Collection GB 0074 CLC/B/130 - J. T. HART AND SONS LIMITED

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 CLC/B/130

Title

J. T. HART AND SONS LIMITED

Date(s)

  • 1902-1979 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

9 production units.

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

John Thomas Hart, butcher, began trading at 275 Bethnal Green Road about 1850. The company moved to 96 Upper Whitecross Street (1852-63), Leadenhall Market (1864-9), and finally to the Central Meat Market, at 120 Avenue East 1869-89), eventually occupying 301-7 Central Markets (307 as a meat store) as their main premises between 1889 and 1979. There were also some suburban shops prior to 1927, and a stall in Caledonian Market.

The company had a factory at 516-18 Central Markets, employing about 35 staff, preparing sausages and cooked meats. It sold meat in retail shops and to the catering trade, including restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and the canteens of City offices, and also dealt in poultry and game and a small amount of provisions. After the war, 341 Central Markets was opened as a separate poultry department and 335-8, later extended with a cash and carry section in 333-4, as a provisions and grocery shop. There was also a fruit and vegetable shop at 304 Central Markets until 1974. The company acted as the City agent for Saxby Bros. from circa 1940 to 1979.

Harts was acquired by Leonard Chalk in about 1930. The Chalk family sold it in 1969 to Matthew (Butchers) Ltd although Derek Chalk remained managing director until his retirement in 1978. The sausage and cooked meat preparation was taken over by Matthews' central factory, and the factory in Central Markets closed in 1973-4. In July 1979 the provision shops were closed, 341 Central Markets became a delicatessen, and 301-6 retained as a retail butchers with a catering department and a limited delivery service. The separate limited company was terminated in September 1979.

The above information was derived from London directories and from internal information, with additional information from Mr R Harman and Mr. Luff of Matthews (Butchers) Ltd, January 1980.

Archival history

Due to bomb damage during the Second World War, few of the records have survived.

GB 0074 CLC/B/130 1902-1979 Collection 9 production units. J T Hart and Sons Ltd , butchers

John Thomas Hart, butcher, began trading at 275 Bethnal Green Road about 1850. The company moved to 96 Upper Whitecross Street (1852-63), Leadenhall Market (1864-9), and finally to the Central Meat Market, at 120 Avenue East 1869-89), eventually occupying 301-7 Central Markets (307 as a meat store) as their main premises between 1889 and 1979. There were also some suburban shops prior to 1927, and a stall in Caledonian Market.

The company had a factory at 516-18 Central Markets, employing about 35 staff, preparing sausages and cooked meats. It sold meat in retail shops and to the catering trade, including restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and the canteens of City offices, and also dealt in poultry and game and a small amount of provisions. After the war, 341 Central Markets was opened as a separate poultry department and 335-8, later extended with a cash and carry section in 333-4, as a provisions and grocery shop. There was also a fruit and vegetable shop at 304 Central Markets until 1974. The company acted as the City agent for Saxby Bros. from circa 1940 to 1979.

Harts was acquired by Leonard Chalk in about 1930. The Chalk family sold it in 1969 to Matthew (Butchers) Ltd although Derek Chalk remained managing director until his retirement in 1978. The sausage and cooked meat preparation was taken over by Matthews' central factory, and the factory in Central Markets closed in 1973-4. In July 1979 the provision shops were closed, 341 Central Markets became a delicatessen, and 301-6 retained as a retail butchers with a catering department and a limited delivery service. The separate limited company was terminated in September 1979.

The above information was derived from London directories and from internal information, with additional information from Mr R Harman and Mr. Luff of Matthews (Butchers) Ltd, January 1980.

Due to bomb damage during the Second World War, few of the records have survived.

Mss 18865-70 were deposited in Guildhall Library in 1980 and Ms 18941 was a gift. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

Records of J T Hart and Sons Limited, butchers, including financial accounts; purchase books; and illustrated brochures.

Records arranged by MS number, assigned during cataloguing at the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section.

Available for general access.

Copyright to this collection rests with the City of London.

English

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Photographs from this collection are held by the Prints and Maps Section.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

January to May 2011. Agricultural products Animal products Meat Poultry (meat) People Personnel People by occupation Food industry personnel Butchers Meat trade Industry Manufacturing industry Food industry Poultry industry Information sources Documents Business records London Central Markets , Corporation of London x Smithfield Market x Metropolitan Meat and Poultry Market J T Hart and Sons Ltd , butchers City of London London England UK Western Europe Europe

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Mss 18865-70 were deposited in Guildhall Library in 1980 and Ms 18941 was a gift. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of J T Hart and Sons Limited, butchers, including financial accounts; purchase books; and illustrated brochures.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Records arranged by MS number, assigned during cataloguing at the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright to this collection rests with the City of London.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Photographs from this collection are held by the Prints and Maps Section.

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area