Collection GB 0074 CLC/B/158 - MATTHEW CLARK AND SONS

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 CLC/B/158

Title

MATTHEW CLARK AND SONS

Date(s)

  • 1804-2005 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

72 production units.

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

In 1802 Matthew Clark began work for a firm of British merchants in Rotterdam. In 1809 another firm, Christopher Idle and Company, sent him to the Dutch island of Walcheren to investigate general trading prospects. Matthew Clark set up his own wine and spirit broking business in 1810. He took E.H. Keeling into partnership with him in 1825, and the business became known as Matthew Clark and Keeling. The firm was an important client of Johannes de Kuyper and Zoon bv of Rotterdam. In 1833 the company was appointed sole London agents of Martell and Company.

E.H. Keeling retired in 1844 and the company was known as Matthew Clark and Son, becoming Matthew Clark and Sons in around 1847. Matthew Clark retired in 1849 and his sons, Gordon Wyatt Clark and Matthew Edward Clark took over the business as sworn brokers and auctioneers. In 1873 the brokering and auctioneering side of the business was given up. They traded many brands of port, sherry, madeira, tarragona, bordeaux and Rhone wines, as well as cognac and gin, and exported to Australia and New Zealand.

In 1920 the business became a limited company. In 1963 the name was changed to Matthew Clark and Sons (Holdings) Limited. It was taken over in 1998.

The company was based at 68 Great Tower Street (1812-21), 72 Great Tower Street (1822-82), 6-7 Great Tower Street (1882-1925), 14 Trinity Square (1925-56) and Walbrook House, 23-29 Walbrook (1956-1972), Moreland Street, Islington (1972-1998).

Archival history

GB 0074 CLC/B/158 1804-2005 Collection 72 production units. Matthew Clark and Sons , wine and spirit brokers

In 1802 Matthew Clark began work for a firm of British merchants in Rotterdam. In 1809 another firm, Christopher Idle and Company, sent him to the Dutch island of Walcheren to investigate general trading prospects. Matthew Clark set up his own wine and spirit broking business in 1810. He took E.H. Keeling into partnership with him in 1825, and the business became known as Matthew Clark and Keeling. The firm was an important client of Johannes de Kuyper and Zoon bv of Rotterdam. In 1833 the company was appointed sole London agents of Martell and Company.

E.H. Keeling retired in 1844 and the company was known as Matthew Clark and Son, becoming Matthew Clark and Sons in around 1847. Matthew Clark retired in 1849 and his sons, Gordon Wyatt Clark and Matthew Edward Clark took over the business as sworn brokers and auctioneers. In 1873 the brokering and auctioneering side of the business was given up. They traded many brands of port, sherry, madeira, tarragona, bordeaux and Rhone wines, as well as cognac and gin, and exported to Australia and New Zealand.

In 1920 the business became a limited company. In 1963 the name was changed to Matthew Clark and Sons (Holdings) Limited. It was taken over in 1998.

The company was based at 68 Great Tower Street (1812-21), 72 Great Tower Street (1822-82), 6-7 Great Tower Street (1882-1925), 14 Trinity Square (1925-56) and Walbrook House, 23-29 Walbrook (1956-1972), Moreland Street, Islington (1972-1998).

The company's archives were donated to the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library in 2005 and 2008 by members of the Clark family. They were catalogued by an assistant archivist in 2006 and 2008. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

Records of Matthew Clark and Sons, wine and spirit brokers, comprising partnership agreements, 1887-1923; annual reports and accounts, 1948-98; correspondence and other administrative papers, 1804-1992; memoranda books, 1861-c 1930; accounts, 1810-1945; sale catalogues and price lists, 1821-1995; papers concerning operations, 1849-1995; accounts of the directors of the firm, 1888-1970; photographs; staff list; leases and histories of the company, 1847-2005.

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 depositor.

English, French and Spanish.

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

A survey for the National Register of Archives in 1967 of records of Matthew Clark and Sons included prices current books 1813-14 and wages books 1873-1917. The whereabouts of these records is not known.

See also Wine and Spirit Trade Record, Milestones in the history of Matthew Clark and Sons (1962), held in the Printed Books Section of Guildhall Library.

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. Overseas trade Business records Trade International trade Information sources Documents Auction particulars Sales catalogues People People by occupation Personnel Mercantile personnel Merchants Wine merchants Trade (practice) Alcoholic beverages Spirits Wine Matthew Clark and Sons , wine and spirit brokers Netherlands Western Europe Europe City of London London England UK Beverages Food Agricultural products

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The company's archives were donated to the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library in 2005 and 2008 by members of the Clark family. They were catalogued by an assistant archivist in 2006 and 2008. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of Matthew Clark and Sons, wine and spirit brokers, comprising partnership agreements, 1887-1923; annual reports and accounts, 1948-98; correspondence and other administrative papers, 1804-1992; memoranda books, 1861-c 1930; accounts, 1810-1945; sale catalogues and price lists, 1821-1995; papers concerning operations, 1849-1995; accounts of the directors of the firm, 1888-1970; photographs; staff list; leases and histories of the company, 1847-2005.

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 depositor.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English, French and Spanish.

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

A survey for the National Register of Archives in 1967 of records of Matthew Clark and Sons included prices current books 1813-14 and wages books 1873-1917. The whereabouts of these records is not known.

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