Showing 1388 results

Archival description
GB 0074 CLC/B/055-29 · Collection · 1910-1934

Board minute books of Westminster and Kensington Freeholds Limited.

Westminster and Kensington Freeholds Ltd
GB 0074 PS/WES · Collection · 1896-1943

Records of Westminster Magistrates Court, 1896-1943, including court registers; rates registers; means enquiry summonses; summonses indexes; Married Women Act orders; bastardy complaints and letter book.

Court registers record the date of the hearing, the name of the informant or complainant (often the police), the name of the defendant, a brief note of the offence and the decision of the magistrate. Court minute books or notebooks are rough notes of the proceedings recording the gist of the evidence given.

Domestic proceedings: A married woman under the provisions of the Summary Jurisdiction (Married Women) Act 1895 and subsequent Acts could go to a magistrates' court and apply for orders which in certain circumstances would enable her to separate from her husband, have custody of any children and receive maintenance from him. Under the Poor Law Amendment Act 1844 a mother expecting a bastard child or who had given birth to one could obtain a maintenance order against the putative father.

Westminster Magistrates Court
WESTMINSTER PLEA
GB 0074 ACC/0080 · Collection · 1807

Document relating to a plea heard at Westminster, 1807: Crichton Horne and Edward Finch, (plaintiffs) v John Moore.

Unknown
GB 0096 AL256 · Fonds · [1846]

Letter from John and Richard Wheen of the Soapworks, Ratcliffe Highway, St George in the East, [London] to Lieutenant-Colonel C N Fox, 17 Mar [1846]. Covering letter enclosing 'a statement of the case of the soap trade for the repeal of the duty'; they hope that Fox will accompany the deputation to Sir Robert Peel.

Autograph, with two signatures.

Wheen , John , fl 1846 , soapmaker
Wheen , Richard , fl 1846 , soapmaker
GB 0074 B/WHF · Collection · 1752-1972

Records of Whiffen and Son Ltd, manufacturing chemists, 1752-1972, including history of the company; articles of partnership and other contracts and agreements; legal documents relating to property; correspondence; circulars; financial accounts; papers relating to shares and shareholders; stock records; newspaper cuttings; photographs; staff wages books and pensions papers; records relating to staff associations and sports clubs including minute books; reports on chemical manufacture, laboratory notebooks and chemical analyses; papers relating to sales; papers relating to imports and foreign suppliers; advertisements; registers of product labels; samples of packaging; rules, regulations and legislation regarding factories and safety measures; papers regarding the Second World War including war damage to factories and papers relating to staff on active duty.

Also records of Saint Amand Manufacturing Company Limited including ledgers, letter books and journals.

Whiffen and Son Ltd , manufacturing chemists St Amand Manufacturing Co Ltd
GB 0074 LMA/4453/B · Collection · 1770-1965

Accounts records of Whitbread and Company Limited, brewers, including Company accounts books (1815-1959) together with the annual copies of accounts and balance sheets issued to the director from 1890 through to 1952, statement of expenditure books from Britannia Street (1913-1922), cash books (1770-1959), deposit and depreciation ledgers (1916-1949 and 1938-1951 respectively), loan diaries and applications (1885-1919), securities ledgers and shares registers along with an unbroken series of rest books from 1799 through to 1918 with an additional series of rest books from 1941 to 1956.

Also included are accounts, cash and rent books from some of public houses owned by Whitbread and Company plus a variety of ledgers and journals regarding corporate finances both general and private.

Whitbread and Co Ltd , brewers
GB 0074 LMA/4453/F · Collection · 1603-2000

Premises records for Whitbread and Company Limited, brewers, including various title deeds and documentation for property owned by Whitbread and Company, ledgers detailing property, rents, repairs and valuations, papers relating to the North Brewery Project and plans of Company premises organised by region.

Whitbread and Co Ltd , brewers
GB 0074 LMA/4453/C · Collection · 1790-1982

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.

Whitbread and Co Ltd , brewers
GB 0074 LMA/4453 · Collection · 1742-2000

Records of Whitbread and Company Ltd, brewers, with the papers of its subsidiary companies originally based in the London area, 1742-2000. These records will primarily be of interest to those concerned with the foundation and development of breweries or with the history of family businesses. A large collection of plans of properties, including public houses (LMA/4453/F/08), along with the Whitbread Archivist's research files (LMA/4453/G/05) will also be of interest to local historians researching specific public houses in the London area. Genealogical information about Whitbread employees is available in the Salaries Books (LMA/4453/E/01) and Pensioners Books (LMA/4453/E/04).

Corporate records include: minute books; memorandum and articles of association; partnership documents; articles, agreements, trusts and ordinary shares papers; agreements received books; contract books; Directors' fees journals; registers of seals; Sir Sydney O Neville: correspondence and papers; other correspondence and notebooks; agreements; correspondence and related papers; Royal warrants; policy files and partners' correspondence.

Financial records include: account books; balance sheets and accounts; Britannia Street statement of expenditure books; cash and accounts books; deposit ledgers; depreciation ledgers; general journals and ledgers; loan diaries and ledgers; partners ledgers; private ledgers and journals; rest books; securities ledgers; share registers; pocket books for order, rent and cash. Sales records include: beer returns; complaints books; excise books; export ledgers; sales and nominal ledgers; estate trade books; summaries and statistics and Take Home Division.

Production records include: ale brewing books; brewing process; butt books; cask ledger; cellar ledger; notebooks; F G S Baker's notebooks; fermentation books; porter brewing books; purchase ledgers and stock books; sample and sediment reports; starting books and transport and plant. Staff records include: salaries books and lists of employees; employment policy and related papers; accident books and health and pensioners books.

Records relating to premises include: deeds of title: Chiswell Street Brewery; deeds of title: public houses, beer houses and off-licences; deeds received and receipts for deeds books; property ledgers, land valuation and plan drawings of properties; rent ledgers; repairs ledgers; Northern Brewery Project; plans and charts; Chiswell Street Redevelopment and correspondence.

Records relating to advertising and the history of Whitbread include: advertisement albums; newspaper cuttings; photograph albums; histories and articles; archivists' research files and letters in response to advertising campaigns.

Records of subsidiary companies including: Whitbread Properties Limited
Whitbread (London) Limited
Whitbread International Limited
F S Stowells Limited
Ealing Welwyn Restaurants Limited
Forest Hill Brewing Company Limited
Improved Public House Limited
R White and Son Limited
Central Catering Limited
Manor Park Gripper Brothers Limited: Bell Brewery, Tottenham (later Tottenham Depot)
Railway Tavern Limited
Goodhews Limited
H and V Nicholl Limited, The Anchor Brewery, Lewisham
Theydon Hall Farm (later Threshers and Company Limited)
Jude Hanbury and Company Limited
Frederick Leney and Sons Limited
Mackeson and Company Limited Dale Brewery
Top Star Taverns Limited
Amey's Brewery Limited Chelsea Brewery
Douglas Ritchie Limited

Whitbread and Co Ltd , brewers
Whitehall, Gilbert
GB 0096 MS 275 · 1679-1706

Three holograph receipts, 1679-1706, of Gilbert Whitehall and two receipts of assignees of Whitehall.

Whitehall , Gilbert , fl 1679-1706 , goldsmith
GB 0074 CLC/B/166-04 · Collection · 1859-1894

Whittington Life Assurance Company records comprise constitutional documents, records of policies, prospectuses and other administrative material. 24 hours notice is required for access to this material.

Whittington Life Assurance Co
GB 0074 CLC/B/026-7 · Collection · 1913-1939

Records of the Wholesale Chemists and Allied Trades Protection Association, comprising Trade Advisory Committee minute book; prospectuses, and papers relating to the insolvency of a specific company.

Access is restricted to records less than 30 years old where specified and 24 hours notice is required for access to all the records.

Wholesale Chemists and Allied Trades Protection Association
GB 0097 WSOC · Collection · c1958-c2003

Papers of the Wider Share Ownership Council, c1958-c2003, including correspondence, minutes, conference papers, reports and publications, including material relating to the merger with Proshare. Also the personal papers of George Copeman, mainly relating to employee share ownership and business management.

Wider Share Ownership Council
WILLIAM BRASS WILL TRUST
GB 0074 CLC/421 · Collection · 1868-1955

Records ofWilliam Brass and his estate, comprising accounts, agreements, correspondence and related papers. They were catalogued by a member of Guildhall Library staff in 1987. Ms 22352 includes a schedule of Trust records drawn up in 1954.

Brass , William , d 1888 , builder and contractor
GB 0097 RHYS WILLIAMS J · 1908-1978

Papers relating to Juliet Rhys Williams' work on economics, taxation reforms, wages policy, and Commonwealth trade; her membership of the European League for Economic Co-operation, the United Europe Movement, the European Movement, and other European groups; correspondence, articles and pamphlets relating to European issues; correspondence, speeches, conference papers and pamphlets from the Liberal Party; material concerning Rhys Williams' involvement in the Conservative Party, mostly relating to the Monday Club and elections; papers relating to commercial television, and film making; documents relating to the building and administration of Cwmbran New Town; papers relating to Rhys Williams' time as Churchwarden of St Anne's, Soho, and as vice-president of the St Anne's Society; material relating to the publishing and winding up of the 'European Review' and the 'Economic Digest'; minutes of the Bishop of Llandaff's Committee on hardship in the Rhondda Valley; Rhys Williams' collected writings, correspondence, and pamphlet and newsletter collections; papers relating to projects and societies in which Rhys Williams was involved; and family papers relating to property owned by the Rhys Williams family, family finances, photographs, Elspeth Rhys Williams (her daughter) and Sir Rhys Rhys Williams (her husband).

Williams , Juliet Evangeline Rhys , 1898-1964 , Baroness Rhys Williams , public servant
GB 0097 RHYS WILLIAMS B · 1965-1988

Papers of Brandon Meredith Rhys-Williams, 1965-1988, including political appointment diaries, 1980-1988; correspondence, press cuttings and printed material relating to various Kensington constituency issues, 1979-1988, including local health facilities, education funding, drugs, police and community relations, immigration and refugees, and homosexuality; general constituency correspondence, 1985-1988; papers relating to various Parliamentary campaigns, 1968-1988, notably on child benefit, housing, pensions, and social security; material concerning finance and taxation, 1968-1988, including note, speeches, reports and correspondence relating to finance bills, budgets and taxation; material concerning the many attempts of Rhys-Williams to pass a Companies Bill through Parliament, 1967-1988, including correspondence, draft bills, reports and press cuttings; papers relating to Europe, 1968-1988, including material on domestic opinion, the European Parliament, the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, the European League for Economic Co-operation, the European Democratic Group, the European Conservative Group and the European Economic Community; papers concerning Rhys-Williams' interest in social security reform, 1965-1988, including correspondence, printed reports, pamphlets, notes and drafts on subjects such as child benefit, taxation, pensions, basic income guarantee and European social security.

Williams , Sir Brandon Meredith Rhys- , 1927-1988 , 2nd Baronet , politician
GB 0074 CLC/B/224 · Collection · 1916-1954

Records of Wills, Faber and Dumas Limited comprising sea casualty books, 1916-20 and 1930-50; and a register of claims, 1932-54.

Wills, Faber and Dumas Ltd , insurance brokers
Wilson, Benjamin
GB 0096 MS 698 · 1755-1763

Letters and accounts, mostly concerned with the cloth and clothing trade, between 1755 and 1763. The material was created by both Benjamin Wilson and Jonathan Dickinson, who appear to have been business partners.

Wilson , Benjamin , fl 1755-1763 , clothier
Wine trade documents
GB 0096 MS 743 · 1658-1795

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'.
Hunter , Sir , John , 1751-1816 , Knight , diplomat; Rannie , James , fl 1795 , victualler; Trimer , Edmond , fl 1658 , of Middlesex
GB 0074 LMA/4434/Y · Collection · 1949-1977

Records of Wine Ways (Supermarkets) Limited, drinks retailer, including directors' meetings minute books (including board meetings); register of members, directors and secretaries; papers relating to shares and shareholders; register of uses of the company seal; and financial accounts.

Wine Ways (Supermarkets) Ltd , drinks retailer
GB 0074 ACC/0758 · Collection · 1638-1890

Papers, 1638-1890, collected by Myers in the course of their work, comprising wills and a bond relating to Palgrave, Suffolk; Hampstead; Kensington (Old Brompton); West Twyford and Bloomsbury.

Unknown
GB 0097 WISE · 1914-1935

This collection contains speeches by Wise; financial reports on the economic condition of Germany; correspondence regarding the publication of his German diary; pamphlets and reports on reparation payments; studies, notes and papers on government policy; notes regarding economic policy; and notes and correspondence regarding his political life.

Wise, Sir Fredric (1871-1928) Knight MP Economist
WOOD FAMILY
GB 0074 ACC/0421 · Collection · 1695

Records of the Wood family, comprising 1695 marriage settlement between Edward Wood (son of Thomas and Dorothy) and Elizabeth Bridger of Guildford, mentioning land in Harmondsworth, Stanwell, Littleton, and Yorkshire. Also probate relating to money left by Thomas Wood of Littleton, 1856.

Wood , family , of Littleton
GB 0074 ACC/0262 · Collection · 1542-1815

Papers of the Wood family, including records relating to properties in Laleham, Littleton and Shepperton including title deeds, tax assessments, legal papers, rentals, court rolls and plans; family letters, particularly between Edward Wood and his London agent John Pack; family papers such as legal opinions, marriage settlements, wills, and financial accounts; and papers relating to court cases including the Chancery case of Sir Richard Lane versus Charles Wood, 1733, and the Chancery case of Wood versus Wood, 1738-1746.

The material as a whole provides a fascinating picture of the Wood family in the seventeenth century, their personal letters and papers complemented by the deeds of the property they acquired. The material is also interesting from a wider point of view. There are, for example, various references to the Elections of Members of Parliament for Middlesex, including a letter from Henry Spiller of Laleham in 1695 saying, "I have this day sent to particularly and spoken to myself every person in this parish that I thought a freeholder" (March 4th, 1695?). The results of his canvassing are given in detail. Less information has survived on the plague, however, than one might expect. Pack was apparently in the habit of sending down to Littleton the current Bills of Mortality, but unfortunately none of these have survived, although Edward Wood frequently makes pious and sententious comments on them. There are also interesting sidelights on the political scene, including two detailed accounts of the background of the 1688 deposition, and four political and satirical ballads. It is surprising, however, to see how little the family were affected by the enormous political changes taking place. Edward Wood, for example, made his fortune during the Interregnum but did not suffer from the Restoration when he set himself up as a wealthy landowner in Middlesex.

Wood , family , of Littleton
GB 0096 AL119 · Fonds · 1849

Letter from Sir Charles Wood, Chancellor of the Exchequer, of Hickleton, [near Doncaster] to an unspecified recipient, 19 Oct 1849. 'Dear Sir, It is unlucky that the D.G. [i.e. Dei Gratia (by the grace of God)] was left out [from the inscription on the new florin (2 shilling) coin] - people attach more importance to such matters now a days. Yours truly C. Wood'.

Autograph, with signature.

Wood , Charles , 1800-1885 , 1st Viscount Halifax , politician
Woodrow, John: letter (1818)
GB 0096 AL284 · Fonds · 1818

Letter from John Woodrow of the Cannon Hotel, Cockspur Street to [Patrick] Colquhoun, 26 May 1818. Covering letter sending a copy of his pamphlet on savings banks and friendly societies.

Written in another hand and signed by Woodrow.

Woodrow , John , fl 1818-1821 , pamphleteer
WOOLWICH POLYTECHNIC
GB 2121 Woolwich Polytechnic · 1890-1989

Records of Woolwich Polytechnic, comprising minutes of the Trustees, 1891-1895; minutes of the Governing Body, 1894-1970; minutes of Committees of the Governing Body, 1895-1970; minutes of the Education and Finance, General Purpose Committee, 1896-1941, including sub-committees, building, recreation, schools, equipment; minutes of the Polytechnic Council, 1891-1903; minutes of the Polytechnic Trustees and Friends, 1891-1895; minutes of the Young Man's Christian Institute Social and Recreative Committee, 1895-1901; minutes of the Woolwich Polytechnic Social and Recreative Committee, 1901-1903; minutes of the Technical Board of Studies, 1923-1934; minutes of the Technical and Trade Board, 1937-1945; minutes of the Board of Studies, 1932-1934; minutes of the Academic Board, 1935-1960; registers of members of the Governing Body, 1895-1961; Governors' attendance books, 1935-1989; Governing Body handbooks, 1898-1970;

Woolwich Polytechnic sundry reports, 1890-1902; Principal's reports, 1900-1903; Principal's Report on the Social Side, 1905; Principals' reports, 1905-1950; reports of the Governing Body, 1905-1970;

administrative records, comprising Secretary's files, 1907-1973, notably applications for recognition to the Board of Education, 1907-1913; letters to T A Denny concerning buildings for Woolwich Polytechnic, 1890; licences to erect buildings, 1898-1902; minutes of meetings of Secretaries of London Polytechnics, 1939-1960; minutes of Head's meetings, 1953-1963; papers relating to the refectory and Refectory Advisory Sub-committee, 1940-1961; technical education, 1956-1961; teaching staff, 1959-1964; administrative staff, 1962-1972; financial records, comprising report and financial statements, 1892-1969; block grant files, 1911-1971; City Parochial Reports, 1927-1937, on the work of London Polytechnics; papers relating to trusts and prizes, comprising declarations of trusts and trust deeds, 1901-1931, Charity Commissioners order, 1960;

annual reports, 1904-1925, 1967-1970; prospectuses, 1891-1971, including for schools associated with Woolwich Polytechnic; calendars of classes, 1895-1934; information leaflets, including calendars of dates, 1953-1971; Students' Handbook, 1904-1933; albums of press cuttings, 1894-1907, 1958-1968; photographs of student classes, 1899; photographs for prospectuses, 1901-1905; internal views of the Polytechnic, including cookery school, laundry, club rooms, engineering workshop, ladies tailoring, playing fields; albums of staff photographs, 1950s-1960s, presentations, staff cricket matches, coats of arms; photographs of Governors, 1891-1970; Chairmen of the Governing Body, 1891-1973; Principals, 1893-1970;

magazines of Woolwich Polytechnic and Day Schools, 1905-1970, comprising The Pom-Pom, 1905-1906; The Polytician; The Probationer; Secondary School magazine, 1923; The Polygon, 1933-1954; Polly, Cycling Club magazine, 1948-1952; Chanticleer, 1948-1959; Proceedings of Woolwich Polytechnic Engineering Society, 1908-1914; Broadsheet, 1965; Principal's newsletter, 1969; staff bulletins, 1934-1953; staff journal, 1970; minutes, 1952-1957, and correspondence, 1950-1957, of the Magazine Board;

student records, comprising student record cards, 1900-1910; registers of attendances, 1905-1912; students' schedules, 1932-1945; class attendance books, 1908-1912, 1932-1964; student record sheets, 1912-1932; teachers' class reports, 1912-1976; class reports, 1953-1954; course reports, 1957-1961; examination results and reports, 1948-1957; statistics relating to students and student hours, 1946-1967; School of Art student record sheets, 1914-1932; School of Arts and Crafts record sheets, 1941-1943;

minutes of Woolwich Polytechnic Union of Clubs and Societies, including Woolwich Polytechnic Association, 1891-1903, 1929-1933, 1943-1968; annual accounts, 1960-1970; correspondence, not dated; Woolwich Polytechnic Students' Union handbooks, 1960-1970;

student theses and dissertations, [1929-1970];

Woolwich Polytechnic Lodge Ladies Festival programme, 1978.

Woolwich Polytechnic
GB 0074 CLC/B/055-30 · Collection · 1919-1941

Records of the World Auxiliary Insurance Corporation Limited, comprising minutes of general meetings, board meetings, and managerial committee meetings. They are stored off-site and require 24 hours notice for access.

World Auxiliary Insurance Corporation Ltd
GB 0074 CLC/B/055-31 · Collection · 1894-1941

Records of the World Marine and General Insurance Company Limited, comprising minutes of annual general meetings, Board meetings and the London Committee. The records are held off-site and require 24 hours notice for access.

World Marine and General Insurance Co Ltd
GB 0074 LMA/4580 · Collection · 1984-1997

Records of World Markets Company, comprising annual reviews of UK Pension Fund Service and guide booklets for World Markets Company services.

World Markets Company x WM Company , pension fund performance measurement services
GB 0074 CLC/L/AC · Collection · 1980

The grant of arms and grant of livery of the Worshipful Company of Actuaries, 1980.

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.

Worshipful Company of Actuaries
GB 0096 MS 393 · 1643

Manuscript letter, dated 22 February, 1643, containing an Order of the Committee of Revenue to Thomas Fauconbridge, Receiver of Crown Revenues, to pay 'the poore Pewterers or Hammer men' of London the sum of £100, due to them by virtue of an Act of Parliament. The letter is signed by members of the Committee for Revenue, including Sir Henry Vane, Sir Henry Mildmay, Francis Rous, William Ashhurst, Thomas Hoyle and Dennis Bond. With a receipt dated 27 February 1643, bearing 56 signatures or marks and the signature of Robert Leeson, Warden of the Worshipful Company of Pewteres.

Committee for Revenue
GB 0074 CLC/519 · Collection · 1479?-1498

Records of William Worsley, Dean of St Paul's Cathedral. These account rolls relate to William Worsley's private and personal income and include not only the revenues of the deanery of St Paul's, but also those of his other ecclesiastical preferments and numerous other estates held privately by Worsley in London, Middlesex, Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Berkshire.

Worsley , William , [1435]-1499 , dean of St Paul's Cathedral
GB 0074 CLC/269 · Collection · 19--

Notes relating to London coffee houses, including a bundle of correspondence between Wulcko and B Lillywhite, author of London Coffee Houses. Also drafts of various unpublished articles relating to the topography of Threadneedle Street, Sweetings Rents and Sweetings Alley and an article on the site and early history of the Stock Exchange of 1773.

Wulcko , Laurance Marriott , 1901-1977 , local historian
GB 0074 CLC/B/192-37 · Collection · 1838

York and London Fire and Life Assurance Company records comprising instruction booklet for agents.

York and London Fire and Life Assurance Co
YULE, CATTO AND COMPANY
GB 0074 CLC/B/163-04 · Collection · 1924-1939

Records of Yule, Catto and Company Limited comprising financial accounts, correspondence and a brief history of the company.

Yule, Catto and Co Ltd , merchants