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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.

A charter was granted on February 26th 1555 to a group of merchants intending to trade with Russia. The company was known variously as the Russia Company, the Muscovy Company, and the Company of Merchants Trading with Russia. Sebastian Cabot was appointed the first governor of the Company in 1555, and 207 other subscribers - the majority of whom were London merchants - formed the first of the great joint stock foreign trading companies.

The charter gave the Company a monopoly of English trade with Russia which included the rights to trade without paying customs duties or tolls, and to trade in the interior. The Company's principal imports from Russia were furs, tallow, wax, timber, flax, tar and hemp. Its principal export to Russia was English cloth.

English merchants were expelled from Russia in 1646, and the Tsar ended the Company's privileges three years later. Trade resumed in 1660, when the Company was reorganised as a regulated company. It lost its monopoly in 1698, but survived as an important City institution and shared the eighteenth century revival of Anglo-Russian trade.

The Company in London appointed agents or factors in Russia, hence the term British Factory for the group of British agents. The headquarters of the British Factory was in Moscow until 1717, when it moved to Archangel. In 1723 the Factory moved again to St Petersburg. The Company also appointed a chaplain to the Factory in Russia. With the expansion of trade in the nineteenth century, the number of trading posts maintained by the Company grew to include Archangel, Cronstadt, Moscow and St Petersburg. Since 1917 the Russia Company has operated principally as a charity.

Trade directories indicate that the Company had offices at 25 Birchin Lane, 1842-53 and South Sea House, Threadneedle Street, 1854-65. At other times, the Court of Assistants appears to have met at various premises around the City, including coffee houses and livery company halls.

The early records of the Russia Company perished in the Great Fire of London in 1666.

The society was formed in 1790 and was the first trade association formed by the sugar refining industry. It held its meetings at the offices of Phoenix Assurance Company. It was also known as the Sugar Refiners Club, and Trebilcock's history of Phoenix refers to it as the Sugar Refiners Trade Committee.

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.

Standard Chartered Bank was formed in 1969 when the Standard Bank Limited merged with the Chartered Bank. This merger created the Standard Chartered Banking Group Limited; the group consisted of the Standard Bank and the Chartered Bank along with their principal subsidiaries and associated companies.

Immediately following the merger both banks continued to operate separately with each maintaining their own board of directors and a third board being created for the Standard Chartered Banking Group Limited. It was not until 1973 that the General Management of both banks were amalgamated and 1974 when the three boards of directors were all run by the same people. On 1 October 1975 the name of the company was changed to Standard Chartered Bank Limited. In 1983 all banking operations of both Standard Bank and Chartered Bank were brought together into one company, titled, Standard Chartered Bank. In 1985 the parent company was again renamed to Standard Chartered PLC.

Following the 1969 merger the bank retained City of London headquarter premises at 10 Clements Lane (former headquarters of Standard Bank Limited) and at 38 Bishopsgate (former headquarters of Chartered Bank). In 1990 new premises were opened in Aldermanbury Square for all London staff and in 20--, the headquarters were moved to 1 Basinghall Avenue, where the bank remains situated (as at 2014)

CHARTERED BANK OF INDIA AUSTRALIA AND CHINA

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.

STANDARD BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA

The Standard Bank of British South Africa Limited, known as the Standard Bank of South Africa Limted from 1881, was incorporated on the 18 October 1862 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Initially operating within British controlled areas, the bank gradually expanded its network to include branches across South, East and Central Africa responding to the economic development and growth of the regions.

Both the Chartered and the Standard Banks acquired shares in and merged with many other banks.

Geographical ranges these covered are as follows:

African Banking Corporation: British South Africa, Nigeria and New York

Bank of British West Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Cameroon and Canary Islands

Bank of Nigeria: Nigeria and Ivory Coast

Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China: India, 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

Eastern Bank Limited: India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, Singapore, Malaysia, Yemen, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, Lebanon, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman

P & O Banking Corporation Limited: India, Sri Lanka, China and Singapore

E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited: London, India and China, Gulf ports, Iraq and Japan

Standard Bank of South Africa: Cape Province, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal [South Africa]. After amalgamations; Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Cameroon, Canary Islands and Ivory Coast

Wallace Brothers and Company (Holdings) Limited: India, Burmah [Myanmar], Thailand, Java [Indonesia], Malaysia and East Africa

Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Limited (BBTCL) was founded in 1863. Originally called the Burmah Trading Company Limited, its name was changed shortly after its foundation. The corporation was formed as a public company to take part in the developing teak business by taking over the assets and rights in Burma of William Wallace, the eldest of the six Wallace Brothers. From 1863 until the 1950s, A F Wallace, 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 (Myanmar) 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). For eighty years was, the BBTCL was the single largest teak company in the industry, marketing over a third of the world's teak supplies. The fortunes of the company rested heavily on teak trade from Burmese and Siamese forests. The corporation was a dealt a blow in 1942 when the Japanese invaded Burma and Siam, bringing teak production to a halt.The timber trade declined in the mid 20th century and later the company's main business was in manufacturing and Indian tea plantations, established since 1913.

A major part of Wallace Brothers' business was to act as the London agents of the BBTCL, developing markets in the United Kingdon and continental Europe for shipments of timber and providing finance to bring the cargoes from the Far East.

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 ca. 1960 its senior (European) staff were selected and appointed there.

Bombay Burmah had the following subsidiaries and associated companies:

Amalgamated Saw Mills Limited

Anamallais Ropeway Company Limited

Bombay Burmah Plantations Limited

East India Rubber Corporation Limited

Joint Timber Company Limited, Thailand

North Borneo Timbers Limited

Rangoon Mining Company

Sumatra Petroleum Company

Thai Tapioca Limited

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 was an investment dealing company, large 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.The Warehousing and Forwarding Company of East Africa was a subsidy of Leslie and Anderson (East Africa) Limited dealing with warehousing, clearing and forwarding. Indian Carpets Limited was a subsidiary of Leslie and Anderson, who owned fifty percent of the business in 1950s and acquired the remaining forty percent in June 1960.

Wallace and Adam Limited was formed in 1950 when Wallace Brothers purchased a half share in the Adam Trading (Kenya) Limited who were importers of agricultural equipment. Ol Pejeta Ranching Company Limited was based on a 100,000 acre ranch in Kenya, formerly owned by Lord Delamere, in which Wallace and Adam Limited invested in. A.L.P.F Wallace was made a director. Pyrita Limited was a Wallace and Adam venture for the cultivation of pyrethrum crops.

Wyer and Hawke were set up as a formal partnership between M R Wyer who and E J Hawke who acted as the London agents for the Bombay Company Limited. The partnership was set up due to the advantages of handling exchange transactions in London and was based at the Wallace Brothers offices at 8 Austin Friars, City of London. It was staffed by senior members of the Bombay Company Limited upon their retirement from India. Wyer was a partner in Wallace and Company 1881-1892 and managing director of the Bombay Company Limited 1890-1904, when Wyer and Hawke was formed. Hawke was a managing director of the Bombay Company Limited 1903-1912. Wyer and Hawke was dissolved in 1968.

The Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, known from 1956 as Chartered Bank, was established by Royal Charter in 1853. It was an overseas exchange bank, based in and controlled from the Copyright to this collection rests with 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 and Hamburg. 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 addresses in its earliest years, and was afterwards for many years based in Hatton Court, Threadneedle Street. It moved just before the First World War to Bishopsgate, where it remained until 1969, when it merged with Standard Bank to form what is now Standard Chartered Bank.

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 Chartered Bank was not based around a branch-banking model, instead having a smaller number of branches in the main ports in the east to provide capital and services, usually via a network of local middle-men, to mercantile customers. Until 1909 the Chartered Bank was not authorised to act as a general banking business in London, therefore cash for Head Office customer accounts had to be obtained from the City Bank and any monies had to be paid in there also. The branches abroad generally offered advances and insurance on cargo and discounting and exchanging bills in sterling and local currency. They were involved with both the opium and cotton markets initially, later providing financial services to merchants trading in tea, coffee, sugar, hemp, silk, rubber, tin, jute tobacco, rice. Initially in India and China expanding from there into Hong Kong, Singapore, Pakistan, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Japan as the middle East including Yemen, Bahrain, Lebanon, Qatar, UAE. At various times offices were also run in New York, Hamburg and Cyprus.

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).

George Ure Adam (appointed London Manager of the Bank in 1857, retired 1870) was in charge of opening the first branches and agencies abroad. By the late 19th Century the management of Bank premises and property had become the responsibility of the premises department based at Head Office. This department oversaw the physical management of property, fixtures and fittings, both abroad and in the UK, including branches, staff accommodation and Head Office. The premises department was also responsible for the sourcing and purchase/rental of new premises as required and was involved in insurance of premises, fixtures, fittings and cash and goods in transit as well as overseeing rental of Bank owned property to private individuals/companies. As with many other departments, the majority of correspondence was addressed to the Secretary with copies sent to the premises department for action/response.

Opening of key branches (by year opened):
1858: Calcutta, India; Bombay, India
By 1860: Singapore; Hong Kong; Shanghai, China
1862: Rangoon, Burma
1863: Batavia [Djakarta, Indonesia]
1866 (briefly): Karachi, Pakistan
1872: Manila, Philippines
1877: Surabaia, Indonesia
1877 (briefly): Colombo, Sri Lanka (reopened in 1892)
1880: Yokohama, Japan; Foochow, China
1880s (briefly): Iloilo, Philippines
1888: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Taiping, Malaysia
1892: Colombo, Sri Lanka (reopened)
1894: Bangkok, Thailand
1895: Kobe, Japan; Tientsin, China
1900: Madras, India; Cebu, Philippines
1906: Karachi, Pakistan (reopened)
1907: Ipoh, Malaysia
1909: Klang, Malaysia

1910: Seremban, Malaysia
1911: Delhi, India; Iloilo, Philippines (reopened)
1911: Canton, China

1924: Kuching, 1924
1958: Brunei.

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 Chartered Bank has periodically published and commissioned histories throughout its existence. Detailed records of the research, images produced and publication of the bank's centenary anniversary publication, 'Realms of silver: one hundred years of banking in the East' (London 1954) can be found in the Secretary's Department sub-fonds in four sub-series (CLC/B/207/CH03/01/14 - 17).

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

In 1867 Elias David Sassoon set up the mercantile house, E D Sassoon and Company with offices in Bombay, India and Shanghai, China. The company also operated in the Gulf ports, Baghdad and Japan. The company bought up poorly performing cotton mills in Bombay and turned them into successful profitable operations. After the death of Elias David Sassoon in 1880, his eldest son Jacob took over the business and further branches were opened in Calcutta and Karachi. The firm also purchased property in Shanghai.

In the early twentieth century Jacob Sassoon played a very prominent role in forming the Eastern Bank. E D Sassoon and Company took advantage of the facilities provided by the Eastern Bank, making themselves less vulnerable to fluctuations of the rupee currency. On 1 January 1921, E D Sassoon and Company Limited was incorporated as a private trading and banking company. After the death of Sir Edward Sassoon and his younger brother Meyer, Jacob's nephew Victor Sassoon and his widowed Aunt Mozelle became the main beneficiaries of the combined business assets, then valued at £15 million. Sir Victor Sassoon became the chairman of the company and Meyer and Mozelle's son-in-law, Derek Fitzgerald was appointed manager of the London and Manchester branches.

In 1927, E D Sassoon and Company Limited was the largest mill owner in Bombay where the headquarters were then based. The company moved to new head quarters at Sassoon House in Shanghai, China in 1930. In order to facilitate investment a banking subsidiary was formed, E D Sassoon Banking and Company Limited. This new company took on the majority of the parent companies functions and continued to exist until it was taken over by Wallace Brothers and Company (Holdings) Limited and renamed Wallace Brothers Sassoon Bank Limited in November 1974. E D Sassoon and Company continued to operate as a separate company from 1972 until 1978 when it became DK Investments (Crosby Square) Limited, 4 Crosby Square, City of London.

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--).

Established in Calcutta in 1863 as Calcutta City Banking Corporation, changing name in 1864 to the National Bank of India. The bank was an Indian registered company, promoted by British and Indian businessmen. Its business included discounting bills and notes, dealing in exchange, and lending on security of real and personal property and securities. The bank did much to finance India's external trade in indigo, tea and coffee.

In 1866 its head office was transferred to London (where it had established a branch in 1864) and a British registered company of the same name was incorporated to acquire the business. The Indo-Egyptian Bank, based in Bombay, was acquired in the early 1860s and its office became the bank's Bombay branch. Branches were established in Hong Kong, 1869, Shanghai 1875, Madras 1877, Colombo 1881, Karachi 1884, Rangoon 1886, Zanzibar 1893, Mombasa 1896 and Nairobi 1904. By 1900 the bank had 19 branches and the balance sheet total had grown from £328,736 in 1864 to over £9.5 million. Capital and reserves stood at £850,000 and the staff numbered 800. In 1920 the projected acquisition by Lloyds Bank Limited was disallowed.

The entire share capital of Grindlays Bank Limited (bankers and agents connected with India since 1826) was acquired from National Provincial Bank Limited in 1948. The Eastern branches of Lloyds Bank Limited were absorbed in 1961 and 1965 the bank acquired a two thirds interest in Brandts Limited (merchant bankers), the remaining third being acquired in 1972. This company was subsequently known as Grindlays Brandts Limited. In 1958 Grindlays business was totally absorbed and name changed to National Overseas and Grindlays Bank Limited, then to National and Grindlays Bank Limited in 1959. In 1969 the London group business of the Ottoman Bank was acquired. Name changed to Grindlays Bank Limited in 1975. The bank was acquired by Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited in 1984.

From 'Company Archives - The Survey of the Records of 100 of the First Registered Companies in England and Wales', Lesley Richmond and Bridget Stockford.

The National Bank of Malawi was formed in 1971 when in July of that year the Standard Bank of Malawi and the Barclays Bank of Malawi merged. The two banks holding a 51 per cent share of the new company. Gradually both the Standard Bank and Barclays Bank reduced their holdings until neither had any interest remaining.

FOUNDATION AND NAME CHANGES

On 3 June 1857 a prospectus committee met in Port Elizabeth, led by John Paterson, to draft a prospectus for a new bank in the region. This early prospectus was reviewed over the next two years to create a vision of a bank which would be established in Port Elizabeth and which would grow through the acquisition of as many of the existing unitary banks in the region with a head office in London. In 1859 Paterson travelled to London to promote interest in the venture. On 15 October 1862 'The Standard Bank of British South Africa Limited' was incorporated and the first formal meeting of the inaugural board of directors was held on the 18 October 1862. The bank commenced buiness on 20 February 1863 in premises in Port Elizabeth - formerly offices of the Commercial Bank of Port Elizabeth with which the Standard had merged, the branch under the management of James Tudhope, also formerly of the Commercial Bank. In reflection of the growth of the network of branches and a change in the articles of association to allow the bank to operate outside of British controlled areas in 1881 the name of the bank was changed to 'The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited'. In 1962 the name was changed to 'The Standard Bank Limited' for operations outside South Africa with 'The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited' continuing to run as a wholly owned subsidary in South Africa.

BRANCH EXPANSION

The bank expanded its network with branches across South, East and Central Africa responding to the economic development and growth of the regions. From the first branch in Port Elizabeth the bank expanded quickly across Cape Province and by 4 January 1864 the first branch at Cape Town had opened. Outside of Cape Province the bank expanded into Natal [South Africa] opening the first branch in the region at Durban on 22 June 1863 (Manager James Alexander). The first branch in the Orange Free State opened at Bloemfontein in October 1863 (closed March 1865, reopened 26 March 1900). The Standard Bank was the first to open on the Diamond Fields in Griqua Land West [South Africa] with a branch at Klipdrift [Barkley West] opening on 12 November 1870 and the first on the Gold Fields in Transvaal with a branches at Potchefstroom and Pretoria opening in May 1877 (Manager Hugh Crawford); On 16 January 1890 the bank opened in Bechuanaland [Botswana] with a branch at Mafeking. In Rhodesia the first branch at Salisbury opened on 29 July 1892 (Manager John Boyne) and a branch opening on 4 May 1894 at Bulawayo was the first in the Matebeleland district (Manager Alexander Thain). A branch was opened in Portuguese East Africa [Mozambique] on 20 August 1894 at Delagoa Bay, Lourenco Marques. The first branch in Basutoland [Kingdom of Lesotho] opened in 1901. On 29 April 1901 the bank opened in Nyasaland [Malawi] with a branch at Blantyre (Manager H T Lewis); In Northern Rhodesia [Zambia] the bank opened at Kalomo in March 1906. In January 1911 the first branches in British East Africa [Kenya] were opened at Nairobi and Mombassa by J. J. Toogood, closely followed by further East African expansion with a branch opening on 20 August 1912 by J J Swanson in Uganda at Kampala. In August 1915 the bank opened branches in the former German territories in South West Africa [Namibia] at Luderitzbutch, Swakopmund and Windhoek and the former German East Africa [Tanzania] opening in 1916 at Dar-es -Salaam. Outside Africa agencies were opened at Hamburg in Germany (15 November 1904) and in New York (1 February 1905); a branch in the City of London was opened at London Wall and on 2 December 1918 a further branch was opened in the London West End at Northumberland Avenue.

PREMISES

In the City of London the bank first had premises in Moorgate Street and then at 101 Cannon Street before acquiring permanent premises in 1867 at 10 Clement's Lane.

In Africa the offices and operations were established at Port Elizabeth [South Africa] in 1863; In 1883 on the appointment of Joint General Managers a second administrative head office was opened at Cape Town. On 31 December 1885 the Port Elizabeth headquarters were closed and all administration transferred to Cape Town. In 1952 headquarters moved to Pretoria and in 1959 moved again to Johannesburg.

In Africa daily operations were managed from the administrative head quarters. Robert Stewart (General Manager 1864 - 1875) increased headquarter control over the early network of branches and erradicated the initial system of local boards of directors and local autonomy instead making himself the conduit implementing all executive orders issued from London and ensuing all regions were answerable to the South African General Manager. Decentralisation of Cape authority began in 1926 when the East African Superintendent began reporting direct to London rather than via the Cape and continued in the 1950s when, in 1953 a number of local boards were established. In 1956 the local board for Rhodesia and Nyasaland began to report direct to London. In 1962 the banks operations in South Africa were transferred to a subsidiary Company retaining the name, 'Standard Bank of South Africa Limited' whilst across the rest of Africa the name was changed simply to 'Standard Bank Limited'

ACQUISITIONS

The progressive expansion of the bank had been aided by its acquisitions of a number of local banks. In 1863 the Standard acquired the Commercial Bank of Port Elizabeth, Colesberg Bank, British Kaffrarian Bank and the Beaufort West Bank. In 1864 the Fort Beaufort and Victoria Bank was acquired. The 1870s saw the acquisition of the Albert Bank (1874), the Swellendam Bank (1877), The London and South Africa Bank (1877), the Caledon Agricultural Bank (1878) and the Malmesbury Agricultural and Commerical Bank (1878). In 1890 the Wellington Bank was acquired, in 1920 the African Banking Corporation was acquired and in 1966 the bank merged with the Bank of West Africa. In 1969 the Standard Bank merged with the Chartered Bank to create the Standard Chartered Banking Group Limited.

ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL

Oversight of the accounting and financial functions of the bank was managed by the Chief Accountant. He was part of the Bank's senior-level staff and was based at Head Office. Later, he headed the Accounts Department, in existence by the 1900s.

The Secretary also kept close contacts with the Chief Accountant's office and many reports and letters actioned by the Chief Accountant and his staff were copy-letters addressed to the Secretary.

The Chief Accountant during World War Two was H W Gibson. He and his office took on additional responsibilities at this time including resolving issues of enemy debtors and creditors and assimilating changes to business procedures.

In addition to the operations of the Accounts Department, the Securities Department also managed investments and securities held by the bank in order to ensure stability and good financial returns.

FOUNDATION AND NAME CHANGES

On 3 June 1857 a prospectus committee met in Port Elizabeth, led by John Paterson, to draft a prospectus for a new bank in the region. This early prospectus was reviewed over the next two years to create a vision of a bank which would be established in Port Elizabeth and which would grow through the acquisition of as many of the existing unitary banks in the region with a head office in London. In 1859 Paterson travelled to London to promote interest in the venture. On 15 October 1862 'The Standard Bank of British South Africa Limited' was incorporated and the first formal meeting of the inaugural board of directors was held on the 18 October 1862. The bank commenced buiness on 20 February 1863 in premises in Port Elizabeth - formerly offices of the Commercial Bank of Port Elizabeth with which the Standard had merged, the branch under the management of James Tudhope, also formerly of the Commercial Bank. In reflection of the growth of the network of branches and a change in the articles of association to allow the bank to operate outside of British controlled areas in 1881 the name of the bank was changed to 'The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited'. In 1962 the name was changed to 'The Standard Bank Limited' for operations outside South Africa with 'The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited' continuing to run as a wholly owned subsidary in South Africa.

BRANCH EXPANSION

The bank expanded its network with branches across South, East and Central Africa responding to the economic development and growth of the regions. From the first branch in Port Elizabeth the bank expanded quickly across Cape Province and by 4 January 1864 the first branch at Cape Town had opened. Outside of Cape Province the bank expanded into Natal [South Africa] opening the first branch in the region at Durban on 22 June 1863 (Manager James Alexander). The first branch in the Orange Free State opened at Bloemfontein in October 1863 (closed March 1865, reopened 26 March 1900). The Standard Bank was the first to open on the Diamond Fields in Griqua Land West [South Africa] with a branch at Klipdrift [Barkley West] opening on 12 November 1870 and the first on the Gold Fields in Transvaal with a branches at Potchefstroom and Pretoria opening in May 1877 (Manager Hugh Crawford); On 16 January 1890 the bank opened in Bechuanaland [Botswana] with a branch at Mafeking. In Rhodesia the first branch at Salisbury opened on 29 July 1892 (Manager John Boyne) and a branch opening on 4 May 1894 at Bulawayo was the first in the Matebeleland district (Manager Alexander Thain). A branch was opened in Portuguese East Africa [Mozambique] on 20 August 1894 at Delagoa Bay, Lourenco Marques. The first branch in Basutoland [Kingdom of Lesotho] opened in 1901. On 29 April 1901 the bank opened in Nyasaland [Malawi] with a branch at Blantyre (Manager H T Lewis); In Northern Rhodesia [Zambia] the bank opened at Kalomo in March 1906. In January 1911 the first branches in British East Africa [Kenya] were opened at Nairobi and Mombassa by J. J. Toogood, closely followed by further East African expansion with a branch opening on 20 August 1912 by J J Swanson in Uganda at Kampala. In August 1915 the bank opened branches in the former German territories in South West Africa [Namibia] at Luderitzbutch, Swakopmund and Windhoek and the former German East Africa [Tanzania] opening in 1916 at Dar-es -Salaam. Outside Africa agencies were opened at Hamburg in Germany (15 November 1904) and in New York (1 February 1905); a branch in the City of London was opened at London Wall and on 2 December 1918 a further branch was opened in the London West End at Northumberland Avenue.

PREMISES

In the City of London the bank first had premises in Moorgate Street and then at 101 Cannon Street before acquiring permanent premises in 1867 at 10 Clement's Lane.

In Africa the offices and operations were established at Port Elizabeth [South Africa] in 1863; In 1883 on the appointment of Joint General Managers a second administrative head office was opened at Cape Town. On 31 December 1885 the Port Elizabeth headquarters were closed and all administration transferred to Cape Town. In 1952 headquarters moved to Pretoria and in 1959 moved again to Johannesburg.

In Africa daily operations were managed from the administrative head quarters. Robert Stewart (General Manager 1864 - 1875) increased headquarter control over the early network of branches and erradicated the initial system of local boards of directors and local autonomy instead making himself the conduit implementing all executive orders issued from London and ensuing all regions were answerable to the South African General Manager. Decentralisation of Cape authority began in 1926 when the East African Superintendent began reporting direct to London rather than via the Cape and continued in the 1950s when, in 1953 a number of local boards were established. In 1956 the local board for Rhodesia and Nyasaland began to report direct to London. In 1962 the banks operations in South Africa were transferred to a subsidiary Company retaining the name, 'Standard Bank of South Africa Limited' whilst across the rest of Africa the name was changed simply to 'Standard Bank Limited'

ACQUISITIONS

The progressive expansion of the bank had been aided by its acquisitions of a number of local banks. In 1863 the Standard acquired the Commercial Bank of Port Elizabeth, Colesberg Bank, British Kaffrarian Bank and the Beaufort West Bank. In 1864 the Fort Beaufort and Victoria Bank was acquired. The 1870s saw the acquisition of the Albert Bank (1874), the Swellendam Bank (1877), The London and South Africa Bank (1877), the Caledon Agricultural Bank (1878) and the Malmesbury Agricultural and Commerical Bank (1878). In 1890 the Wellington Bank was acquired, in 1920 the African Banking Corporation was acquired and in 1966 the bank merged with the Bank of West Africa. In 1969 the Standard Bank merged with the Chartered Bank to create the Standard Chartered Banking Group Limited.

Thomas Tayler Curwen (1820-1879) went into business as a stock and share broker in around 1849. In 1878 he took his sons, Edward Spedding Curwen (b. 1852) and Thomas Cecil Curwen (b 1854) into partnership with him, and the name of the firm was changed to T T Curwen and Sons. In 1974 the firm was incorporated into William Morris and Company.

The firm was based at 3 Bartholomew Lane (1849-67), 19 Change Alley (1868-1905), 1 Cornhill (1905-33), 80 Cornhill (1933-53), Westminster House, Old Broad Street (1954-64), and 39/41 New Broad Street (1965-74).

In 1885 the General Credit and Discount Corporation of London Limited amalgamated with the United Discount Corporation Limited to form the Union Discount Company of London Limited. It soon became the largest London discount house in terms of turnover and deposits; a position it held until the 1980s. In 1891 it acquired the discount houses of Harwood Knight and Allen, and Green Tomkinson and Company. An office in Edinburgh was opened in 1975. The company became the Union Discount Company of London PLC in 1994.

The company was based at 38 Lombard Street (1885-90) and 39 Cornhill (1890-). In 1973-9 the company moved temporarily to 78-80 Cornhill while its main offices were undergoing renovation work.

Welch, Margetson and Company, a firm of menswear manufacturers specialising in shirts, collars, silk handkerchiefs, silk neckties, scarves and braces, was established in 1832. It was one of the first companies to introduce an in-working factory arrangement for the making of shirts. In 1847 the first Londonderry factory was opened, followed by Carlisle Road factory, Londonderry, in 1876. A tie factory was built in Bermondsey in 1890, to which the production of all other company products moved in due course. Early in the 20th century a factory for the shirt, collar and tie trade was opened in Melbourne, Australia, and in 1911 a limited liability company was formed, Welch, Margetson and Company (Overseas).

Welch, Margetson and Company became a public company in 1948 and was taken over by Viyella International Limited in 1968. During the early 20th century there was a company social club called the Crownfield Sports and Social Club. The Martus Fifty Club, a social club for employees who had completed fifty years with the company, was formed in 1949.

The company was based at 7 Farringdon Street (1832-5), 132 Cheapside (1836-43), 134 Cheapside (1844-9), 17 Cheapside and 46 Old Change (1850-7), 16-17 Cheapside (1858-98), 16-30 Moor Lane (1899-40), 5 Warwick Street (1943-63) and 237 Long Lane, Bermondsey (1929-).

John Barnsdale (1800-65) was born into a family of clockmakers from Bale, Norfolk. In 1825 he married Sarah Elizabeth Barnsdale in Shoreditch. In 1862 he moved his clockmaking business to 11 Brunswick Place. On his death in 1865, the business was taken over by his third son, William Barnsdale (1834-1921), who moved it to 16 Brunswick Place in 1868 and then to 18 Brunswick Place in 1871. William Barnsdale was Master of the Clockmakers' Company in 1906. He married Sarah Augusta Clinch (1832-99) in 1859. From 1902-22 the firm is listed at J Barnsdale and Son. From 1923, after his father's death, William James Barnsdale (1860-1935) took on the business, moving it to 3 Newman's Court, where it was known as William James Barnsdale and Son. He married Amelia Ricards in 1891 and the family lived in Stamford Hill. William James Barnsdale was Master of the Clockmakers' Company in 1919 and 1930. On his death, his son Stanley Barnsdale (1894-1973) took over the business, moving premises to 10 Queen Street from 1953-60.

James Henry Archer was baptised in 1814 in St Botolph Aldgate, son of James and Frances Archer. By 1871, he was a widower, and living only with a servant.

According to London directories, Suse and Sibeth had premises at 35 Lime Street and at 15 Cullum Street from the 1860s until 1885. They were Dutch merchants trading with Holland.

Founded in 1939, the Association was based first at 84 Leadenhall Street. It moved to 5-7 Houndsditch in 1959, then to 24 St Mary Axe in 1968. After circa 1965 it was known as the Association of Organic and Compound Fertilisers Limited. It does not appear in the ratebooks after 1972.

The firm of Bruce de Ponthieu and Company, merchants and East India agents, of 71 Old Broad Street, became Bruce de Ponthieu Bazett and Company (1805-12); Bruce Bazett and Company (1813-16); Bazett Farquhar Crawford and Company (1816-28); and Bazett Colvin Crawford and Company (1829-33).

Reginald Alfred Bennett (1873-1949) moved to London from Manchester to begin work in the City of London in 1889. He was a partner in the stock jobbing firm of Smith, Wright and Bennett from 1908 to 1915 when he established R. A. Bennett and Company. From 1910 to his death, he conducted his business from 20 Copthall Avenue.

Thomas Blossom was a coachbuilder who later worked in the Windward Islands for the London Missionary Society first as a carpenter, then from 1823 attempting to establish the manufacture of cotton.

John Bridgman (1766-[1804]) was the fourth child of Richard Bridgman (1731-70), a tea dealer from Aldgate, and Sarah, his wife. He became free of the Grocers' Company (by patrimony) in 1787. His brother Richard Whalley Bridgman (1762-1849) became clerk of the Grocers' Company. He set up in business with his brother William Bridgman (b 1767, free of the Grocers' in 1790) at 24 Austin Friars in 1792. By 1794 they were trading as Bridgman, Combes and Bridgman. The firm moved to 29 Throgmorton Street in 1794, to 36 Old Jewry, 1795-7, and 9 Finch Lane, Cornhill, 1797 (previously the address of Bridgman and Stuart, merchants).

From 1 March 1797 John Bridgman traded alone as a West India merchant from 80 Hatton Garden, moving to 83 Hatton Garden in 1800, and to Church Court, Lothbury in 1803. He is not listed in the directories after 1803.

At the front of the volume are brief notes on the history of the company, compiled in 1929. The notes suggest that the firm was established in 1765, but the firm is first listed in the London trade directories at 31 Cateaton Street (later Gresham Street) from 1781-1825 under the styles John Cowley; Cowley, Son and Sancton; and Cowley and Sancton. The firm is described by various trades, including merchants, linen factors and scotch factors. From 1826-40 the firm is recorded, at the same address, as Cowley and Hewetson.

From internal evidence in the volume the firm had a warehouse in Blackwell Hall Court in the 1820s and the partners for the period 1825-34 appear to be Samuel Norman Cowley and Henry Hewetson. From 1841 the firm is styled in the London trade directories as Henry Hewetson and Co at various addresses including 55 Wood Street. The last mention of the firm in the directories is in 1976, when it was sited in Stoke Newington.

DL Thomson and Company were stockbrokers of 7 Drapers' Gardens, London, EC2. The firm appears to have been established in circa 1865 by David Lionel Thomson (born circa 1841), who was admitted as a member of the London Stock Exchange in December 1863.

The accounts refer to DL Thomson and Company (old firm) and DL Thomson and Company (new firm). From internal evidence it appears that the firm described as DL Thomson and Company (old firm) went into liquidation in 1920, but the firm described as DL Thomson and Company (new firm) continued to trade. DL Thomson and Company is listed in trade directories until 1928, after which date it ceases to appear.

DL Thomson and Company traded from 1 Pinners' Court, 1865-1866; 1 Shorters Court, 1867-1878; and 7 Drapers' Gardens, 1879-1928.

Grant, Chambers and Company were tobacco brokers of 37 Fenchurch Street.

The firm is listed in directories from 1879 only, as follows: 1879: merchants, of 2 Cowper's Court; 1880-5: commission merchants, of 8 Finch Lane; 1886-1907: underwriters, 8 Finch Lane; 1908-16: underwriters, at various addresses. It is not found after 1916.

Thomas Holmes and John Pyke were both liverymen of the Coachmakers' Company. They had premises at 109 Long Acre.

Jalfon was a general merchant, of the Jamaica Coffee House, St Michael's Alley, Cornhill, fl 1807-1820.

The firm was established as printers, publishers and proprietors of The Perfumery and Essential Oil Record.

The distinction of being the first to supply London houses with water by mechanical means goes to a certain Peter Morris, a land drainage engineer and a servant of Sir Christopher Hatton, the Lord Chancellor. His nationality is uncertain. Stow describes him both as a Dutchman and a German. Negotiations between Morris and the City started in 1574 but it was not until 1581 that he was granted a five hundred year lease of the first arch at the northern end of old London Bridge to house a tide wheel driving pumps of his design. In 1582 he obtained a similar lease of the second arch to accomodate another wheel. These enabled him to supply houses in the southern and eastern parts of the City.

The works were destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 but their reconstruction was authorised by Act of Parliament in the following year. In 1701 the lease of the fourth arch of the bridge was granted to Morris's grandson, Thomas. Morris and his family sold the undertaking for £38,000 to Richard Soame who also acquired a forty three lease of the City conduit waters and an undertaking at Broken Wharf, near St Paul's, started in 1594 by Bevis Bulmer, a mining engineer, for the supply of the western end of the City. The whole was united into a partnership called "The Proprietors of the London Bridge Water Works" and was subsequently divided into 1,500 shares of a nominal value of £100 each.

By the mid eigteenth century the waterworks consisted of five water wheels occupying three arches and driving sixty four small pumps. Some 1,500,000 gallons a day were pumped on an average. In 1761 a lease of the third arch of the bridge was obtained for the purpose of affording a supply to Southwark. In 1767 two further arches were leased, the fifth from the northern end and the second from the southern end of the bridge, the latter being used in place of the third for the Southwark supply. Among the eminent engineers consulted as to the effect of these additions on the structure of the bridge and on the navigation were Brindley, Smeaton and Robert Mylne, the architect of the Blackfriars Bridge and later engineer to the New River Company.

A steam engine was installed at the northern end of the bridge about the year 1762 in order to assist the supply at the turn of the tide. At the beginning of the 19th century the works are stated to have been capable of furnishing a supply of nearly four million gallons a day. The great fall of water occasioned by the water wheels endangered navigation through the bridge and in 1822 an Act was passed for their removal. To ensure the supply of water, provision was made for the undertaking to be conveyed to the New River Company who forthwith began to dismantle the wheels. The old bridge was taken down in 1831 and replaced with one designed by John Rennie, this survived until 1968.

The Corporation of London had exercised the right to charge duties on coal entering the City since medieval times. Coal duties were charged to raise money for particular projects, such as the rebuilding of the City after the Great Fire in 1666. A new Coal Exchange and Market was constructed on Lower Thames Street, close to Billingsgate Market. The building was opened by Prince Albert in 1849. A Roman hypocaust was found during construction and preserved in the basement of the building. The market was designed by James Bunning, City Architect, in the form of a rotunda, with interior galleries and an iron framework. The decoration of the market was well-known, including murals showing some of the flowers and fossils found in coal formations.

The building included offices for coal factors and others connected with the trade including the Corporation of London officers, who entered all ships bringing coal into the port of London, and collected the City dues on all coal brought within certain limits. The money collected by this tax was usually employed for metropolitan improvements. The Exchange was the property of the Corporation of London, and an open market was held there three days a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

The company's first meeting took place in July 1837 at the premises of Leeks and Wills, solicitors of No 2 Charlotte Row, Mansion House. London trade directories show the company to have based their "central station" at No 10 Pickett Street in 1838, and from 1839-1919 at 12 Rolls Buildings, Fetter Lane. In addition the company had a number of branch offices including Fenchurch Buildings, Aldermanbury, Paddington, Deptford and Chelsea.

The company, registered with the London Stock Exchange from June 1863, was taken over in 1912 by Carter, Paterson and Company Limited (carriers and general forwarding agents of 128 Goswell Road, London). Its premises for 1919-20 are listed in the Stock Exchange Year Books as 265 High Holborn, and from 1921 until 1934 (when the company was wound up) as 128 Goswell Road.

These items may relate to P R Poland and Son, furriers, who were trading at this date from Queen Victoria Street and Knightrider Street. There are references in the volume to R H Poland and E L Poland, who were partners in the firm, and many pages bear the initials 'RHP'.

The firm of Pawsons and Leafs Limited, ladies' clothing wholesale warehousemen of 9 St Paul's Churchyard, was formed in 1892 by the amalgamation of Pawson and Company Limited with Leaf and Company Limited.

William Leaf had opened the first wholesale silk warehouse in London in 1780. After its foundation, the firm was known successively as:
Leaf and Howgate;
Leaf and Severs;
Leaf, Son and Coles;
Leaf, Coles, Son and Company;
Leaf, Coles, Smith and Company;
Leaf, Smith, Leaf and Company, and
Leaf, Sons and Company. In 1888 the firm became a limited liability company known as Leaf and Company Limited. It traded from: 110 Fleet Street, 1780-early 19th century; Old Change, early 19th century-1892.

John F. Pawson commenced trading at 5 and 9 St Paul's Churchyard in 1832, dealing in the wholesale supply of textiles, clothing and piece goods. The business traded as: John F. Pawson, 1832-73; Pawson and Company Limited, 1873-92.

Pawsons and Leafs traded from 9 St Paul's Churchyard from 1892 until circa 1964. From circa 1965-8 the firm operated from premises at 32/43 Chart Street, London N1, but appears to have ceased trading some time after 1968.

Sir Charles Peers (1661-1737) was a Citizen and Salter, Common Councilman for Aldgate Ward 1701-8, Alderman of Tower Ward 1708-37, Sheriff 1707-8, and Lord Mayor 1715-16.

Thomas Pengelly (d [1696]) was a merchant trading to the eastern Mediterranean. He is likely to be the same Thomas Pengelly, merchant, recorded as living at the following addresses: the Pestle and Mortar, Fenchurch Street, c 1664-1665; Bishopsgate, 1669-1670; and Moorfields, 1674.

On the evidence of handwriting, the merchant is possibly Johannes Radermacher (or Rotarius), an elder of the Dutch Church from 1571.

The company, later known as the Bathurst Trading Company Limited, had premises successively at 5 Drapers' Gardens and 16 Mincing Lane. It was associated with Lintott, Spink and Company, Africa merchants, and William Goddard and Company, Africa and general merchants.

The firm of Rowe and Pitman, stockbrokers, appears in the Stock Exchange annual List of Members from 1895/6, and traded under the same name from that date until it was taken over in 1986. During the period covered by this volume it traded from the following addresses: 1901/2: 117 Bishopsgate; 1902/3-1910/11: 14 Austin Friars; 1911/12-1926/7: Pinners Hall, Austin Friars; 1927/8-1958/9: 43 Bishopsgate; 1959/60: Bucklersbury House, 11 Walbrook. In 1986 the firm was taken over by the merchant bank SG Warburg.

Anthony Seal (d 1757), Citizen and Glazier, of Ashentree Court, Whitefriars, was a glassmaker and the proprietor of the last of the glass houses in the City of London. Possibly born in 1720, he was apprenticed into the Glaziers' Company in 1736 and made free in 1747.

Sills, Ramsay and Gray were wharfingers and agents with premises at Hambro Wharf and Three Cranes Wharf. The firm had its origins in a business established by Jonathan Sills, who first appears in trade directories in 1771 described as a merchant of 9 Upper Thames Street.

By 1790 Jonathan Sills had taken two of his sons, Joseph (b 1766) and Jonathan junior (b 1771), into partnership, trading as Jonathan Sills and Sons, merchants and wharfingers of Hambro Wharf and 217 Upper Thames Street. Jonathan Sills senior died in 1800, but his sons continued the business.

In about 1812, Joseph and Jonathan Sills entered into partnership with Thomas Ramsay and Robert Gray, trading as Sills, Ramsay and Gray, wharfingers and agents of Hambro Wharf and Three Cranes Wharf. The firm was styled Sills, Ramsay and Gray, 1813-1818; variously as Sills, Ramsay and Sills or Sills, Ramsay and Company, 1819-1821; and Sills and Company, 1822-3. It disappears from the directories in 1824.