Records of Stowells and Sons, wine and spirits merchants, comprising a range of company records from 1845 to 1976 including records covering corporate and financial business, sales and production, staff, property and advertising, as well as records from companies acquired by Stowells from the 1930s onwards including Ellis, Wilson and Bacon Limited, Findlater, Mackie and Company Limited, E. Robins and Sons Limited and Apain and Albury Limited.

Records of the Worshipful Company of Brewers. The records were compiled from 1418, but they include title deeds dating from 1328/9. Records include charters; ordinances; Court minute books; Court and Livery lists; registers of freedom admissions; registers of apprentice bindings; financial accounts; papers relating to property including rent rolls; and papers relating to charities (other than those listed below).

Records of Dame Alice Owen's Charity: The records include minutes, accounts, registers and estate papers. They are part of the archive of the Worshipful Company of Brewers (further information is given in the Company's introductory note). For further information see R A Dare, A History of Owen's School, 1613-1976, 1963. The records were catalogued by members of Guildhall Library staff.

Records of John Baker's almshouses: These records are part of the archive of the Brewers' Company (further information is given in the Company's introductory note). They comprise: memoranda, 1881-9 (Ms 18360-1); deeds and associated documents, 1813-1901 (Ms 18363); specification for the construction of 7 almshouses, 1825 (Ms 18371); quarterly record of payments to almswomen, 1826-1908 (Ms 18372); list of applicants, 1901-2 (Ms 18373); and signed agreements and guarantees, 1826-61 (Ms 18374). Further references will be found in other Brewers' Company records such as minutes and accounts.

Records of Richard Platt's charity: The records comprise statutes and ordinances, minutes and accounts, registers, estate records and plans.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ACCESS: These records are stored at the Guildhall Library site rather than the LMA Clerkenwell site. Researchers wishing to access these records should do so at the Guildhall Library Rare Books table. The Library is open Monday to Saturday, 9:30 to 16:45. Researchers will need to have an Archives History Card or a Library Readers Card. An archivist will be available at Guildhall Library on Thursday mornings to answer any queries.

Records of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, 1638-1978. Records include registers of freedom admissions from 1638 and list of apprentices from 1659 as well as charters; ordinances; Court minute books; Court and livery lists; financial accounts; legal papers; photographs; inventories and deeds relating to property on Upper Thames Street.

Please note: Access to Ms 06203-35A, 10808, 18873, 32941-59 is restricted.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ACCESS: These records are stored at the Guildhall Library site rather than the LMA Clerkenwell site. Researchers wishing to access these records should do so at the Guildhall Library Rare Books table. The Library is open Monday to Saturday, 9:30 to 16:45. Researchers will need to have an Archives History Card or a Library Readers Card. An archivist will be available at Guildhall Library on Thursday mornings to answer any queries.

Records of the Institute of Masters of Wine, comprising minute book of the Education Committee, correspondence and cartoons depicting wine tastings.

Records of Felix Calvert and Company, brewers, comprising accounts of beer supplied to customers.

Business and estate papers of Hart, Hart and Company, including copy of co- partnership agreement between Lemon Hart and Jacob Hart, both from Penzance, Cornwall.

Production records of Barclay Perkins and Company Limited, including Bottling Department Committee minutes; brewing books; ale brewing books; lager brewing books; summaries of beer gyles (a gyle is the quantity of beer or ale brewed at one time); financial calculations relating to the cost of brewing; sugar and caramel books; stock records; papers relating to the production of lager including laboratory test results and complaint book; plans; and brewers' records.

Production records for Courage and Company Limited, brewers, including lists of amounts brewed; lists of malt consumed; records of ingredients used; brewing books; mashing books; registers of beer; diaries of brewing; costs; papers relating to raw materials; licences; plans and sketches of brewing equipment.

Records of Carlos and Thrale Limited, wine and spirits merchants, comprising agenda book for board meetings with rough minutes/notes and articles of association.

Records of Charles Kinloch and Company Limited, wine merchants, including Board minutes; share transfers; sales figures; printed reports; papers relating to mergers; correspondence and papers relating to financial matters; and price lists.

Production records of Harmans Uxbridge Brewery Limited, including hop crop summaries; papers relating to testing and repair of plant and machinery; Board of Trade census of production returns; and papers relating to Garland Vaults (wine and spirits department) including stock taking sheets.

Records of Saccone and Speed Limited, wine and spirits merchants, comprising papers and correspondence, mainly related to purchase by Courage, Barclay and Simonds and subsequent re-organisations.

Personal papers of James Barr, employee of Trumans Ltd, including Transport and General Workers Union cards and papers, Truman's Sports Club rules and fixture lists, and papers relating to the company including redundancy scheme, annual excursions, regulations and agreements, 1939-1989; handbooks, programmes, rules, fixture lists and posters for the London Breweries Amateur Sports Association and the Highgate Harriers Athletic Club, 1951-1979; issues of company publications including 'The Black Eagle', the 'Truman Times', '1666', 'Truman News', 'Truman Topics', 'Watney Truman News' and 'Stag and Eagle' (Watney Combe Reid publication), 1948-1989; annual reports and pension scheme information, 1977-1989; and issues of 'The Master Brewer' and 'The National Brewery Museum Chronicle', 1968-1986.

A small collection of English medical and cookery receipt books, assembled from several sources, 18th-19th century.

The records comprise deeds and legal, administrative and financial papers relating to the Castle Wemyss Estate, Jamaica, 1802-1845, belonging (during the period covered by the papers) successively to Gilbert Mathison, Simon Halliday and Rev Walter Stevenson Halliday. The deeds and legal papers record the ownership of the estate and financial claims upon it by other parties, as well as compensation claims under the Abolition Act. They include the title deeds to the estate 1802-1845; together with correspondence and other papers concerning financial claims upon it (particularly an annuity payable to Catherine Mathison, widow of Gilbert) 1830-1845, compensation payable under the Abolition Act 1834-1835, and the fate of the estate in 1843-1845 when it was no longer viable financially.
The administrative and financial papers illustrate the management of a West Indian sugar estate by attorneys on behalf of absentee landlords, and the process of shipping the sugar and rum produced back to London for sale by a firm of merchants. A fairly complete series of correspondence between Simon Halliday and his attorneys and merchants survives for the period 1823-1828, giving many details of the practical problems of managing a sugar estate and of ensuring an adequate performance by the attorneys. There are many reports on the progress of crops, as well as references to maintenance work required, the need for new cattle (a continuing problem on the Castle Wemyss estate) and the work and health of the slaves. There is further detailed information on the slaves in a series of returns; in addition there are lists of them in the title deeds to the estate after 1807 (following the abolition of the slave trade). There are references to specific events involving the slaves in the correspondence and/or the returns: for example, the case of Catalina alias Susannah Mathison who induced an abortion by taking Vervain and Contrayerva in 1824; and allegations of mistreatment of the slaves by one of the overseers, in 1827.
The correspondence of 1823-1828 also includes letters between Halliday and the firms of merchants he used in London to sell his produce. The state of the sugar and rum markets are regularly discussed, and both attorneys and merchants report on the despatch and receipt of shipments of sugar and rum, on which the successful running of the estate depended. There is one instance of a ship being wrecked and part of the cargo lost.There are also financial accounts, both of the attorneys and of the merchants, which illustrate the returns and financial problems of the estate.

Brief for the trial of John Hatch and David Boyce, dealers in foreign and British spirits at Averstoake in the county of Southampton, [1723], headed 'For the Attorney General...Information for the 10s. per gallon penalty for not keeping British spirits seperate [sic] from foreign brandy', and endorsed with the signatures of Sir Thomas Pengelly, Chief Baron of the Exchequer, and J. White, solicitor, and with the words 'To attend Mr. Justice [Alexander] Denton upon the point reserved. Ellis Solicitor for the Excise. For Sir Thomas Pengelly'. The dealers had been accused of mixing foreign and British spirits to avoid the customs: '...the said dealers kept in their warehouses and storehouses great numbers of caskes both of foreign brandy and of British spirits, which they industriously laid and placed in the most confused and disorderly manner they could contrive, on purpose to perplex and confound the officers...'.

Petition to Henry Pelham, First Lord of the Treasury, presented by glass makers giving 'Reasons against importing French Wine in Bottles', dating from either 1743 or 1754. Signed by Richard Ricardi, Gerard van Horn, William Jackson and Samuel Lowe.

Records of Thomas Mcandie and Company Limited, exporters of whisky, comprising minute book for directors' meetings, annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings, register of members and shares, and annual returns. Also records of Duncan MacLeod and Company Limited, comprising annual returns.

Records of Cave Austin and Company Limited kept by the Stamp Family, comprising director’s report and printed material including Christmas brochures issued to staff, articles and event material. The survival of other records is unknown.

Records of James Vickers and Company, wine and spirit merchants, comprising financial records 1867-87 (Mss 24588-91); records drawn up on the transfer of the business to Edward Vickers including trade ledger balances, stock records and lists of fixtures and fittings 1877-87 (Mss 24592-5); deed dissolving the partnership of E and J Vickers with other papers 1863 and 1877 (Ms 24596); family and business papers and correspondence 1869-1912 (Mss 24597-602); and plans, leases and sales particulars relating to various properties 1867-91 (Mss 24603-5).

Records of Courage, Barclay and Simonds Limited, brewers, including minutes and papers of the Group Brewing Committee; minutes of the Production Planning Committee; brewing book; papers relating to the production of Harp Lager; and promotional leaflets for brewing and storage apparatus.

Records of Wolton and Attwood Limited, wholesalers in beer and spirits, including papers relating to the acquisition of the Company; memorandum and articles of association; balance sheet; copy board and extraordinary general meeting minutes; draft service agreements; stock transfer forms and financial accounts.

Records of Corney and Barrow Limited, wine and brandy merchants, 1799-1960, and subsidiaries George Nicholas and Son (1915-1938); William Coates and Company (1845-1960) and Williams and Day (1818-1912).

Records of Williams and Day, wine and spirits merchants, comprising bills, orders, receipts, accounts of customs paid, goods transfer notices and other financial papers 1818-28 (Mss 15553, 15555-61 and 15563); letters and miscellaneous papers 1818-1903 (Mss 15554 and 15562); price lists 1896-1912 (Ms 155564) and photographs (Ms 15565).

Records of Dixon, Morgan and Company, wine and spirits traders, including incoming letters, vouchers, balance sheet and accounts.

The Charles Hasler collection is comprised of printed ephemera, including greetings cards, cigarette cards, journals, invitations, books, exhibition catalogues, sales catalogues, prints, packaging, articles, books, business records, photographs, photocopies, manuscripts, slides, colour transparencies, newspaper clippings and journals and trade literature. There are also defined groupings of material, including designs and artwork, which usually relate to specific projects including: typography (contemporary and historical; particularly monotype), printing techniques (particularly colour), transport, Greenwich, architecture, wine, fashion, watercolour painting, book binding and photography. In addition, the collection includes material from the Ministry of Information campaigns during World War Two, including "Dig for Victory" and "Careless Talk Costs Lives" and material relating to the Festival of Britain, 1951.

The letters are mostly between Gosset (known as 'Student') and Sir Ronald Aylmer Fisher (1890-1962) who became Professor of Eugenics at University College London. Letters from other scientists are interleaved where they bear on the correspondence.

Manuscript volume concerning the fraudulent activities of maltsters and distillers, [1860], including tables of inspections made by postmasters in Kingston and Surbiton Common, London, from 1838 to 1844, investigating frauds by distillers, with reports on hypothetical cases of fraud, one dated 1861, and what appear to be copies of answers to examination questions. This section includes printed Regulations respecting the entry of premises subject to the survey of the excise (Excise Office, London, 1835). Inserted are a number of loose sheets, 1859-1865, including a lists of examination questions on the control of disilleries which were set in an examination at Somerset House, notes on duties and law relating to the Excise, as well as a letter from J Williams dated 31 Jan 1863 and giving 'the particulars of the late examination'.

Letter from Sir Benjamin Thompson of Munich to Lord Sheffield [John Baker Holroyd, 1st Earl of Sheffield], 18 Nov 1791. Describing the condition and people of Bavaria. Speaking of the Elector's troops: '... I know of no Troops that are so well and so comfortably clothed as ours, both for Summer and Winter ...'. Giving details of the crops, minerals and commerce of Bavaria. 'It would be difficult,'he writes, 'to convey to your Lordship an adequate idea of the Ignorance, Superstition and corruption which pervade and darken every part of this neglected Country.' Says that the clergy and nobility hold a monopoly of the beer in Bavaria: '... which is the great source of their riches, and on that account Drunkenness must be encouraged.'

Autograph, with signature.

The papers of Raymond Postgate, 1830-2000, contain mainly administrative and personal correspondence which are catalogued as correspondence and subject files. Six further sections contain personal papers, Postgate's papers in relation to World War One, his writing research notes and drafts, his work with the Good Food Club and wine writing, and research papers relevant to a biography of his life. There is a large separate section for photographs, many of which are of the Postgate and Lansbury families. The collection also includes four individual sections of letters and papers belonging to George Lansbury, Daisy Postgate, Nellie Lansbury and Helen Hibberd.

Copy deeds of the sale, in 1903, of the wine and spirit merchant businesses of WH Tomsett and Company and Sinclair, Birch and Company, which were both owned by William Henry Tomsett (died 1903).

Records of William Coare (d 1830), wine and brandy merchant, including Coare's apprenticeship indenture and freedom of the City of London; sales ledger; bonds for money owed to Coare; lists of stock and inventories; correspondence; and legal papers.

Ledger of George Nicholas and Son, wine merchants.

Records of William Coates and Company, wine merchants, consisting of order and voucher books and a book of tables.

Archives of the Madeira wine merchants Cossart, Gordon and Company. They relate both to its domestic business in Madeira and to its international operations, including its relations with customers and agents in the British Isles, continental Europe, the United States, the West Indies and (from c 1780) India and the Far East.

The documents are chiefly unbound business papers (in bundles, some original) and mostly dated between 1754 and 1898, together with a few family papers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and photocopies of items removed for sale in the late 20th century.

NB SPECIAL CONDITIONS APPLY TO ALMOST ALL OF THE ARCHIVE; READERS REQUIRE PROOF OF IDENTITY INCLUDING NAME, ADDRESS AND SIGNATURE.

Sales and production records for Blue Nile Brewery Limited, including wine and spirit trade files; sales files and technical consultancy agreement.

Sales records of Charles Beasley Limited, brewers, including purchase journals for wines and spirits; wines, spirits and soft drinks sales ledgers; bottled beer ledger; 'foreign' beer ledger and beer sales ledger.

Production records of Charles Beasley Limited, brewers, including purchase ledger for malt and stout; record of malt, sugar and hops used; malt, beer, wine and spirits stock books; malt review and subsequent memorandum; list of breakages; and draught beer daily returns book.

Sales records of Harmans Uxbridge Brewery Limited, including papers relating to beer sales; sales summary sheets; sales journals; records of free trade and tied trade; records regarding wines and spirits; customer accounts; sales representatives expenses and sales records; stock and debt books; Building Department stock lists; price lists; papers relating to lager sales.

Records of Lawn and Alder Limited, wine merchants, including Board and general meeting minutes; register of members, directors, etc, annual returns under Companies Acts, and including register of seals; share transfer certificates; memorandum and articles of association and papers in liquidation with returns to Registrar of Companies and accounts.

Records of Ashford Valley Cyders Limited, manufacturers of cider, including Directors' meeting and general meeting minutes; memorandum and articles of association; and certificate of incorporation.

Records of Santovin Limited, wine and spirits merchants, comprising Directors' and general meeting minutes; copy minutes of Yardley's London and Provincial Stores and of Santovin about withdrawal of authority to sign cheques; copy special resolution of extraordinary general meeting and certificate of incorporation.

Sales records of H and G Simonds Limited, brewers, including weekly cellar stock books; annual stock books; financial and sales records; brewing book; beer production records; daily brewing records; and monthly barrels racked.

Sales records of Whitbread and Company Limited, brewers, including beer returns (1903-1959), complaints books (1925-1952), excise books (1935-1976), export ledgers (1953-1957), sales and nominal ledgers (1790-1821), estate trade books (1889-1979, these include both public and private trade along with records of the bottling stores), off-licenses and Company interests arranged by region. Also includes summaries, estimates and other sales statistics from across the Company together with papers from the Take Home division.

Production records for Whitbread and Company Limited, brewers, including papers covering all aspects of the production process such as brewing books for ale (1834-1969) and porter (1804-1976), brewing manuals from the 1960s, Head Brewer's reports, butt books (1925-1937) and fermentation books (1802- 1839). Also included are purchase ledgers and stock books for raw materials (1746-1971), sample and sediment reports (1913-1920) and papers relating to transportation and maintenance of the plants including a horse book (1881-1950) along with documentation on general production statistics.

Furthermore a complete series of notebooks belonging to F.G.S Baker are available running unbroken from 1899 to 1925.

Collection of manuscripts relating to the wine trade, comprising:

1. Indictment made by Edmond Trimer at the Middlesex Quarter Sessions held at Hicks Hall, 7 Jul 1658, to the effect that George Taylor, victualler of South Mimms, Middlesex, had sold 60 pints of wine (French, white, and Spanish sack) since 7 Aug 1657, contrary to the Act. Taylor had forfeited £600, and was to appear in court to answer the charge. Trimer claimed half the fine.
2. Letter from John Hunter, British Consul at Seville and San Lùcar, 16 Mar 1790, to Henry Dundas, Treasurer of the Navy, enclosing a 'Proposal for a supply of wine for the British Navy to be shipped in San Lucar, and delivered in Portsmouth', and a 'Proposal for a deposit of wines in the Isle of Wight'. Both proposals are signed by John Hunter, 16 Mar 1790.
3. Two letters from James Rannie, written at Leith, Scotland, including a covering letter dated 9 Mar 1795 to Henry Dundas, then Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, for a petition from the 22 'merchants, importers and dealers in foreign wines in Leith', against the proposed retrospective increase of duties on stocks of wine held by merchants on 24 Feb 1795 (wanting); and a letter from Rannie to Dundas dated 9 May 1795 concerning wines shipped to Dundas and wines reserved for him. (Rannie is spelt 'Rennie' in the endorsements.)
4. Memorandum endorsed 'Attorney General's [Sir John Willes] opinion...Wine imported in flasks or bottles, whether the officers may accept the duties where no fraud appears', dated 29 May 1736.
5. Draft of a bill to repeal the Acts of 1727 and 1745 setting duties on wine, endorsed 'A clause about wine imported in flasks or bottles'.

These papers comprise the manuscript collection of F[rederick] Bacon Frank (1827-1911). They include a medieval medical miscellany (MS.550), material by or relating to the 17th century Yorkshire physician Nathaniel Johnston (MSS.3083-3086 and 6080), and some Bacon family administrative documents (MS.6079). One item relating to Nathaniel Johnston that did not form part of the Bacon Frank collection has been catalogued with it for convenience (MS.3086).

The records of Benjamin Slowman, merchant, comprise an order book 1835-42; bought ledger, cash book and vouchers 1820-50; business correspondence 1823-51; and a release regarding the estate of Moses Lewvy, 1848.

Production records of the Camden Brewery Company Limited, including brewing book and notes on materials.

Records of Arthur Cooper (Wine Merchant) Limited, including correspondence; share transfers; papers regarding mergers and name changes; papers relating to financial matters; memorandum and articles of association and annual reports with accounts.