The Institute of Bankers was founded in 1879 and gained a Royal Charter in 1987. In 1997 the name was changed to the Institute of Financial Services. The Institute provides professional qualifications, training and licences to practice to those working in the financial sector.
The Institute had premises at 11 and 12 Clements Lane, 1879-84; St Michael's House Cornhill, 1884-91; 34 Clements Lane, 1891-1923; 5 Bishopsgate, 1923-1937; 11 Birchin Lane, 1937-1951; 10 Lombard Street, 1951-1996.
Churchill and Sim Limited, wood brokers, was founded on the partnership of Charles Churchill and John Sim in 1813. Both were sworn brokers and members of the Patten Makers' Company. The firm had premises successively at Bucklersbury, Old Broad Street and Clements Lane.
In c 1638 Robert Abbott (c 1610-1658) set up as a scrivener in Cornhill. During the 1640s he took on two apprentices, his nephew Robert Clayton (1629- 1707), and an adoptive nephew of a baker in Abingdon, John Morris (c 1627-1682). When Abbott died in 1658 the business was taken over by Clayton and Morris, whose partnership lasted until Morris's death in 1682.
The business of the partnership spanned the development of the brokerage business from the money-scrivening of Abbott's original business to the early form of deposit banking which the Clayton and Morris partnership practised in the later 17th century. The other activities of the partnership included conveyancing, land valuation and estate management.
Clayton became a citizen and scrivener (afterwards draper) and was alderman successively of Cordwainer and Cheap wards from 1670, sheriff 1671-1672 and Lord Mayor 1679-1680. He was knighted in 1671. Morris became a scrivener and was alderman of Cheap ward in 1669 and MP for Bletchingley 1679-1682.
The Coal Factors' Society was established, probably in the first half of the 18th century, for persons engaged in the wholesale coal trade in London. In 1832 the society was re-founded, for "friendly intercourse and mutual protection" of members of the trade.
Commercial Union Assurance Company Limited was based at 24-26 Cornhill (in 1901). Established in 1861, it transacted fire, life and marine insurance.
Commercial Union acquired the following companies (with the date of acquisition in brackets):-
Accident Insurance Company Ltd (1906);
Edinburgh Assurance Co Ltd (1918);
Guardian Plate Glass Insurance Company (1953);
Hand-in-Hand Fire and Life Insurance Society (1905);
Imperial Live Stock and General Insurance Company Ltd (1912);
Liverpool Victoria Insurance Corporation Ltd (1913);
North British and Mercantile Insurance Company Ltd (1959);
Northern Assurance Company Ltd (1968);
Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation Ltd (1910);
Palatine Insurance Company Ltd (1900);
Union Assurance Society (1907);
World Auxiliary Insurance Corporation Ltd (1971).
Commercial Union Assurance Company Limited was based at 24-26 Cornhill (in 1901). Established in 1861, it transacted fire, life and marine insurance.
Commercial Union acquired the following companies (with the date of acquisition in brackets):
Accident Insurance Company Limited (1906);
Edinburgh Assurance Company Limited (1918);
Guardian Plate Glass Insurance Company (1953);
Hand-in-Hand Fire and Life Insurance Society (1905);
Imperial Live Stock and General Insurance Company Limited (1912);
Liverpool Victoria Insurance Corporation Limited (1913);
North British and Mercantile Insurance Company Limited (1959);
Northern Assurance Company Limited (1968);
Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation Limited (1910);
Palatine Insurance Company Limited (1900);
Union Assurance Society (1907);
World Auxiliary Insurance Corporation Limited (1971).
The British and European Insurance Company Limited was based successively at 13 Sherborne Lane, King William Street; and 66 Cheapside. It was acquired in 1918 by the British General Insurance Company Limited, which was purchased in 1926 by the Commercial Union Assurance Company Limited.
The Guardian Plate Glass Insurance Company Limited was based at 10-12 New Bridge Street (in 1901). It was established in Manchester in 1863 and wound up in 1953 after being taken over by the Commercial Union Assurance Company.
This company was established in 1878. It changed its name several times, becoming the Imperial Accident, Live Stock and General Insurance Company in 1898, the Imperial Accident Insurance Company in 1907, the Imperial Live Stock Insurance Company in 1914, before returning to its original style as Imperial Live Stock and General Insurance Company in 1923. It had offices at 17 Pall Mall East before moving to 27 Cavendish Square. By 1934 it was at 24 Cornhill where it remained. In 1912 it was taken over by Commercial Union Assurance Company and wound up in 1948.
This company was established in 1824 as the Indemnity Mutual Marine Assurance Company in premises at 36 Great Winchester Street. By 1907 its address was 1 Old Broad Street and in 1958 4 Fenchurch Street. The company changed its name to Indemnity Marine Insurance Company in 1935, although its business covered both marine and aviation insurance. It became a subsidiary of the Northern Assurance Company in 1917 which in turn became a subsidiary of Commercial Union Assurance in 1968.
This company was established in 1887 for life and accident insurance. Its offices were at 3 Regent Street. In 1894 it amalgamated with Scottish Metropolitan Assurance Company; this became London and Scottish Assurance in 1912; Northern Assurance in 1923 and merged with Commercial Union in 1968.
This company was established in 1871, at 4 Queen Victoria Street, for fidelity guarantee insurance. It amalgamated with the Ocean Railway and General Accident Insurance Company in 1890 which then changed its name to the Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation. The new firm became a subsidiary of Commercial Union Assurance in 1910.
This company was established in 1859 at 26 Austin Friars, Old Broad Street. Between 1872 and 1908 its address was 2 Old Broad Street. In 1908 it became a subsidiary of North British and Mercantile Insurance Company which in turn merged with Commercial Union Assurance in 1959.
The Planet Assurance Corporation was formed in 1866 and based at 50 Finsbury Circus; it became the Citizen Assurance Corporation in 1872 and was taken over by the Provident Clerks' Mutual Life Assurance Association in 1874 (later Provident Mutual Life Assurance Association).
The London branch of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia was based at 36-38 New Broad Street (1913-31); and subsequently at 8 Old Jewry (1931-).
This firm of wine and spirit merchants traded as Williams and Day until 1826 when it became John Day, and then successively J. Day, Watson and Son (c.1845), Day, Watson, Son and Watney (1898), and Lister and Beck and Day, Watson, Son and Watney (1914). The firm was taken over c.1933 by Messrs Corney and Barrow. Williams and Day and its successors had premises in Fowkes Buildings, Tower Street (1814-18); Water Lane, Tower Street (1819-1912); 25 Laurence Pountney Lane (1913-21), 22 Tower Hill (1922-32) and 6 Gresham House, Old Broad Street (from 1933).
In 1868 the Association of Foreign Bondholders was formed as a profit-making body. It was financed to a total of £60,000 by subscribers who were given certificates bearing interest at 5% In 1873 the "Corporation of Foreign Bondholders" was incorporated under licence from the Board of Trade as an association without profits. The 5% certificates were replaced by certificates of permanent membership with the right to elect members to the Council of the Corporation. Many certificates eventually passed into the hands of non-bondholders, some of whom wanted a return to profit-making status. The act of Parliament of 1898 provided for the redemption of the certificates and vested the right to nominate members to the Council in public bodies. The Corporation was entrusted by Parliament with the duty, amongst others, of watching over and protecting the rights and interests of holders of foreign government bonds and of making, for this purpose, representations to foreign governments. The Council of the Corporation consisted of 21 ordinary members, six of whom were appointed by the British Bankers' Association, six by the London Chamber of Commerce, and nine co-opted by the Council as a whole. The Corporation worked in close co-operation with independent bodies which dealt with particular countries or loans, such as the League Loans Committee (an international body), the Chinese Bondholders' Committee and the Committee of British Long-Term and Medium-Term Creditors of Germany. The Corporation was based at Palmerston Buildings, 34 Old Broad Street (1870-1872), 10/17 Moorgate (1873-1969), 68 Queen Street (1970-1975), 9-12 Cheapside (1976-1982) and 35 High Street, Bromley in Kent (1982-8). The Corporation went into liquidation in 1988.
A. S. Daniell (d 1873) appears to have conducted the business (management of coffee, coconut and cinnamon plantations) from a number of addresses in London, and from St Leonard on Sea, Sussex; Bath, Somerset; and Pau, France. Some of the business was conducted through the Ceylon Coffee Company of 17 Baker Street and through Henry Burnett, ship agent of 43 Fish Street Hill. After the death of A. S. Daniell, the business, under the name of Daniell and Company, was carried on from 25 Broad Street.
The Debenture Corporation Limited was set up as an investment company in 1885 to offer shareholders a return on investments spread over a number of industrial and manufacturing companies. It traded from 75 Lombard Street (1885-9); Worcester House, Walbrook (1889-1948); 24 Gresham House, 27 Old Broad Street (1949-63); 1 Union Court (1964-6) and Winchester House, 77 London Wall.
The firm of Dixon, Morgan and Company shipped wine and spirits, specifically from Oporto in Portugal, where it had considerable interests and where many members of the firm were based. It developed from the successive partnerships of numerous wine merchants, starting with Messrs Haughton, Langston and Dixon in the early 18th century. By 1785 the firm was known as Langston and Dixon. By 1800 this had become Dixon, Brett and Morgan, and was based at 13 Savage Gardens. in circa 1810 the name changed again to Dixon, Morgan and Company, which in turn became Morgan Saunders and Company in circa 1835, then Thomas Morgan & Company (moving to 11 Mark Lane) in circa 1840, Morgan jun and Ridge (of 24 Savage Gardens) from circa 1845, and finally Morgan Bros from 1858. It became a limited liability company in 1872, and moved to Clements House, 27 St Clements Lane in circa 1865; 39 Trinity Square in 1872, 16 Mark Lane in 1901, 14 Trinity Square in circa 1925; 20 & 22 Wellington Street, WC in circa 1940 and 23-29 Walbrook in circa 1950. The firm is believed to have been taken over by Crofts in circa 1970.
In 1878 Harry Voce Thurgood started working as a clerk with James Waddell and Company in Queen Victoria Street, London. He left in 1883 and a year later joined the firm of Drury and Elliott, 11 Queen Street. In 1897 he started to practise in his own name, but by 1899, after the death of Elliott, he had joined Frank Drury as a partner. He carried on the practice as Drury, Thurgood and Company after Drury's retirement in 1901. The name of the firm has remained unchanged since then, except from 1909 until 1918 when it was known as Drury, Thurgood, Hatfield and Company. For many years the firm acted for several tea and rubber companies as the natural successor to James Waddell and Company and Drury and Elliott.
The firm took offices in Dashwood House at 69 Old Broad Street during the Second World War after its offices in Queen Victoria Street were bombed. The firm moved to Leith House at 47 Gresham Street upon merging with Reads, Cocke and Watson, later Reads &Company, in 1964. It practised from 71 Mark Lane, London from 1987 until 1994. The combined firm continued to practise under the names of both Reads and Company and Drury, Thurgood and Company until 1994 when Reads & Company merged with Grant Thornton.
Reads and Co was founded in 1869 by George Norton Read who set up practice at 3 Milk Street as G.N. Read and Company. By 1971 he had taken a partner, William Dangerfield, and the name was changed to Read and Dangerfield. The firm was subsequently restyled: Read, Dangerfield and Smith (1872); G.N. Read, Smith and Company (1876); G.N. Read Son and Company (1878); G.N. Read, Son, Cocke and Watson (1921); and Reads, Cocke and Watson (1927). Offices were opened in Guernsey in 1900; Bristol in 1904; Newfoundland, Canada in 1905; and Jersey in 1928. In 1964 the firm merged with Drury, Thurgood and Company. The name Reads and Company was adopted in 1969. There was a further merger in 1971 with the firm of Thomas Theobald and Son. The combined firm continued to practise under the names of both Reads & Company and Drury, Thurgood and Company. In 1987 the Guernsey and Jersey offices became independent of the London firm. Reads and Company merged with Grant Thornton in 1994.
The firm moved to 51 Queen Street in 1872, and then successively to 49 Queen Victoria Street in 1882, 44 Gresham Street in 1898 and 47 Gresham Street in 1927. In 1940 the offices were damaged by a bomb and the firm moved temporarily to Friars House, New Broad Street with such records as could be salvaged. The firm moved to 71 Mark Lane in 1987 and remained there until 1994.
Dyster, Nalder and Company were hide, skin and horn brokers and leather factors based from 1770-1880 at Leadenhall Market, and from 1880 successively at Crosby Square, Pepys Street (Seething Lane) and, finally (to 1960) at 85-86 London Wall, when the company was finally wound up.
The East Indian (ie Indian) Grain and Oilseed Shippers' Association of London was incorporated in 1920. It aimed to prevent the introduction of new bills of lading by shipping lines involved in the Indian homeward trade, which were considered unacceptable by importers of grain and oilseed. Based at Baltic Exchange Chambers, St Mary Axe.
The Reversionary Interest Society was formed under a Deed of Settlement of 1823 to purchase reversionary interests in real and personal property and life policies, and life interests. The founder of the Society is generally supposed to have been George Stephen (later knighted on the accession of Queen Victoria) who was its first solicitor. The Society was the first of its kind, although private dealing in reversionary interests had long existed.
The immediate object of the Society was to raise a fund to enable it to make purchases of reversionary interests or reversions. The Society wished to purchase reversions with a view to making a profit between purchase and recovery (when the reversion had "fallen-in" and the property was "recovered"). The profit would be appropriated to the payment of dividends or to reserves.
The early success of the Society brought about the establishment of similar societies such as the Equitable Reversionary Interest Society in 1835 and the General Reversionary Society in 1836. This success, combined with a favourable financial climate, encouraged the Society to increase its powers in 1845 by an Act of Parliament (8-9 Victoria c. 146) which authorised (amongst other things) a large increase in capital. However, an economic depression set in almost immediately. The Directors also fell out with Sir George Stephen, whose connection with the Society was severed. The Society subsequently concentrated on the purchase of life policies.
In the early days, the Society had no power to lend money. However, an Act of 1857 (20-1 Victoria c.3) enabled the Society to grant loans at interest secured on reversions and life interests. This power was used sparingly at first, but a great expansion of loans business in the 1870s allowed the Society to build up a large surplus.
In 1880, the Reversionary Interest Society became a company limited by shares. The Society was acquired in 1919 by the Equitable Life Assurance Society which also purchased the Equitable Reversionary Interest Society in the following year. Thereafter the fortunes of the two reversionary interest societies were complementary. New business was brought to an end in 1977, although the Equitable Life Assurance Society continues to look after current investments.
The Society's head office was located as follows: 17 King's Arms Yard, Coleman Street (1823-97); 30 Coleman Street (1897-1924); 19 Coleman Street (1924-66); 4 Coleman Street (1966 onwards).
The Federation was founded in 1911 as the British Imperial Council of Commerce, becoming the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire in 1926; the Federation of Commonwealth and British Empire Chambers of Commerce in 1955; the Federation of Commonwealth and Empire Chambers of Commerce in 1961; and the Federation of Commonwealth Chambers of Commerce in 1963. The Federation operated from the premises of the London Chamber of Commerce. It was dissolved in 1975.
The Foreign Banks and Affiliates Association was founded in 1947 with twelve members. Membership had increased to 108 by 1981, almost a third of all the foreign banks (including the British overseas and Commonwealth banks) in the City. In 1983 three regional committees: EEC (countries of the European Economic Community), Europe (countries of Eastern and Western Europe which were not members of the EEC committee) and World were set up. Later in the same year, functional committees were established: Accounting and Statistics; Banking Supervision; CHAPS (the clearing banks' proposals for an automated payment clearing system) and LondonClear; Export Finance; Fiscal; Foreign Exchange; Operations; and Securities. In 1979 the organisation's name was changed to the Foreign Banks Association, in 1989 to the Foreign Banks and Securities Houses Association, and in 2003 to the Association of Foreign Banks.
The Association was based at 4 Bishopsgate (1947-73), 16 St Helen's Place (1974-1977), 1-3 Abchurch Yard (1977-1981), 4 Bishopsgate (1981-1989), 68 Lombard Street (1989-1990) and 5 Lawrence Pountney Lane (1991-).
Frederick Huth first established his own business in Corunna, Spain, in 1805. He came to London in 1809 and set up business as a merchant at 17 Broad Street Buildings. In 1814 he took John Frederick Gruning into partnership and the resulting firm, Huth and Company, moved to 1 South Place, Finsbury. It moved again in 1818 to 9 South Street, Finsbury, where it remained until 1839; then it moved to 10 Moorgate before its final move in 1872 to 12 Tokenhouse Yard. Throughout the 19th century the firm is described in London directories as "merchants"; only from 1904 is the description "bankers" added, although it is clear that the business always included banking. From 1912-24 the firm had a fur warehouse at 64 Park Street, Southwark, and from 1925-36 at 58-60 Cannon Street; it also had a tea warehouse at 37 Fenchurch Street, 1921-1872.
A South American company was formed in 1854 which traded as Frederick Huth, Gruning and Company at Valparaiso and Lima until 1878 when it became Huth and Company of Valparaiso. Frederick Huth and Company of London received half the profits of this company.
In 1936 the company was dissolved: the banking business was acquired by British Overseas Bank Limited, and the fur business by C.M. Lampson and Company Limited.
The date of the foundation of the company is uncertain. Unpublished company histories (Ms 33950) refer to George Street being in business as a bookseller, newsagent and stationer at 5 Serle Street in 1818. However, he does not appear in the London trade and street directories until 1833 when he is listed as G[eorge] H[oratio] Street, stationers, 15 Carey Street. It has been suggested that the foundation date may have come about because of a confusion between George Street and Charles Barker, founder of Charles Barker and Sons.
In 1842 George Horatio Street is listed as a newsagent at 11 Serle Street and from 1854 the name of the firm changes to Street Brothers with the first mention of advertising appearing in 1861, when George Street is also first mentioned at 30 Cornhill.
The firm is listed as Street Brothers of 5 Serle Street from 1868-99. In 1900 the firm became a limited company, G Street and Company Limited with offices at 5 Serle Street (8 Serle Street from 1906) and 30 Cornhill. (There were two unrelated limited companies in existence called Street Brothers Limited). The company has always been known, colloquially, as Streets.
The city office moved in 1924 to 6 Gracechurch Street and in 1944 the whole firm moved to 110 Broad Street. A new west end office was established in 1958 at 11 Berkeley Street.
The company was principally known for commercial and financial advertising and for newspaper subscriptions. Its clientele included banks, issuing houses, insurance companies, industrial and manufacturing concerns, publishers and retailers, although it also had some business with small firms and individuals.
Streets itself was taken over in 1970 by Conduit Holdings Limited and went into receivership in 1992.
Christopher Gabriel set up in business as a plane maker in 1770. On his death in 1809, the business was taken over by his sons and the name was changed to T and C Gabriel. From around 1812 the focus of the business moved from plane, looking-glass and chair manufacture, to the importation and sale of timber. Christopher Gabriel was the grandfather of Sir Thomas Gabriel (1811-1891), who became Lord Mayor of London in 1866 (this collection does not contain any personal papers of Sir Thomas). Many members of the family were freemen and liverymen of the Goldsmiths' Company.
From 1823 the business was known as Thomas Gabriel and Sons. In 1912 it amalgamated with John Burton and Co to become Thomas Gabriel and Sons and Burtons. Following another amalgamation in 1919, the business became a public company and the name changed to Gabriel, Wade and English Limited. The business was acquired by Montague L. Meyer Limited in 1968.
From the early 19th century the works were based at Barnard's Wharf, 341 Rotherhithe Street, Rotherhithe. Until 1930 the family held Gabriel's Wharf, Commercial Road, Lambeth, on a long lease from the Duchy of Cornwall. There was also a branch yard at Exeter. By 1937 branch offices had been established in Hull, Wisbech, Ipswich, Southampton, Exeter, Bedford, Leicester, Cambridge, Peterborough and Scarborough.
The business was based at Albermarle Street (1770-4), Golden Lane (1774-9), 100 Old Street (1779-1794), 31-32 Banner Street, Bunhill Row (1797-1814), Commercial Road, Lambeth (1815-1919), Aldwych House, Aldwych (1919-1961), and 6 John's Street, Holborn (1961-1968).
Richard and George Attenborough established themselves as pawnbrokers and jewellers at 204 Fleet Street in 1844. By 1847, George Attenborough (1821-94) was trading alone, though he was subsequently joined by his sons, Arthur Henry Attenborough and George Attenborough. They traded from a number of addresses, before settling at 193 Fleet Street from 1873, where the firm was based until 1987. They are also described in London directories as silversmiths, watchmakers, appraisers, diamond and pearl merchants, and bullion dealers.
This discount house was established in 1870 as Gerrard and Middleton, under the leadership of William Duff Gerrard. It was renamed Gerrard and Company in 1874 and Gerrard and Reid in 1892 following the admission to the partnership of Sandeman Reid, son of a Northumberland engineer. The business operated on a small scale, but it expanded following its merger with Tallack and Company (established 1932) in 1934, a key personality now being John Kellock who joined from Dawnay Day in 1937. In 1946 Edward Clive, another partner, left to form Clive Discount Company Limited.
Prior to the Second World War, Gerrards had been a bill broker, but thereafter it became a fully-fledged discount house. It acquired limited liability in 1948 and in 1958 Minster Trust Limited acquired a substantial interest when capital was increased to £0.5 million. However, Minster soon withdrew and the business was grown under K H Whitaker's management. Capital was increased to over £1 million in 1959 and discount facilities were made available at the Bank of England for the first time. The business was converted to a public company in 1962.
In 1969 Gerrards acquired the City's second largest discount house, National Discount Company Limited, and in 1970 it was renamed Gerrard and National Discount Company Limited. In the 1970s and 1980s the business grew rapidly and diversified away from its original activities; Gerrard and National Plc was formed in 1986. At the time of the deposit of the records, the traditional discount house business was being carried on by Gerrard and National Limited, a subsidiary of the holding company, Gerrard and National Holdings Plc.
The business was based in offices at the following addresses: 14 Union Court, Old Broad Street, 1870-1875; 3 Newman's Court, Cornhill, 1876-1904; 7 Finch Lane, 1905-ca. 1916; 6 Birchin Lane, c 1916-1924; 10 Bell Yard, Gracechurch Street, 1925-1933; 11 Birchin Lane, 1933-1955; 54 Threadneedle Street, 1956-1958; 36 Lombard Street, 1959-1964; 32 Lombard Street, 1965-1987; and 33 Lombard Street, 1988-date.
The National Discount Company Limited was formed in 1856 with a subscribed capital of £200,000. It was the first joint stock company, other than the short-lived Overend Gurney and Company Limited, in a sector dominated by private partnerships. It avoided the worst of the 1866 Overend Gurney Crisis, which claimed many of its competitors, and expanded rapidly in the late 1860s and 70s when it was London's largest house. Following the formation of the Union Discount Company of London Limited, it became the second largest house and held this position until recent times. Cunliffe and Fowler was acquired in 1877. In 1969 Gerrard and Reid Limited acquired the business which ceased trading in 1970. The Gerrard business was then renamed Gerrard and National Discount Company Limited.
The National Discount Company had offices at 25 Birchin Lane (1856-8) and 35 Cornhill (1858-1970).
Globe Telegraph and Trust Company Limited was incorporated in 1873 by John Pender, a Liberal MP, who also founded the Eastern and Associated Telegraph Companies Group. Globe was formed in order to spread the short term risk of cable laying over a number of companies, and shares in Globe were offered in exchange for shares in submarine telegraph and associated companies. The Eastern and Associated Telegraph Companies Group, meanwhile, was built up by Pender over a number of years in the late 19th century, as described below.
MEDITERRANEAN AND INDIA. 1869: British Indian Submarine Telegraph Company Limited was formed to lay a cable from Bombay to Suez and thence to Alexandria and to Malta; and Falmouth, Gibraltar and Malta Telegraph Company Limited was formed to complete the chain to England with cables via Gibraltar and Portugal. 1872: British Indian Submarine; Falmouth, Gibraltar and Malta; Marseilles, Algiers and Malta (formed 1870); and Anglo-Mediterranean (formed 1868) telegraph companies were amalgamated by Pender to form Eastern Telegraph Company Limited.
THE FAR EAST. 1869: British Indian Extension Telegraph Company Limited was formed to lay a cable from Madras to Penang and on to Singapore. 1870: British Australian Telegraph Company Limited was formed to bring Australia within the ambit of submarine telegraph communication with Britain and laid a cable from Singapore to Java and on to Australia. 1869: Pender had meantime formed China Submarine Telegraph Company Limited to extend the cable from Singapore to Hong Kong via Saigon. 1873: Pender amalgamated the above three far eastern companies into Eastern Extension, Australasia and China Telegraph Company Limited which, with Eastern Telegraph Company Limited, formed the nucleus of the Eastern and Associated Telegraph Companies Group.
SOUTH AMERICA. 1865: River Plate Telegraph Company Limited was formed, with a head office in Scotland, to lay a cable across the mouth of the River Plate and operate a telegraph service between Argentina and Uruguay. 1872: Companhia Telegrafica Platino Brasileira was incorporated in Brazil, but reformed in England in 1878, as London Platino Brazilian Telegraph Company Limited and became part of the Eastern Group. 1892: Pacific and European Telegraph Company Limited was formed to compete with South American telegraph companies which connected the main Brazilian ports with each other and with Europe.
AFRICA: 1879: Eastern and South African Telegraph Company Limited was formed to lay cables up the east coast of Africa from Durban to Aden where they would join Eastern Telegraph Company's main line system. 1885: West African Telegraph Company Limited was formed to lay cables along the west coast of Africa and connect them with, in the main, foreign government systems. 1885: African Direct Telegraph Company Limited was formed to link the main British ports on the west coast of Africa with each other and with England. 1889: Eastern and South African, West African and African Direct all became part of the Eastern and Associated Telegraph Companies Group.
AZORES. 1893: Europe and Azores Telegraph Company Limited was formed under the aegis of the Eastern Group to lay a cable from Lisbon to the Azores.
By the turn of the century, therefore, the Eastern and Associated Telegraph Companies Group possessed a virtual monopoly of worldwide communication by telegraph cable. However, from this time on, cable communication came increasingly into competition with wireless telegraphy, chiefly in the form of Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company Limited.
In 1928 the Imperial Wireless and Cable Conference recommended that the overseas cable and wireless resources of the British Empire be merged into one system. As a result Cable and Wireless Limited (known from 1934 as Cable and Wireless (Holding) Limited) was formed in 1929 to acquire the shares of both the Eastern Group and the Marconi company, and Imperial and International Communications Limited (known from 1934 as Cable and Wireless Limited) was formed also in 1929 to acquire the communications assets of both the Eastern Group and the Marconi company.
In 1935 Globe Telegraph and Trust Company Limited acquired Cables Investment Trust Limited as a subsidiary. In 1946, when Cable and Wireless was nationalised, Globe owned a third of Cable and Wireless (Holding) Limited which was converted into an investment trust. It was renamed in 1971 as Cable Trust Limited. Since 1948 Globe and its associates have been concerned chiefly with general investment business, and in 1969 Globe was renamed as Globe Investment Trust Limited. In 1977 it merged with Cable Trust Limited.
Globe and the associated telegraph companies had offices at Winchester House, Old Broad Street until 1902; Electra House, Moorgate, until 1933; then Electra House, Temple Place, Victoria Embankment (more recently known as Globe House). Cable and Wireless shared accommodation with Globe until 1955 when Cable and Wireless moved to Mercury House, Theobalds Road, WC1.
Globe Telegraph and Trust Company Limited was incorporated in 1873 by John Pender, a Liberal MP, who also founded the Eastern and Associated Telegraph Companies Group. Globe was formed in order to spread the short term risk of cable laying over a number of companies, and shares in Globe were offered in exchange for shares in submarine telegraph and associated companies. The Eastern and Associated Telegraph Companies Group, meanwhile, was built up by Pender over a number of years in the late 19th century.
The China Submarine Telegraph Company Limited was formed in 1869 by John Pender to lay a 1,700 mile submarine cable between Singapore and Hong Kong via Saigon. In 1873 it merged with British Indian Extension Telegraph Company Limited and with British Australian Telegraph Company Limited to form Eastern Extension, Australasia and China Telegraph Company Limited.
Globe Telegraph and Trust Company Limited was incorporated in 1873 by John Pender, a Liberal MP, who also founded the Eastern and Associated Telegraph Companies Group. Globe was formed in order to spread the short term risk of cable laying over a number of companies, and shares in Globe were offered in exchange for shares in submarine telegraph and associated companies. The Eastern and Associated Telegraph Companies Group, meanwhile, was built up by Pender over a number of years in the late 19th century.
The Direct Spanish Telegraph Company Limited was formed in 1872 by John Pender to connect England to the north coast of Spain by submarine cable. It remained a private company of the Pender family.
Globe Telegraph and Trust Company Limited was incorporated in 1873 by John Pender, a Liberal MP, who also founded the Eastern and Associated Telegraph Companies Group. Globe was formed in order to spread the short term risk of cable laying over a number of companies, and shares in Globe were offered in exchange for shares in submarine telegraph and associated companies. The Eastern and Associated Telegraph Companies Group, meanwhile, was built up by Pender over a number of years in the late 19th century.
The Marseilles, Algiers and Malta Telegraph Company Limited was formed in 1870 by John Pender and merged in 1872 with Anglo-Mediterranean Telegraph Co, Falmouth, Gibraltar and Malta Telegraph Co (CLC/B/101-22), and British Indian Submarine Telegraph Co (CLC/B/101-08) to form Eastern Telegraph Co (CLC/B/101-19).
This company was formed in 1865 to operate a telegraphic service between Argentina and Uruguay. It was formed by John Proudfoot, a Liverpool merchant, and Matthew Gray, a Glasgow engineer. It later merged with other associated telegraph companies to form Cable and Wireless.
The London Corn Exchange Importers Association was formed in 1932 by members of the corn trade to protect their interests with regard to tariffs and other matters affecting the import of grain and the London Corn Exchange. It was wound up voluntarily in 1950.
United Associations Limited was set up in 1923 to provide administrative services and premises for societies and associations who wished to reduce their overheads. Its principal clients, who held two-thirds of its shares, were the London Cattle Food Trade Association (CLC/B/103-05) and the London Oil and Tallow Trades Association (CLC/B/103-04). Originally based at 84 Leadenhall Street, it subsequently moved to the Corn Exchange Building, Mark Lane (in 1923) and 5/7 Houndsditch (1959).
This company was established as Guardian Fire and Life Assurance Company in 1821 and renamed as Guardian Assurance in 1902. It was founded by a group of private bankers for UK and overseas fire and life insurance and expanded into employers' liability from 1897.
During the 19th century the company's address was 11 Lombard Street, but it moved to 68 King William Street in 1922.
The Local Government Guarantee Society was an insurance company, based at 7-9 St James' Street, SW1 (in 1930). It was acquired in 1918 by Royal Exchange Assurance (CLC/B/107-02).
The London and Manchester Plate Glass Insurance Company was based at 11 Queen Victoria Street (in 1901).
This company was established in 1824 as Manchester Fire and Life Assurance Company. It was renamed Manchester Assurance Company in 1846 when it transferred its life business to Pelican Life Insurance Company. At this date its offices were at 6 Lawrence Lane, Cheapside. Manchester Assurance was acquired by Atlas Assurance Company (CLC/B/107-04) in 1904; by this time its address was 110 Cannon Street.
Atlas Assurance became a subsidiary of Royal Exchange Assurance in 1959 and this company merged in turn with Guardian Assurance in 1968 to form Guardian Royal Exchange.
This company was established in 1907 for the business of accident insurance in the United Kingdom. It was acquired by Essex and Suffolk Insurance Company (CLC/B/107-09) in 1910 which became a subsidiary of Atlas Assurance Company (CLC/B/107-04) in 1911 and then part of Royal Exchange Assurance (CLC/B/107-02) in 1959.
This company was established in 1915 to cover motor, fire, accident, marine and employer's liability insurance. In 1919, at which time its address was 19 Royal Exchange, it became a subsidiary of Motor Union Insurance Company (CLC/B/107-16), which in turn merged with Royal Exchange Assurance (CLC/B/107-02) in 1927.
Henry Barber traded as a salmon factor from 1841. By 1855 he had a stand in Billingsgate market and by 1880 had leased shop 7 where the business remained until it went into voluntary liquidation in 1979. The limited company was formed in April 1925. It specialised in salmon, but also dealt in eels through subsidiaries.
Braddan Fishing Company Limited was a subsidiary of H Barber and Sons Limited. It was formed in 1952 to manage salmon fishing.
John T Clark Limited is first listed in the trade directories for 1933 as a fish factor of Billingsgate and 90 Lower Thames Street. The firm was taken over by H Barber and Son Limited circa 1965 (John T Clark is listed in the directories until 1968, and these records run until 1971).
Daniel and Smith Harrison and Joseph Crosfield entered into partnership in January 1844 to trade as tea and coffee merchants at 6 Temple Street, Liverpool, under the style Harrisons and Crosfield. The partnership moved in July 1854 to 3 Great Tower Street, London, becoming from the 1860s one of the largest tea traders in Britain. In the 1890s the company admitted a number of new partners (Charles Heath Clark, George Croll, Arthur Lampard and Eric Miller) and changed the direction of its business. The company took on the blending and packing of teas, and imports from Ceylon were stored in a warehouse on Ceylon Wharf, Bankside in Southwark. The company was also increasingly involved in rubber and plantation estates in the mid-20th century, and acquired shareholdings, often acting as agents and secretaries, in a number of plantation companies. By the late 20th century, Harrisons and Crosfield managed nearly half a million acres of tropical crops in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Southern India, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The firm became a limited company under the style Harrisons and Crosfield Limited in May 1908.
Much of the company's interest in tea was disposed of in 1916 on the formation of Twining, Crosfield and Company Limited. As well as diversifying into rubber plantation Harrisons and Crosfield Limited had interests in timber (through its stake in British Borneo Timber Limited, later called Sabah Timber Company), and especially from the 1950s, palm oil, speciality chemicals and other estates agency work, including the related business from insurance and shipping. From the late 1960s the company again changed direction moving to consolidate its interests in a number of divisions, including the "Harcros" group of timber merchants and building suppliers, chemicals, animal feeds and other agricultural products. Most of the interests Harrisons and Crosfield had in individual plantation companies were merged into larger companies (e.g. London Sumatra Plantations) in the 1960s and afterwards, and those companies have subsequently been sold. The firm became a public limited company in 1982. In late 1997 the firm started the disposal of all its timber and building supplies and food and agriculture divisions, to concentrate on speciality chemicals. From January 1998 the firm has been known as Elementis Plc.
Harrisons and Crosfield were appointed as secretaries and/or agents to almost all of the plantation companies in which it had a shareholding. The secretarial function was performed in London and included the provision of full management support to the boards of individual plantation companies and the administration of share registers. The overseas branches of Harrisons and Crosfield (e.g. Harrisons and Crosfield (Malaya) Limited) acted as agents.
Harrisons and Crosfield opened an office in Calcutta in 1900 under the style Lampard, Clark and Company (CLC/B/112-099, Mss 37914-25). From 1908 the office was treated as a branch office of Harrisons and Crosfield Limited. An office was opened in Quilon (1911), and also in Calicut (circa 1912) and Cochin (circa 1919). In 1968 the Quilon branch moved to Cochin. See also the records of Davenport and Co, acquired in 1930, which acted as managing agents of a number of Indian tea companies (CLC/B/112-041; Mss 37462-8).
This company was registered in 1913 to acquire Kajang estates in Selangor, Malaya. Harrisons and Crosfield Limited (CLC/B/112) replaced Bright and Galbraith as secretaries and agents in 1952, and Harrisons and Crosfield (Malaya) Limited (CLC/B/112-071) acted as local agents from 1953. Abaco (Selangor) Rubber Limited went into voluntary liquidation in 1953-6.
