845, the Society did not confine its activities to the city of Liverpool, and in 1845 collectors were established in Runcorn, Chester, Warrington, Ormskirk and Northwich. By 1863, its operations had extended to Scotland, Ireland and Wales, and in England as far north as Newcastle and as far west as Plymouth, with outposts in London. Prior to the Friendly Societies Act of 1875, the society was governed by a committee of management (general committee) and a sub-committee. The decisions of the sub-committee, which met weekly, were ratified at the quarterly meetings of the management committee. From 1875, Liverpool Victoria was governed by a single body called the committee of management or general committee which consisted of two officers, eight district managers or agents and ten employees. In 1906 it was proposed that the society should be converted to a limited liability company. This move was opposed by some members, who formed a Members' Defence Committee, and published a number of anti-conversion leaflets. The dispute was put to external arbitration, which decided that although the conversion could not take place, the society could form a subsidiary to promote its interests. As a result, the Liverpool Victoria Insurance Corporation was established in 1907.

Under the National Insurance Act of 1911 a system of compulsory health insurance for the working-class was established, to be administered by "approved societies". In 1912 the Liverpool Victoria Approved Society was constituted. By the end of that year it had over 350,000 members and later became one of the largest and most successful of the Approved Societies. Between 1843 and 1861 the society was known variably as the Liverpool Victoria Burial Society, Victoria Legal Burial Society or Liverpool Victoria Legal Burial Society. From about 1861, it was called the Liverpool Victoria Legal Friendly Society. In 1918 the name was changed to the Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society.

The society was based in Liverpool at 37 Blake Street (1843-51), 49 Great Newton Street (1851-67), 32 Great Newton Street (1868), 23 Islington (1870-80) and 144 Islington (1881-5). In 1885 the society moved its chief office to London and was based at 18 St Andrew Street (1885-1926), "Victoria House", Southampton Row (1926-97). In around 1998 the chief office was moved to County Gates in Bournemouth.

In the late seventeenth century, Edward Lloyd opened a coffee house in Tower Street, and later Lombard Street, where merchants and bankers were accustomed to meet to write insurance on ships and cargoes. In 1769, a group of such underwriters, who wished to distance themselves from a reputation for speculation, set up a New Lloyd's coffee house, at 5 Pope's Head Alley. Lloyd's first took on a collective identity when, two years later, the underwriters paid a subscription and elected a Committee, with the intention of establishing themselves in more suitable quarters and regulating the conduct of their business.

Lloyd's was governed by the Committee according to a constitution defined by a trust deed of 1811 and redefined by an Act of Parliament of 1871, which incorporated Lloyd's, and later Acts of 1888, 1911, 1925 and 1951. The management structure was revised under the terms of the Lloyd's Act of 1982 which established the Council of Lloyd's as the new governing body with powers to regulate the business of insurance at Lloyd's. The Committee of Lloyd's continued in existence with reduced powers.

Lloyd's remains a market for marine insurance, although, in the twentieth century, its business has expanded into other areas of insurance. Lloyd's was established at the Royal Exchange in 1774, and remained there until 1928, with only a brief interruption between the years 1838-44, following a fire. From 1928, Lloyd's occupied a site on the corner of Lime Street and Leadenhall Street; subsequently opening a new building, on the other side of Lime Street, in 1957, and another new building, on the original site, in 1986.

The inland section of the Federation of British Wholesale Fish Merchants' Associations was formed in 1936 to represent the concerns of inland wholesalers. It resigned from the federation in 1938 over differences with the coastal section.

The London Fish Trade Association was formed in 1880 as the London Fish Salesman's Association to protect the interests of Billingsgate merchants. It changed its name to the London Fish Trade Association in 1881. From 1884 it occupied the subscription rooms in Billingsgate Market. From 1934 the Association operated coastal advice and bulking schemes for the benefit of members; various other schemes were undertaken later.

The Association was incorporated in 1946 as the London Fish Merchants' Association (Billingsgate) Ltd (see CLC/B/151-01), and a trading company, London Wholesale Fish Trade (Billingsgate) Ltd (see CLC/B/151-05), was formed at the same time to take over the operation of the various schemes.

The Federation was established to represent inland wholesale fish merchants of Great Britain, to promote commerce and to protect the rights and interests of members.

The company's offices were successively at 49-51 Eastcheap and 21 Mincing Lane.

The National Society for the Exemption of Plant and Machinery from Rating was formed in 1887. It was succeeded in 1893 by the Machinery Users' Association which was incorporated in 1905. It was established to achieve reform in the system of rating of plant and machinery. With the Rating and Valuation Act of 1925 it achieved its main objective.

In 1905 the Association had widened its objectives to include all matters of interest to the owners and users of machinery, assisting its members in appeals against rating assessments. This led, in 1913, to the establishment of a surveying and rating department within the Association, whose services included revaluations and monitoring prospective legislation.

In 1981 MUA Property Services was established, offering advice to industry and commerce on property sales, rent reviews, valuations of land and buildings etc.

The Association had offices at Lawrence Pountney Hill (1887-94), Lawrence Pountney Lane (1895-1913), Lawrence Pountney Hill (1913-84), Chancery Lane (1985-9) and Saville House, Lindsey Street (1989-).

In 1802 Matthew Clark began work for a firm of British merchants in Rotterdam. In 1809 another firm, Christopher Idle and Company, sent him to the Dutch island of Walcheren to investigate general trading prospects. Matthew Clark set up his own wine and spirit broking business in 1810. He took E.H. Keeling into partnership with him in 1825, and the business became known as Matthew Clark and Keeling. The firm was an important client of Johannes de Kuyper and Zoon bv of Rotterdam. In 1833 the company was appointed sole London agents of Martell and Company.

E.H. Keeling retired in 1844 and the company was known as Matthew Clark and Son, becoming Matthew Clark and Sons in around 1847. Matthew Clark retired in 1849 and his sons, Gordon Wyatt Clark and Matthew Edward Clark took over the business as sworn brokers and auctioneers. In 1873 the brokering and auctioneering side of the business was given up. They traded many brands of port, sherry, madeira, tarragona, bordeaux and Rhone wines, as well as cognac and gin, and exported to Australia and New Zealand.

In 1920 the business became a limited company. In 1963 the name was changed to Matthew Clark and Sons (Holdings) Limited. It was taken over in 1998.

The company was based at 68 Great Tower Street (1812-21), 72 Great Tower Street (1822-82), 6-7 Great Tower Street (1882-1925), 14 Trinity Square (1925-56) and Walbrook House, 23-29 Walbrook (1956-1972), Moreland Street, Islington (1972-1998).

George Peabody, a partner in Peabody Riggs and Company, merchants of Baltimore, with offices at 31 Moorgate, established his own business as a merchant at the same address in 1838. He ended his association with the American firm in c 1843 and removed to 6 Warnford Court in 1845. In 1852 he took Mr O C Gooch into partnership and the style of the firm changed to George Peabody and Company, merchants.

In 1854 it moved to 22 Old Broad Street. In the same year Junius Spencer Morgan became a partner and upon Peabody's retirement in 1864 the style of the firm became J. S. Morgan and Company (London Directories refer to it as Junius Spencer Morgan and Company until 1895). Edward Grenfell became a full partner in 1904 and the style Morgan Grenfell was adopted on 1 January 1910. Between 1918 and 1934 the bank was a private unlimited company, and in 1934 it became a private limited company.

James Morrison and John Cryder were London-American and general merchants. The company was later known [from about the mid-1840s?] as Morrison, Sons and Company. It had London offices successively at 9 Broad Street Buildings and 62 Moorgate.

The Whittington Life Assurance Company was established in 1855. It was based at 37 Moorgate Street. It moved to 58 Moorgate Street in 1877, where it was located until it was taken over by the National Life Assurance Society in 1894 after 3 years of negotiations.

The National Provident Institution was formed in 1835 as a friendly society, modelled on the Friends Provident Institution, to offer life assurance to a wide range of people. Its first office was at 13 Nicholas Lane; in 1843 it moved to 48 Gracechurch Street and, in 1857 and 1859, 49 and 50 Gracechurch Street were acquired. The existing buildings were demolished and a new office constructed on the site which was opened on 15 December 1862. A new building, incorporating 3 Eastcheap, was erected on the site and opened as the Institution's Head Office in 1960.

In the late 16th-century, there was a pressing need for a fresh water supply to the City of London. Work was begun on a new conduit in 1609, which was completed in 1613. The New River rises from Chadwell Spring in Hertfordshire and ends in the Round Pond at New River Head. The New River Company was incorporated in June 1619.

In 1902 the provision of London's water supply passed to the newly created Metropolitan Water Board. Following this takeover, the New River Company was re-incorporated as a modern property company.

The first Ottoman Bank was formed in 1856 as a British chartered company by a group of London businessmen with interests in Turkey. It was liquidated in 1863 when a new Turkish company, the Imperial Ottoman Bank was formed, with its head office in Istanbul and a board of directors divided between London and Paris. This new Turkish company which absorbed all the business of the old British company, operated under a concession granted by the Turkish government, and acted as the state bank of Turkey. In 1923 the new Turkish republic established its own central bank and the Imperial Ottoman Bank became an ordinary bank. In 1925 the bank reverted to its original title, the Ottoman Bank, as a condition of the renewal of its concession by the Turkish government.

The head office was located in Istanbul, but with management control resting with a board of directors, half of which sat in London and the other half in Paris, decisions taken by one half being subject to ratification by the other. Annual general meetings were held in London. Branches of the bank were opened throughout the Ottoman Empire; these became subsidiary banks when the Empire disintegrated. The branches in Turkey and subsidiaries in Yugoslavia and Syria were the particular interest of the Paris group of directors, while the London group supervised the branches in Egypt, Cyprus, Palestine, Iraq, Iran, Transjordan and Roumania. In 1969 the branches of the bank in London, Cyprus, Jordan, Sudan, Uganda, Arabia and Jersey were taken over by Grindlay's Bank.

The London office had premises at 26 Old Broad Street 1856-62; 4 Bank Buildings, Lothbury 1863-71; 26 Throgmorton Street 1872-1947 (including 27 Throgmorton Street 1925-7); 20-22 Abchurch Lane 1948-58; 18-22 Abchurch Lane 1959-69; 23 Fenchurch Street 1970-71; 2-3 Philpot Lane 1972-83; 3rd floor, Dunster House, 17-21 Mark Lane 1984-7; and King Wiilliam House, 2A Eastcheap from 1988.

This firm of chronometer, clock and watch makers was established in 1801 by William James Frodsham (1778-1850) and William Parkinson (died circa 1842). It traded from 4 Change Alley 1801-90, 16 Queen Victoria Street 1891-2, 35 Royal Exchange 1893-5, 15B Royal Exchange 1896-1905 and 5 Budge Row 1906-47.

Initially the firm specialised in marine and pocket chronometers. It had an extensive export business, and supplied the Admiralty and numerous shipping companies. After the founders' deaths the business was continued by Frodsham's elder sons and grandson until 1912, when the name and business were sold to the foreman, William Harris. Harris and his son Geoffrey ran the business successfully until 1944 when the firm's premises in Budge Row were bombed. Geoffrey Harris worked for a time from home, but Parkinson and Frodsham ceased trading in 1947.

The company was a subsidiary of Phoenix Oil and Transport Company. It was registered in 1924 as City Petroleum Finance Company Limited. It became Phoenix Oil Products Limited in 1926 when it took over from Phoenix Oil and Transport Company Limited the following marketing organisations in Europe:

• Everth A.G. (registered in Austria);
• Astra Dionicarsko Drustvo (registered in Yugoslavia);
• Mineraloelwerke Bayern GmbH (of Regensburg, Germany);
• Runo Oel A.G. (of Munich); and

• Deco S.A. (of Belgium).

  Thus Phoenix Oil Products Limited came to manage all of Phoenix Oil and Transport's marketing organisations outside Roumania.

  During the German occupation, 1941-45, these organisations were all in enemy hands.

  Runo-Everth Treibstoff und Oel A.G. had been formed in 1938 as the result of a merger of Phoenix interests in Germany and Austria, but was forced to divide again after the war for political reasons. In 1949 these German and Austrian interests were sold to the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company Limited (later British Petroleum). In 1946 Astra was taken into Yugoslav state ownership. In 1950 Phoenix Oil Products Limited went into voluntary liquidation.

The Plywood Chest Association was formed in 1932 by a group of tea chest manufacturers and distributors to establish a quota selling scheme and for synchronisation of distribution. All meetings of the six members (Harrisons and Crosfield Limited, ACME Tea Chest Company Limited, Bobbins Limited (previously British plywood importers), Lea Elliott (London) Limited, Luralda Limited and Venesta Limited) were held at Harrisons and Crosfield Limited's offices. A branch of the Association, the Ceylon Plywood Chest Association, held its meetings at the offices of Harrisons and Crosfield Limited's Colombo branch.

The accounts date back to 1927 as the quota granted to each of the sellers was based on their respective shipments from Europe during the previous five years. Each seller was therefore required to submit figures of chest shipped 1927-32.

The Ralli family, originally from the Greek island of Chios, were involved from the 18th century in the mercantile trade between the Levant and Europe with bases in several European and Mediterranean ports. In the early nineteenth century, two brothers, John Stephen Ralli and Eustratio Stephen Ralli, established an arm of the merchant business in London. "Eustratio Ralli and Company, merchants" appears in London directories at various addresses, chiefly 4 Billiter Square, 1819-27, together with "Ralli and Petrocochino, Turkey merchants, 5 Union Court, Broad Street", 1820-1; "PG Ralli and Company, merchants", also at 5 Union Court, 1821-3; and "Ralli Brothers, merchants", again at 5 Union Court, 1823-6, but from 1826 chiefly at 25 Finsbury Circus, where the firm then remained for nearly 150 years, to 1961.

Three further brothers were based abroad, Augustus in Marseilles, Thomas in Constantinople and also Pandira Stephen, who in 1826 came to work in London, shortly before John Stephen left London to take up business in Odessa in 1827. The five brothers worked in partnership, trading with Europe and particularly in the Mediterranean. The records refer to various countries, including Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Persia, Russia and Turkey, and also to the Baltic, and to a wide variety of commodities, including grain, silk and wool.

The company also traded in cotton piece goods, and a Manchester branch was opened in 1827, a Calcutta branch in 1851, and a Bombay branch ten years later. The firm remained a family partnership until 1931, when it became a private limited company, Ralli Brothers Limited. In the meantime, it had expanded its operations into a number of other countries, but little of this is reflected in the surviving archives, which date mostly from before 1860. Ralli Brothers Limited became a public company in 1941, and in 1959 was taken over by General Guarantee Corporation Limited. It subsequently became part of the Bowater Group.

Richard Ellis and Son were surveyors and estate agents of Fenchurch Street.

Birmingham Mutual Fire and General Insurance Association is the former name of Central Insurance Company (see CLC/B/192-10). Meetings were held at the company's offices at 12/13 Nicholas Lane until March 1907; thereafter at 1 Cornhill.

This company was established in 1854 as the Law Union Fire and Life Insurance Company. In 1892 it acquired the Crown Life Assurance Company and changed its name to the Law Union and Crown Fire and Life Insurance Company. In 1898 the Company's name was changed to the Law Union and Crown Insurance Company. In 1909 it acquired, and amalgamated with, the Rock Life Assurance Company and was renamed as the Law Union and Rock Insurance Company Limited.

Its head offices were at 45 Pall Mall, 1854-6; 126 Chancery Lane, 1857-1912; and 7 Chancery Lane ("Old Serjeants Inn"), from 1912. In 1919 the Company was acquired by, and allied with, the London and Lancashire Fire Insurance Company, which in 1961 was acquired by, and allied with, the Royal Insurance Company Limited.

This company was established in 1861 as the London and Lancashire Fire Insurance Company. In 1919 it acquired the Law Union and Rock Insurance Company Limited. In 1920 its name was changed to the London and Lancashire Insurance Company Limited. In 1961 it was acquired by, and allied with, the Royal Insurance Company Limited.

The London and Lancashire had joint head offices in London and Liverpool during some periods, but its chief administration offices were 79 Lombard Street, 1861-2; 73 King William Street, 1862-5; 158 Leadenhall Street, 1865-7; Exchange Buildings, Liverpool, 1867-9; 11 Dale Street, Liverpool, 1869-89; 45 Dale Street, Liverpool, 1889-1919; and 7 Chancery Lane, from 1919.

This company was established in 1920 for all insurance business except life insurance. In 1927 the Sun Insurance Office took over underwriting and management of the company. Planet Assurance Company Limited became a subsidiary of Sun Alliance in 1968.

From 1920 until at least 1925, Planet Assurance Company Limited had a registered office at 118 Fenchurch Street. From ca. 1928 it shared premises with the Sun Insurance Office and traded from the following offices: 63 Threadneedle Street, 1928-65; 45 Cornhill, 1928-40 and 1949-ca. 1957; 3 Lime Street, 1929-38; 37 Lime Street, 1939-40 and 1952-c 1971; Lloyds Building, Lime Street, 1940-51 and 183 Rushey Green (a branch office of Sun Life Assurance), 1965-c 1969.

The Company was incorporated by royal charter in October 1729 and was initially known as the "Governor and Company for working mines, minerals and metals in that part of Great Britain called Scotland". The court meetings of the Company, many of whose directors were also managers of the Sun Fire Office, were held at the latter's premises in Bank Buildings, Cornhill. Indeed, evidence from the 1730s shows the use of the Company's stock as a basis for the Sun acquiring short term loans. The Company was wound up in 1861 and the capital returned to its shareholders.

This company was established in 1834 as the York and North of England Fire and Life Insurance Company; it was renamed in 1838 at which time it had offices in London at 82 King William Street.

In 1842, at which date it was styled as York and London British and Foreign Assurance Office, it transferred its fire business to Imperial Fire Insurance Company. In 1844 its life business was merged with Standard Life Assurance Company.

Imperial Fire was taken over by Alliance Assurance Company which merged with Sun Insurance in 1959.

In 1708 Charles Povey founded the Exchange House Fire Office. In the next year, a Company of London Insurers was formed, consisting of 24 members. In 1710 Povey transferred his right in the Exchange House, also known as the Sun Fire Office, to the Company of London Insurers. The business of the Sun Fire Office was henceforth conducted in Causey's Coffee House near St Paul's Cathedral. In March 1711 it moved to a house in Sweeting's Rents. The Company was governed by two bodies: the General Court which was a meeting of all the managers, and the Committee of Management (consisting of 7 members) which met weekly.

A branch office, known as the Charing Cross office (or Westminster House), was opened in Craig's Court in 1726. The office was moved to 60 and 61 Charing Cross in 1866.

Business in Germany was established during the first half of the 19th century, and during the second half of the century the Sun Insurance Office began to operate in rest of Europe, the Near East, the Far East, the USA, Canada, South America, Australasia, China and Africa.

The Accident Department and the Marine Department were established in 1907 and 1921 respectively.

The name of the company was changed to the Sun Insurance Office in 1891. It became a public limited liability company in 1926. In 1959 it merged with Alliance to form Sun Alliance Insurance Limited, and in 1996 Sun Alliance merged with Royal Insurance to form the Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Group.

The Sun Life Assurance Society was established in 1810 to take over the life insurance business of the Sun Fire Office. The membership of each company's board of managers was identical. Sun Life was based in Bank Buildings, then at Threadneedle Street, and later at Cheapside. The collection includes very few records of Sun Life Assurance Society.

The Sun Insurance Office archive includes records relating to the Sun Indemnity Company of New York. In 1822 the Sun Fire Office took over the Watertown Insurance Company and a US manager was appointed. By the end of 1886 the company was represented in 20 states. The following year the head office of the US branch was moved to New York. The Sun Insurance Office floated the Sun Indemnity Company of New York and the Patriotic Insurance Company of America in 1922. In 1929 the Sun Underwriters Insurance Company of New York was formed. In 1955 these companies were reorganized into two firms: the Sun branch, and the Sun Insurance Company of New York (incorporating Sun Indemnity, Patriotic, and Sun Underwriters).

The Sun Insurance Office had a number of UK subsidiary companies, including: Bath Sun Fire Office (from 1838, see CLC/B/192-06); Patriotic Assurance Company of Dublin (from 1906, see CLC/B/192-30); Alliance Assurance Company (from 1959, see CLC/B/192-02); London Assurance (from 1965, see CLC/B/192-26); and Planet Assurance Company (from 1968, see CLC/B/192-32).

The company was based at Causey's Coffee House in St Paul's Church Yard (1710-11), Sweeting's Rents (1711-27), Threadneedle Street (1727-63), Bank Buildings in Cornhill (1763-1843), and Threadneedle Street (1843-).

The firm of George G Sandeman, Sons and Company Limited, wine shippers and cotton merchants, was established in London in 1790 by George Sandeman (1765-1841). From the beginning he specialised in wines from the Iberian Peninsula, notably port and sherry. At first Sandeman ran the business from Tom's Coffee House in Birchin Lane, later renting an office at 24 Old Jewry. In 1805 he took a lease of 20 St Swithin's Lane for use as offices and wine vaults. This was to remain the firm's headquarters until 1969 when it moved to 37 Albert Embankment. In 1984, the firm moved to 17 Dacre Street.

George Sandeman was early in partnership with his elder brother who ran the business in Scotland. This partnership had dissolved by 1798, and after 1800 George Sandeman took a succession of partners from outside the family. Between 1800 and 1856, the firm was variously styled as Sandeman Robinson and Company, George Sandeman and Company, George Sandeman Gooden and Company, George Sandeman Gooden and Forster Limited, and Sandeman Forster and Company. The business expanded to include insurance and the export of British linen and cotton goods to the West Indies, Central America and Mexico.

George Sandeman was succeeded on his death in 1841 by his nephew, George Glas Sandeman, from whom all subseqent heads of the company descended. The firm became a private limited company in 1902, under the style of George Sandeman Sons and Company Limited. It became a public company in 1952.

This firm of stockbrokers had its origin in the partnership established in 1827 between James Sheppard (1787-1855) and Charles Folger Starbuck (d 1841). The successors to this partnership subsequently merged with Scott and Company (1888), Price and Pott (1906), Harris and Company (1920) and Chase, Henderson and Tennant (1967).

The firm has traded under the following names:

• Sheppard and Starbuck, 1827-1846;
• Sheppard and Son, 1846-1853;
• Sheppard and Sons, 1853-1860;
• Sheppard, Pelly and Allcard, 1860-1888;
• Sheppards, Pellys, Scott and Company, 1888-1905;
• Sheppards, Pellys and Company, 1905-1906;
• Sheppards, Pelly, Price and Pott, 1906-1920;
• Sheppards and Company, 1920-1967;

• Sheppards and Chase, 1967-

  The firm has traded at the following addresses: 3 Spread Eagle Court, Finch Lane, 1827-49; 28 Threadneedle Street, 1849-1888; 57 Old Broad Street, 1888-1920; Gresham House, Old Broad Street, 1920-1964; Clement House, Gresham Street, 1964.

  Also deposited with the records of Sheppards and Chase and its predecessors were the records of several other stockbroking firms: Price and Pott; Scott, Corthorn and Scott; Cannon, Pelly and Allcard; George Davidge, and John H. Davidge. Some of these firms later merged with Sheppards and Chase; some had one or more of the partner(s) later join it; and some are of doubtful or unknown association.

  The partnership of Hall Rokeby Price and Henry Pott was established in about 1852. Price and Pott merged with Sheppards, Pellys and Company in 1906. The firm had premises at 7 Pope's Head Alley (c 1852-5); 3 Abchurch Lane (c 1855-65); 1 Cowper's Court, Cornhill (c 1865-1903) and 2 White Lion Court, Cornhill (from 1903).

  The firm of Scott, Corthorn and Scott appears in trade directories from around 1831. It had premises at 26 Change Alley (to c 1841); 16 Throgmorton Street (from c 1846) and 3 Drapers' Gardens (from 1883). W A W Scott, formerly of Scott, Corthorn and Scott, was the founder of Scott and Co, which merged with Sheppard, Pelly and Allcard in 1888.

  The partnership of Stephen Cannon, Percy Leonard Pelly and Edward Allcard was formed in 1858 with premises at 26 Tokenhouse Yard. Pelly and Allcard became partners in Sheppards and Sons in 1860.

  George Davidge and John H. Davidge were stockbrokers of 13 Finch Lane; their connection with Sheppards and Chase is unknown.

The firm appears to have commenced in the late 18th or early 19th century, for there are references in a directory of 1811 to "Sparks and Sons, distillers, 134 St John Street", and in a directory of 1818 to "Sparkes and Evans, wholesale druggists, 14 St Peter's Hill". From 1823 to 1831 the firm is listed as "Thomas Sparks and Son, 134 St John St.", being described variously as "merchants" (1823-4), "druggists" (1826) and "distillers' chemists" (1831). From 1836 to 1858 the firm is listed as "Sparks and Company, distillers' chemists", at 134 St John Street, and from 1860 to 1948 as "Sparks, White and Company, distillers' chemists", or "wholesale druggists and distillers' chemists", at various addresses: 134 St John Street (1860-7), 62 St John Street (to 1909), and Albion Mills, East Tenter Street, E1 (1911-48). The firm became a limited liability company, Sparks, White and Company Limited, around 1907, and disappears from the directories after 1948, when it was acquired by another druggists, Brome and Schimmer.

The African Banking Corporation was established in 1890 as a British limited company, based in London, to provide banking services in British South Africa. It took over much of the staff, premises and business of the former Cape of Good Hope Bank. During 1891 and 1892 the Corporation absorbed three local banks, the Western Province Bank, the Kaffrarian Colonial Bank and the Worcester Commercial Bank. The Corporation itself was taken over in 1921 by the Standard Bank of South Africa.

The offices of the Corporation were at 43-46 Threadneedle Street, 1891-1905, and 63 London Wall, 1906-20.

The Kerosene Company Limited was formed in 1888 by Wallace Brothers and Lane and MacAndrew (shipping brokers). In 1897 the Anglo-American Oil Company (a subsidy of the Standard Oil Company) took over direction and control of the company.

Leslie and Anderson Limited were an investment dealing company, importing house and exporters of produce. In 1952 Wallace Brothers, through Wyer and Hawke, joined in the operations of Leslie and Anderson Limited which opened up considerable investment opportunities in Kenya, Tanganyika, Uganda and Zanzibar.

Wallace Brothers Finance Limited, incorporated in 1964, was an investment dealing company based at 38 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4DE.

Wallace Brothers Developments Limited, incorporated in 1965, dealt in industrial and commercial investments and were based at 38 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4DE.

The bank was established in 1899 as the Anglo-African Bank Limited and changed its name in 1905 to the Bank of Nigeria Limited. It was an overseas bank, operating in Nigeria and the French Ivory Coast. Its head office was in Norfolk Street, Strand. It was taken over by the Bank of British West Africa in 1912.

The bank was established by Royal charter in 1860 as an overseas bank operating in the British colonies of the Cape of Good Hope and Natal. By a supplemental charter of 1864 it was empowered to operate in addition in other British colonies south of the 22nd degree of latitude. The bank also had the right from early on to issue its own bank notes. The bank was taken over by the Standard Bank of British South Africa in 1875.

The bank's head office was located as follows: 1860-1, 16 Gresham House, Old Broad Street; 1862-75, 10 King William Street.

Wallace Brothers was established in London in 1862, and remained in business until 1989. It maintained its London headquarters at 8 Austin Friars, 1862-1908; 4 Crosby Square, 1909-79; 33/6 Gracechurch Street, 1979-80; 123/7 Cannon Street, 1980-2; 33/6 Gracechurch Street (again), 1982-5; 38 Bishopsgate, 1986-9.

The company has a complex history. Its origins lay in Bombay, India, where the merchant company of Frith and Company was renamed Wallace and Company in 1848. The first partners in Wallace and Company were Lewis Alexander Wallace and Framji Patel. They were joined by George Wallace in 1850, Robert Wallace in 1857, Alexander Falconer Wallace in 1858 and Richard Wallace in 1860.

All the Wallace partners were brothers; there was a sixth brother William who was not a partner in Wallace and Company but traded in Burma in his own name from ca. 1856. Wallace and Company was reconstituted under the same name in 1862, and opened a branch in Karachi in 1883. In its early years the company acted as shipping agents and exporters and importers of a variety of goods. It remained in existence until the second half of the 20th century, but by 1966 it had become inactive.

William Wallace's business in Burma was bought out in 1863 when the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Limited was founded. Originally called the Burmah Trading Company Limited, its name was changed shortly after its foundation. From 1863 until the 1950s the senior resident partner of Wallace and Company was its chairman, and Wallace and Company largely directed its affairs. Its head office was in Bombay, but its initial operations were in Burma and branch offices were opened in Rangoon and Moulmein in the 1860s or 1870s.

It expanded its operations into Siam (Thailand) in 1884, Java in 1905-6, South India in 1913, North Borneo in the late 1940s and East Africa in 1955. Its trading interests (some operated directly, others through subsidiary or associated companies) were in teak (and later other timbers too), and in other commodities including rubber (from ca.1907), tea and coffee (from the 1930s) and tapioca (from 1954). The timber trade declined in the mid 20th century and by the late 20th century the company's business was mainly in manufacturing and Indian tea plantations.

All the business activities of Wallace and Company other than the supervision of Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Limited were transferred in 1886 to the newly founded Bombay Company Limited, in which the Wallace family also held a major interest. The main business of this company was the export of raw cotton and the import and sale of manufactured textiles from Lancashire. Its head office was in Bombay but it also took over the former Wallace and Company branch in Karachi. Further branches were opened in Delhi in 1893, Calcutta in 1903 and Madras in 1906. Bombay Company Limited ceased trading in 1969.

Each of these companies had close connections with London. In 1862 the London house of Frith, Sands and Company, which worked closely with Wallace and Company of Bombay, went into voluntary liquidation and was succeeded by Wallace Brothers, a partnership established on 31 December 1862. The first partners were George and Lewis Alexander Wallace. In 1911 the partnership was replaced by a private limited company and the London business became known as Wallace Brothers and Company Limited.

For tax purposes a new company, Wallace Brothers and Company (Holdings) Limited, was formed in 1954. Wallace Brothers and Company Limited then became its wholly owned subsidiary. In May 1970 Wallace Brothers and Company Limited was renamed Wallace Brothers Trading and Industrial Limited.

Following the renaming of the "original" Wallace Brothers and Company Limited, a new company was incorporated on 24 June 1970, also with the name Wallace Brothers and Company Limited. The intention was that this new company should take over the banking activities of the Wallace Brothers group, but the company remained within the group for only two years. It was sold to Drakes Limited in November 1972.

In March 1972 Wallace Brothers and Company (Holdings) Limited acquired E. D. Sassoon Banking Company Limited which then changed its name to Wallace Brothers Sassoon Bank Limited and took over the banking operations of the short-lived Wallace Brothers and Company Limited. Wallace Brothers Sassoon Bank Limited was renamed Wallace Brothers Bank Limited in 1974 and Wallace Brothers (London) Limited in 1981.

Wallace Brothers and Company (Holdings) Limited and its UK subsidiaries were taken over by Standard Bank Limited (later Standard Chartered Bank Limited) in 1977 and were wound up over the following twelve years. Wallace Brothers Trading and Industrial Limited was sold to OSE Holdings (HK) Limited in 1979. Other companies in the Wallace Brothers group were closed down during the 1980s. Wallace Brothers and Company (Holdings) Limited was liquidated in 1989.

In their early years Wallace Brothers described themselves as East India merchants, but they rarely dealt in merchandise. Most of the company's business in London was in undertaking commissions, chartering shipping, financing trade and banking operations,Its normal practice was to explore possible areas of new business and acquire concessions, but to assign trading ventures to associate or subsidiary companies when initial findings were favourable. Besides Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Limited and Bombay Company Limited, many smaller associate and subsidiary companies were established or acquired by the Wallace Brothers group between the late 19th century and ca. 1975.

A major part of Wallace Brothers' business was to act as the London agents of Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Limited, developing markets in the United Kingdon and continental Europe for shipments of timber and providing finance to bring the cargoes from the Far East. A separate Teak Department was established within Wallace Brothers from 1905 to ca. 1955, with responsibility for arranging, overseeing and promoting sales of timber. Wallace Brothers also purchased machinery and equipment in London on Bombay Burmah's behalf. In practice, however, since the Wallace family were the senior partners in Wallace and Company of Bombay, who in turn were managers of Bombay Burmah, Wallace Brothers were more than Bombay Burmah's London agents. Until the 1950s, Wallace Brothers had the power to exercise control over Bombay Burmah's policy and operations. In the late 19th century Bombay Burmah's dividends and staff pay were decided in London, and until c 1960 its senior (European) staff were selected and appointed there.

Arnhold and Company Limited existed in China since 1866, when it was initially known as Arnhold, Karberg and Company. It traded in and became a leading distributor of building materials and engineering equipment. It was reconstituted as a British company after 1919 and Sir Victor Sassoon became the majority shareholder after 1919 after a merger. The company is still trading and is now known as Arnhold Holdings Limited. The initial chairman was Harry Edward Arnhold, a close business associate of Sir Victor Sassoon. The Company's headquarters were in the Arnhold Building at 6 Kiukiang Road, Shanghai, China until its relocation in 1930 to the third floor of Sassoon House, 1 Nanking Road, Shanghai, China. Arnhold and Company Limited flourished until 1949 when, with the change of Government in China, the headquarters relocated to Hong Kong. Maurice Green, who had been associated with the company since the Sassoon takeover, acquired the controlling interest in Arnhold and Company Limited in 1957.

The Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, known from 1956 as The Chartered Bank, was established by Royal Charter in 1853. It was an overseas exchange bank, based in and controlled from the City of London. It was established to take advantage of the end of the East India Company's monopoly in 1853.

The bank operated in India and throughout the Far East - in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Siam [Thailand], Burma [Myanmar], Singapore, Malacca, Penang and the Malay States, the Philippines, Japan, Java, Sumatra, Ceylon [Sri Lanka], North Borneo, Brunei, Sarawak, Pakistan and East Pakistan. There were also branches in New York [United States of America] and Hamburg [Germany]. Despite its name, the bank never operated in Australia.

Further UK branches opened in Manchester (1937) and Liverpool (1948). The bank gained a second London office and additional branches in India, Pakistan, China and Ceylon with the takeover in 1938 of the P and O Banking Corporation Limited.

The bank's activities in the Far East were severely disrupted by World War Two and nationalist post-war governments in the region. The takeover in 1957 of rival Eastern Bank Limited presented new opportunities. Eastern Bank was active in Chartered Bank's traditional areas of operation, but also had branches in the Middle East - in Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen, Lebanon, Qatar, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman. In the same year, Chartered Bank purchased the Ionian Bank's interests in Cyprus.

The bank operated from various City of London addresses: 1852 first two meetings of directors at 8 Austin Friars; November 1852 offices acquired at 21 Moorgate. December 1853-1855 rented offices at South Sea House, Threadneedle Street. 1855 rented offices at 34 Gresham House, Old Broad Street. June 1857-1866 rented offices in the City Bank building at Threadneedle Street. 1867 Former Hatton Court building on Threadneedle Street. In 1909 they moved into newly built premises on the former site of Crosby Hall where they were still at the time of the merger with Standard Bank in 1969 to form Standard Chartered Bank.

The Chartered Bank's operations were governed by the original charter and deed of settlement and the subsequent revisions and renewals of these documents. The bank, which due to the charter operated with a limited liability (a priviledge not open to shareholders of an ordinary joint stock bank until 1858) was was led by a board of directors, elected by the shareholders and themselves shareholders who were based in London and who directed operations via managers, accountants and inspectors who were employed in the overseas branch and agency network.

The Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, known from 1956 as The Chartered Bank, was established by Royal Charter in 1853. It was an overseas exchange bank, based in and controlled from the City of London. It was established to take advantage of the end of the East India Company's monopoly in 1853.

The bank operated in India and throughout the Far East - in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Siam [Thailand], Burma [Myanmar], Singapore, Malacca, Penang and the Malay States, the Philippines, Japan, Java, Sumatra, Ceylon [Sri Lanka], North Borneo, Brunei, Sarawak, Pakistan and East Pakistan. There were also branches in New York [United States of America] and Hamburg [Germany]. Despite its name, the bank never operated in Australia.

Further UK branches opened in Manchester (1937) and Liverpool (1948). The bank gained a second London office and additional branches in India, Pakistan, China and Ceylon with the takeover in 1938 of the P and O Banking Corporation.

The bank's activities in the Far East were severely disrupted by World War Two and nationalist post-war governments in the region. The takeover in 1957 of rival Eastern Bank presented new opportunities. Eastern Bank was active in Chartered Bank's traditional areas of operation, but also had branches in the Middle East - in Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen, Lebanon, Qatar, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman. In the same year, Chartered Bank purchased the Ionian Bank's interests in Cyprus.

The bank operated from various City of London addresses: 1852 first two meetings of directors at 8 Austin Friars; November 1852 offices acquired at 21 Moorgate. December 1853- 1855 rented offices at South Sea House, Threadneedle Street. 1855 rented offices at 34 Gresham House, Old Broad Street. June 1857-1866 rented offices in the City Bank building at Threadneedle Street. 1867 Former Hatton Court building on Threadneedle Street. In 1909 they moved into newly built premises on the former site of Crosby Hall where they were still at the time of the merger with Chartered Bank in 1969.

For further information on the history of the bank see Sir Compton Mackenzie, Realms of silver: one hundred years of banking in the East (London, 1954) and Geoffrey Jones, British multinational banking 1830-1990 (Oxford, 1993).

The bank's legal department operated from its Head Office in London, and was responsible for dealing with a wide variety of legal cases and issues for the bank. For much of its work, staff in the Legal department would work in tandem with the bank's appointed firm of solicitors. Much cross-over between the work of the Legal, Inspection and Secretary's departments can be noted, as all three would be involved if cases of bankruptcy or liquidation of a bank customer took place, or if a legal action was filed against the bank by a customer.

The first legal assistance the Chartered Bank received was from solicitors Phillips and Sons, 11 Abchurch Lane, City of London, who at the time were solicitors acting primarily for large firms in the City and advised the bank at the time of its first approaches to gain a Royal Charter. By November 1852, Messrs Oliverson, Lavie and Peachey had taken over this role which they held until December 1864, when a decision was made by the bank's Board of Directors to cease the employment of the firm.

In November 1871 the bank appointed Linklaters and Company as their solicitors, who acted on their behalf well into the second-half of the Twentieth Century as Linklaters and Paines.

E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited was established as a subsidiary of E D Sassoon and Company Limited. It was first incorporated in Hong Kong in 1928 to coordinate the trading interests of the Sassoon family, In March 1930 E D Sassoon and Company Limited's new headquarters were opened at Sassoon House, Shanghai. In order to facilitate the investment of Bombay assets into Shanghai, E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited, was registered in 1930 (however the parent company had been handling private banking functions since 1921). The head office of the new company was in Hong Kong with branches in the City of London and Manchester. The firm continued to invest in property, choosing to purchase large hotels and office blocks. Despite successful production rates, the firm decided to dispose of the mills in Bombay after the Second World War, fearing problems as foreign owners once independence was granted. In May 1949, Shanghai and Hong Kong were under control of communist regimes and seemed unhealthy places for the company's head office so it was transferred to Nassau in the Bahamas in 1950. It is thought that Nassau was chosen because there were no forms of personal or corporation tax in place and Sir Victor Sassoon planned to live there, until his death in 1961.

E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited invested in a number of companies which it operated as subsidiaries including Far Eastern Nominees Limited and Arnhold and Company Limited.

In 1967 the structure of the company was enlarged to admit new shareholders with the head office later moving to London. Major Desmond Fitzgerald, a cousin of Sir Victor Sassoon, became chairman. The company offered a full range of banking facilities including current and deposit accounts, loans and overdrafts, acceptance credits, export finance, foreign currency exchange and other financial services and advice. Also in 1967, the Nassau office became a wholly owned subsidiary of E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited under the title of E D Sassoon Banking International Limited, Nassau, Bahamas and offered services such as company management by incorporating Bahamian holding or operating companies and trust administration.

In 1972 E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited merged with Wallace Brothers and Company (Holdings) Limited and the name of the company was changed to Wallace Brothers Sassoon Bank Limited, with registered offices at 4 Crosby Square, City of London. The name was later changed to Wallace Brothers Bank Limited in November 1974, continuing to operate from Crosby Square. E D Sassoon and Company Limited continued to exist as a separate company from 1972 and later became DK Investments (Crosby Square) Limited in 1978.

E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited's registered offices were initially Sassoon House, Hong Kong and Gloucester Building, Victoria, Hong Kong (1930-1950). In 1950 the company was incorporated in the Bahamas and the new registered offices became Fenby House, Shirley Street, Nassau, Island of New Providence, Bahamas (1950-1963) and later 324 Bay Street, Nassau, Island of New Providence, Bahamas (1963-1969).

Most of the company's operations were controlled by the London branch offices. These were based at Stone House, 140 Bishopsgate, London (1930 - 1934), 85 Gracechurch Street, City of London (1934 - 1955), 37 Upper Brook Street, Westminster (1955-1969) and Winchester House, 100 Old Broad Street, City of London (1969-1972). There were also branches at 58 Whitworth Street, Manchester and Holland House, Hong Kong.

The collection contains a pamphlet on the company's background entitled 'A century of service to finance and trade' (CLC/B/207/CH09/01/001) along with an earlier draft by Major Derek Fitzgerald which contains more detailed historical information about the company (CLC/B/207/CH09/01/002).

Geographical range:
London, India and China, Gulf ports, Iraq and Japan

E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited was established as a subsidiary of E D Sassoon and Company Limited. It was first incorporated in Hong Kong in 1928 to coordinate the trading interests of the Sassoon family, In March 1930 E D Sassoon and Company Limited's new headquarters were opened at Sassoon House, Shanghai. In order to facilitate the investment of Bombay assets into Shanghai, E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited, was registered in 1930 (however the parent company had been handling private banking functions since 1921). The head office of the new company was in Hong Kong with branches in the City of London and Manchester. The firm continued to invest in property, choosing to purchase large hotels and office blocks. Despite successful production rates, the firm decided to dispose of the mills in Bombay after the Second World War, fearing problems as foreign owners once independence was granted. In May 1949, Shanghai and Hong Kong were under control of communist regimes and seemed unhealthy places for the company's head office so it was transferred to Nassau in the Bahamas in 1950. It is thought that Nassau was chosen because there were no forms of personal or corporation tax in place and Sir Victor Sassoon planned to live there, until his death in 1961.

E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited invested in a number of companies which it operated as subsidiaries including Far Eastern Nominees Limited and Arnhold and Company Limited.

In 1967 the structure of the company was enlarged to admit new shareholders with the head office later moving to London. Major Desmond Fitzgerald, a cousin of Sir Victor Sassoon, became chairman. The company offered a full range of banking facilities including current and deposit accounts, loans and overdrafts, acceptance credits, export finance, foreign currency exchange and other financial services and advice. Also in 1967, the Nassau office became a wholly owned subsidiary of E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited under the title of E D Sassoon Banking International Limited, Nassau, Bahamas and offered services such as company management by incorporating Bahamian holding or operating companies and trust administration.

In 1972 E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited merged with Wallace Brothers and Company (Holdings) Limited and the name of the company was changed to Wallace Brothers Sassoon Bank Limited, with registered offices at 4 Crosby Square, City of London. The name was later changed to Wallace Brothers Bank Limited in November 1974, continuing to operate from Crosby Square. E D Sassoon and Company Limited continued to exist as a separate company from 1972 and later became DK Investments (Crosby Square) Limited in 1978.

E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited's registered offices were initially Sassoon House, Hong Kong and Gloucester Building, Victoria, Hong Kong (1930-1950). In 1950 the company was incorporated in the Bahamas and the new registered offices became Fenby House, Shirley Street, Nassau, Island of New Providence, Bahamas (1950-1963) and later 324 Bay Street, Nassau, Island of New Providence, Bahamas (1963-1969).

Most of the company's operations were controlled by the London branch offices. These were based at Stone House, 140 Bishopsgate, London (1930-1934), 85 Gracechurch Street, City of London (1934-1955), 37 Upper Brook Street, Westminster (1955-1969) and Winchester House, 100 Old Broad Street, City of London (1969-1972). There were also branches at 58 Whitworth Street, Manchester and Holland House, Hong Kong.

The collection contains a pamphlet on the company's background entitled 'A century of service to finance and trade' (CLC/B/207/CH09/01/001) along with an earlier draft by Major Derek Fitzgerald which contains more detailed historical information about the company (CLC/B/207/CH09/01/002).

Geographical range:
London, India and China, Gulf ports, Iraq and Japan.

Far Eastern Nominees (England) Limited, later Far Eastern Nominees (Nassau, Bahamas) Limited, was a wholly owned subsidiary of E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited. It was incorporated on 1936 Oct 3. Registered offices at 85 Gracechurch St, London, EC3 (1936 - 1955) and later 37 Upper Brook Street, London W1 (1955-19--).