Glazebrook, Steel and Company Limited, merchants and shippers of Manchester, was formed in 1884 to supply Bombay with Lancashire textiles. The business was originally named Wallace and Company, Manchester, England and was created by Alexander and Robert Walllace. Until 1931, Wallace Brothers had a substantial shareholding in the Company and the right to nominate the governing director. After 1931 the shareholding was reduced but Wallace Brothers continued to maintain close links with the company.
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.
Hermes Securities Limited, incorporated 1969, was a holding company based at 165 Queen Victoria Street, City of London. Its subsidiary, Hermes Credit Corporation Limited, were investment bankers registered at the same address.
The Eastern Bank Limited was founded in London as a limited company at the end of 1909 as a new Eastern 'exchange' bank, to help finance trade with the East. As well as the Head Office in London, which exercised close day-to-day control, it had two overseas branches. established in 1910 in Bombay and Calcutta. From the start the Bank had a number of powerful institutional shareholders, including the Eastern trading house, E D Sassoon.
In the mid 1950s the Calcutta branch of the bank made several loans to the Mundhra group of companies, owned by Haridas Mundhra. The group included the Brahmapootra Tea Company (India) Limited; Osler Electric Lamp Manufacturing Company Limited; F&C Osler (India) Limited; Richardson & Cruddas Limited; and the British India Corporation.
Haridas Mundhra borrowed in excess of a quarter of a million pounds from Eastern Bank, and subsequently underwent civil and criminal prosecution in India. The manager of the Calcutta branch resigned, and was prosecuted in India for falsifying stautory banking returns. The total loss to Eastern Bank was around £750, 000.
Arnhold and Company Limited existed in China since 1866, when it was initially known as Arnhold, Karberg and Company. It traded in and became a leading distributor of building materials and engineering equipment. It was reconstituted as a British company after 1919 and Sir Victor Sassoon became the majority shareholder after 1919 after a merger. The company is still trading and is now known as Arnhold Holdings Limited. The initial chairman was Harry Edward Arnhold, a close business associate of Sir Victor Sassoon. The Company's headquarters were in the Arnhold Building at 6 Kiukiang Road, Shanghai, China until its relocation in 1930 to the third floor of Sassoon House, 1 Nanking Road, Shanghai, China. Arnhold and Company Limited flourished until 1949 when, with the change of Government in China, the headquarters relocated to Hong Kong. Maurice Green, who had been associated with the company since the Sassoon takeover, acquired the controlling interest in Arnhold and Company Limited in 1957.
The Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, known from 1956 as The Chartered Bank, was established by Royal Charter in 1853. It was an overseas exchange bank, based in and controlled from the City of London. It was established to take advantage of the end of the East India Company's monopoly in 1853.
The bank operated in India and throughout the Far East - in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Siam [Thailand], Burma [Myanmar], Singapore, Malacca, Penang and the Malay States, the Philippines, Japan, Java, Sumatra, Ceylon [Sri Lanka], North Borneo, Brunei, Sarawak, Pakistan and East Pakistan. There were also branches in New York [United States of America] and Hamburg [Germany]. Despite its name, the bank never operated in Australia.
Further UK branches opened in Manchester (1937) and Liverpool (1948). The bank gained a second London office and additional branches in India, Pakistan, China and Ceylon with the takeover in 1938 of the P and O. Banking Corporation.
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).
Oversight of the accounting and financial functions of the bank was managed by the Chief Accountant (known as 'Accountant and Registrar' (to 1875) then 'Accountant' (to 1904) then 'Chief Accountant' (1905 onwards). He was part of the Bank's senior-level staff and was based at Head Office.
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 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's office also managed/was closely involved with various other departments-
*The Inspection Department: (created in 1906 and headed by the Chief Accountant)
*The Bullion Department: This was in existence by 1908
*The Taxation and Statistics Department: This was in existence by the 1930s/40s and appears to have fallen within the Chief Accountant's remit. In 1953 the Bank published a brief history using statistics prepared by Mr J English of the Taxation and Statistics Department. Mr English later became Chief Accountant.
*The Secretary's Department, especially regarding the acquisition/merger and ongoing management of the various banks acquired by Chartered Bank (including P and O Banking Corporation, Eastern Bank and Allahabad 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 II 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 first branch to be opened was in Calcutta [Kolkata], India in 1858. The branches were initially established with a manager and an accountant with a number of clerks, all answerable to head office in London. The aim of the Directors was to open a network of branches across India and the Far East, especially in major ports and gradually the network was expanded to achieve this goal. By 1969 there were over 130 branches and agencies in 17 different countries.
E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited was established as a subsidiary of E D Sassoon and Company Limited. It was first incorporated in Hong Kong in 1928 to coordinate the trading interests of the Sassoon family, In March 1930 E D Sassoon and Company Limited's new headquarters were opened at Sassoon House, Shanghai. In order to facilitate the investment of Bombay assets into Shanghai, E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited, was registered in 1930 (however the parent company had been handling private banking functions since 1921). The head office of the new company was in Hong Kong with branches in the City of London and Manchester. The firm continued to invest in property, choosing to purchase large hotels and office blocks. Despite successful production rates, the firm decided to dispose of the mills in Bombay after the Second World War, fearing problems as foreign owners once independence was granted. In May 1949, Shanghai and Hong Kong were under control of communist regimes and seemed unhealthy places for the company's head office so it was transferred to Nassau in the Bahamas in 1950. It is thought that Nassau was chosen because there were no forms of personal or corporation tax in place and Sir Victor Sassoon planned to live there, until his death in 1961.
E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited invested in a number of companies which it operated as subsidiaries including Far Eastern Nominees Limited and Arnhold and Company Limited.
In 1967 the structure of the company was enlarged to admit new shareholders with the head office later moving to London. Major Desmond Fitzgerald, a cousin of Sir Victor Sassoon, became chairman. The company offered a full range of banking facilities including current and deposit accounts, loans and overdrafts, acceptance credits, export finance, foreign currency exchange and other financial services and advice. Also in 1967, the Nassau office became a wholly owned subsidiary of E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited under the title of E D Sassoon Banking International Limited, Nassau, Bahamas and offered services such as company management by incorporating Bahamian holding or operating companies and trust administration.
In 1972 E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited merged with Wallace Brothers and Company (Holdings) Limited and the name of the company was changed to Wallace Brothers Sassoon Bank Limited, with registered offices at 4 Crosby Square, City of London. The name was later changed to Wallace Brothers Bank Limited in November 1974, continuing to operate from Crosby Square. E D Sassoon and Company Limited continued to exist as a separate company from 1972 and later became DK Investments (Crosby Square) Limited in 1978.
E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited's registered offices were initially Sassoon House, Hong Kong and Gloucester Building, Victoria, Hong Kong (1930-1950). In 1950 the company was incorporated in the Bahamas and the new registered offices became Fenby House, Shirley Street, Nassau, Island of New Providence, Bahamas (1950-1963) and later 324 Bay Street, Nassau, Island of New Providence, Bahamas (1963-1969).
Most of the company's operations were controlled by the London branch offices. These were based at Stone House, 140 Bishopsgate, London (1930 - 1934), 85 Gracechurch Street, City of London (1934 - 1955), 37 Upper Brook Street, Westminster (1955-1969) and Winchester House, 100 Old Broad Street, City of London (1969-1972). There were also branches at 58 Whitworth Street, Manchester and Holland House, Hong Kong.
The collection contains a pamphlet on the company's background entitled 'A century of service to finance and trade' (CLC/B/207/CH09/01/001) along with an earlier draft by Major Derek Fitzgerald which contains more detailed historical information about the company (CLC/B/207/CH09/01/002).
Geographical range:
London, India and China, Gulf ports, Iraq and Japan.
Far Eastern Nominees (England) Limited, later Far Eastern Nominees (Nassau, Bahamas) Limited, was a wholly owned subsidiary of E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited. It was incorporated on 1936 Oct 3. Registered offices at 85 Gracechurch St, London, EC3 (1936-1955) and later 37 Upper Brook Street, London W1 (1955-19--).
The P & O Banking Corporation Limited was established in 1920 by James MacKay (later Lord Inchcape) to develop the private banking business of the P & O Company. Under MacKay's stewardship (as Managing Director from 1914 and Chairman from 1915) the P & O had expanded rapidly, acquiring the British India Company amongst many others, and the bank was to be both a commercial venture and a device to manage the financial interests of the business.
On its establishment the Corporation acquired Allahabad Bank in India and opened offices in Colombo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Canton (now Guangzhou). Allahabad Bank was always operated as a subsidiary, and wasn’t absorbed into the central organisation of the P & O Banking Corporation. The Corporation later expanded further in India under its own name, in Calicut (now Kozhikode in Kerala), Bombay and Madras (and the surrounding region). Lloyds and National Provincial bought shares in the new Corporation, reflecting the expectancy that a bank backed by the P & O would be a success.
In 1927 the Chartered Bank of India, China and Asia acquired seventy five percent of the Corporation's shares, effectively rendering the P & O Banking Corporation a subsidiary. In 1928 Chartered took over most of the remaining shareholding, and many of its Directors were elected to the Board of the Corporation in the subsequent years.
The P & O continued as a subsidiary company of the Chartered Bank for a further decade, though the Chartered Bank became dissatisfied with its performance. While the P & O had some merits as an institution (especially the business that came from the associated companies of the wider P & O group, and the success of Allahabad Bank in northern India), as a latecomer in international banking it often had to take on clients that existing institutions had refused. Furthermore many of the Corporation’s branches existed in locations (such as Shanghai, Hong Kong and Bombay) that were served by other banks, including the Chartered Bank. With the down turn of the world economy in the 1930s the P & O was operating in a reduced market place as a direct competitor to the branches of its parent company for considerably reduced profit, an untenable position for the Corporation and its owner.
The Chartered Bank of India, China and Australia took the decision to liquidate The P & O Banking Corporation in 1938. The liquidation date was set for 31 January 1939, when the bank's branches closed and the liquid assets were transferred to the Chartered Bank (it appears that they were transferred to the nearest branch of the Chartered Bank in many cases).
The Corporation's headquarters in Leadenhall Street, London, remained open as a branch of Chartered, and appears to have handled the final breaking up of the bank's assets, and the longer term issues around the dissolution of the Corporation.
P & O Banking Corporation Nominees (the subsidiary that handled the shares owned by the Bank) continued in name until the late 1960s. Allahabad Bank continued to be run separately as a subsidiary of Chartered Bank, as the nature of its business kept it as a viable business in its own right. It was nationalised by the Indian Government in 1969, and still exists as a private body.
Geographical range:
India, Sri Lanka, China and Singapore
In 1897 the Bank of British West Africa established itself at Freetown, Sierra Leone. In 1957 the bank changed its name to the Bank of West Africa. In 1965 the bank merged with Standard Bank Limited which in 1971 voluntarily incorporated the business as the Standard Bank of Sierra Leone Limited as a wholly-owned subsidiary company of Standard Bank, later to be a wholly owned subsidary of Standard Chartered Banking Group following the 1969 merger of Standard and Chartered Bank.
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.
This firm of Russia merchants, known from 1810 as Stratton, Gibson and Fuller, had premises at 3 Russia Court, Leadenhall Street, (to 1801) and 9 Great St Helens (from 1802).
The firm was principally concerned with the import and sale of linen and other commodities from St Petersburg, Russia, to London. They also acted as London brokers to some provincial merchants, which involved them in coastal trade, and arranged insurance against fire, loss at sea and capture.
The roots of the firm can be traced in trade directories back at least to 1754, to the partnership of Stratton and Rodbard, linen drapers and merchants of Aldgate Within (to ca. 1758), Leadenhall Street (from ca. 1760) and 3 Russia Court, Leadenhall Street (from ca. 1768). The firm was subsequently styled as Stratton and Pieschall (1782-90), Stratton, Gibson and Schonberg (1792-97), Stratton and Gibson (1798-1810) and Stratton, Gibson and Fuller (1810-ca.1822). The firm ceases to appear in trade directories after 1822.
This company appears to have traded chiefly as American merchants. It had premises at the following addresses: Tokenhouse Yard, Lothbury (1842-52); Old Jewry (1853-66); and Cullum Street (1867-9).
According to the articles, John Bates had done business 'for several years' with Thomas Young as his clerk. Nothing more is known about John Bates. Thomas Young obtained his broker's bond on 27 January 1761, where he is described as citizen and clothworker, of Serjeants' Inn and Garraway's Coffee House.
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).
Brash Brothers first appear in a commercial directory in 1892, as a partnership, at 9 and 11 Fenchurch Avenue and 13 St Mary Axe. By 1918, they were at 38 Mincing Lane. From 1923 they were at 23 Rood Lane, and 1935-69 at 13 Rood Lane. They also had various warehouses in the London suburbs at various dates. Brash Brothers appear to have become a limited company, Brash Brothers (Tea) Limited, circa 1940. In 1996 the firm was taken over and no corporate records are known to survive.
Richard Carpender (c 1725-78) was an undertaker, with premises in Fleet Market (in 1827, an Elizabeth Carpender, possibly Richard's daughter in law or granddaughter, lived at 66 Fleet Market). In 1746 he married Elizabeth Drake, and they had 8 children.The eldest son, John, took over the business on Richard's death in 1778 (in 1791 he is described as of 31 Fleet Street). Richard's will was proved in the PCC on 6 October 1778 (PROB 11/1046).
The company had premises in Queen Victoria Street (1874-81), last appearing in London directories in 1881. The meeting to which these papers relate was concerned with the winding-up of the company.
In 1871 the Emma Silver Mine in Utah, USA, was involved in a scandal when two business promoters encouraged investment in the mine despite knowing it to be depleted. They targeted British investors, selling the mine for 5 million dollars. The fraud was exposed in 1876 and the investors began legal proceedings against the promoters. For a report of the winding-up of the company see The Times newspaper for November 20, 1880, page 6.
Benjamin Gray was a watchmaker and clockmaker, of Pall Mall (in 1727).
This company was established in 1901 at Threadneedle House, 28-31, subsequently 34 Bishopsgate and it carried on investment business only. In 1921 it moved to Winchester House, Old Broad Street and by 1931 it was at 80 Bishopsgate where the company remained until 1938 which was the date of its last entry in trade directories.
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.
Hurrell and Mayo were solicitors of 165 Queen Victoria Street.
William Hurt was a merchant of Bishopsgate and official of the East India Company, while his nephew Thomas Rogers was a factor for the Company. Although Hurt and Rogers were both employed by the East India Company, and Rogers' letters contain much about the Company's business, they appear to be private correspondence.
John Hubbard and Company were Russia merchants of 19 Birchin Lane and from circa 1865 to circa 1900 of 4 St Helen's Place.
The company is first listed in the London trade directories in 1886, with premises at the Coal Exchange in London, and is described as 'coal factors and coal merchants'. It appears to have succeeded Phillips and Lamont which also traded from the Coal Exchange, as coal factors from 1857, and as coal factors and merchants after 1877.
Lamont and Warne traded on the Coal Exchange from 1886 to 1941 and on Arundel Street in Westminster from 1942 to 1963, moving in 1964 to their current (1993) premises on Kennington Road, London.
A magazine entitled Lightning was established in 1891, based initially at Faraday House, Charing Cross Road. At the end of 1891 it moved to 117 Bishopsgate Street. By 1900 it was based at 18 Bream's Buildings. From January 1902 it was titled the Electrical Times, the name it continues under to date (2011). It described itself as the newspaper for 'engineers and technical management'.
Lister, Beck and Company were wine merchants of 5 Tokenhouse Yard.
The company was constituted in 1852. The business of the company was to mine and market slate or any other minerals from Llantysilio, Denbigh, Wales.
One of the directors was Charles Bischoff, solicitor, of 19 Coleman Street.
Lupton was a watchmaker with premises at 3 Newman's Court, Cornhill. The book is believed to have been kept by Lupton when he was working for P. Hilton Barraud, chronometer maker, of 41, Cornhill.
This item probably belonged to James Myers of Yardley Hastings.
The Nassau Phosphate of Lime Company was based at 4 Lothbury.
Norris and Collet, were London merchants trading with Sweden. Henry Norris, a London merchant trading with Russia and Sweden, was their factor.
From 1872, Peter Bond Burgoyne and Company acted as wine importers and agents for Tintara, later Australian, Vineyards Association which had been established by a group of Australian wine producers in 1871. Burgoyne and Company had offices and cellars at 50 Old Broad Street.
In January 1886 the company, by then described in directories as "Australian merchants and vineyard proprietors", moved to 6 Dowgate Hill with cellars at the Dowgate Vaults, Cannon Street. It also had premises at 146 Pelham Street (Spitalfields) and in Adelaide and Melbourne.
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.
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.
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.
Joseph Smith of 'The Sugar Loaf', Cannon Street was a wholesale grocer to customers largely in London and the Home Counties.
This firm of merchants and tea and spice dealers, of 5 Monument Yard, Fish Street Hill, was originally a partnership between Miles Stringer and Thomas Richardson. The partnership ended in May 1828. Later in the same year a Mr Cooper took Richardson's place and the firm was renamed Stringer, Cooper and Company.
At the time these documents are dated (1818-1829) a "John Souter" frequently appears in The Times newspaper advertising newly published books which can be bought at his shop, 73 St Paul's Churchyard. As the John Souter in these documents was a member of the Stationers' Company it is possible that they were the same man.
An 'indenture' was a deed or agreement between two or more parties. Two or more copies were written out, usually on one piece of parchment or paper, and then cut in a jagged or curvy line, so that when brought together again at any time, the two edges exactly matched and showed that they were parts of one and the same original document. A 'right hand indenture' is therefore the copy of the document which was on the right hand side when the parchment was cut in two.
From the British Records Association "Guidelines 3 - Interpreting Deeds: How To Interpret Deeds - A Simple Guide And Glossary".
In 1880 Charles Riley Maynard started manufacturing sweets. Maynards was launched as a company in 1896, having expanded its manufacturing, wholesale and retail business. It is now owned by Cadbury's.
Two separate Manors, those of Clerkenwell and Canonbury which came into the Northampton family through the marriage in 1594 of William Compton, first earl of Northampton, to Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Sir John Spencer, Alderman of London.
The New River was constructed between 1609 and 1613 by Sir Hugh Myddelton to bring water from Amwell and Chadwell in Hertfordshire to the City of London. The River terminated at the Commandery Mantles in Clerkenwell where ponds and a cistern house were constructed. From New River Head the water was distributed by pipes. The New River Company was incorporated by letters patent in 1619.
By 1660 it was necessary to supplement the flow of water in the New River by extracting water from the River Lee below Hertford. In 1709 an Upper Pond was built in Claremont Square some two hundred yards further up the hill from New River Head, to provide a greater head of water.
In 1293 Edmund, Earl of Lancaster and brother of King Edward I, constructed the Savoy Palace on land formerly belonging to the Count of Savoy. The palace was rebuilt at great expense by Henry, 1st Duke of Lancaster, between 1345 and 1370; after which it was said to be the finest house in England. In 1381 the palace was attacked during the Peasant's Revolt; the rioters started a bonfire of the Duke's possessions and mistakenly threw a box of gunpowder onto the flames, thus destroying much of the Great Hall.
In 1505 Henry VII ordered the palace to be rebuilt and used as a hospital for the poor. The hospital held 100 beds and included three chapels, a large precinct and outbuildings. It was dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and a statue of him was positioned over the Strand gate. In 1570 complaints were made that Thomas Thurland, Master of the Hospital, used hospital money to maintain his relatives, rarely went to church, had sexual relations with hospital staff, and owed the hospital £2,500. The hospital never recovered from this mismanagement.
Houses in the hospital precinct were fashionable addresses for noblemen and highly ranked clergy. However, by the later 17th century these houses were occupied by businessmen, while the hospital was used for wounded servicemen, and barracks and a military prison were constructed. Some of the chapels and halls were converted for use by non-conformist religious groups such as French Protestants, Lutherans, Quakers and Calvinists. The hospital was formally dissolved in 1702.
Information from The London Encyclopaedia, eds. Weinreb and Hibbert (LMA Library Reference 67.2 WEI).
Sir Nathan Wright (1654-1721) was a lawyer, born in Leicestershire, son of a rector. He entered the Inner Temple in 1671 and was called to the bar in 1677. He was called to the bench in 1692 and became a serjeant-at-law in the same year. He began to represent high profile clients including the crown. In 1696 he was rewarded with a knighthood and made king's serjeant. He was named lord keeper in May 1700, although he accepted with reluctance. He sat on the privy council as an advisor to William III. Party politics led to his dismissal as lord keeper in 1705. Wright's wife died in the same month and he retired to his estates. He participated in some local law until 1721 when he died.
Information from: Robert J. Frankle, 'Wright, Sir Nathan (1654-1721)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004.
The London Orphan Asylum was founded in 1813 by Congregationalist minister Andrew Reed. In 1820 land was purchased in Clapton, off Lower Clapton Road, and a purpose built orphanage erected by 1825. In 1871 the orphanage was moved to Watford.
A demise is a conveyance or transfer of an estate by will, mortgage or lease. Conveyances are transfers of land from one party to another, usually for money. Early forms of conveyance include feoffments, surrenders and admissions at manor courts (if the property was copyhold), final concords, common recoveries, bargains and sales and leases and releases.
From the British Records Association "Guidelines 3 - Interpreting Deeds: How To Interpret Deeds - A Simple Guide And Glossary".
Haxells Hotel on the Strand was purchased by its more successful neighbour, the Strand Palace Hotel, in the 1920s, and the two buildings were merged.
An opening date is not known for the Majestic Cinema, but it is listed in the Kinematograph Yearbook 1937 edition as operating with a seating capacity of 700.
By 1940 it had been taken over by Capital and Provincial Cinemas Ltd and re-named Vogue Cinema. Capital and Provincial Cinemas Ltd were later renamed Classic Cinemas. They specialised in re-runs of classic Hollywood films. It had become the Vogue Repertory Cinema by 1945 and the seating capacity had been reduced to 451. In the mid-1950's it began screening mainly foreign films and was re-named the Vogue Continental.
It closed on 21st June 1958 as a protest by Classic Cinemas against the landlord's rent rise. The building was shuttered and remained closed for 42 years. In November 2000 work began to convert the building into a restaurant and residential use.
Source of information: Website 'Cinema Treasures' at http://cinematreasures.org/theater/14875/ (accessed Nov 2009)
The writer and diarist John Evelyn (1620-1706) came from a landed estate at Wotton in Surrey. although as a younger son he did not expect to inherit the family lands. In 1647 he married Mary Browne, sole heir of Sir Richard Browne, and through this marriage gained Sayes Court in Deptford with surrounding lands (as confirmed by a grant from Charles II). Evelyn had a stong interest in horticulture and created a famous garden at Sayes Court.
However, Evelyn's elder brother died and he did inherit the Surrey estates, moving there and letting out the house at Deptford. His most famous tenant was Peter the Great, czar of Russia, who was visiting Deptford to study shipbuilding and whose drunken revelries caused damage to the gardens. The estate remained in the Evelyn family, although the manor house was torn down in 1728 and a workhouse and the Admiralty Victualling Yard were built on the site.
Wotton and the other Evelyn estates passed down to Evelyn's great-great-grandson Sir Frederick Evelyn, 3rd baronet (1733-1812). In 1884 W J Evelyn granted some of the land to the London County Council to create a public open space.