Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1895-1980 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
3.98 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Reader Brothers was a firm of builders established in the 1890's by Tom and Richard Reader. They began work drafting designs in the front room of a terrace house in Hackney, renting lock-ups in the area. The firm expanded in the years leading up to the First World War building fashionable houses for the middle class. By the 1920's the firm was renting premises in a defunct Hackney corset factory. These premises seem to have been acquired as the firm re-built them to their own design in 1928.
The 1930's brought renewed prosperity to the firm. Between 1932 and 1939 they built and sold some 'two thousand houses' at Chingford, Winchmore Hill, Loughton, Cricklewood and Edgware, as well as undertaking housing schemes for the borough of Poplar and additional wings to Saint Andrews Hospital. Building began again after the Second World War along with work repairing bomb damaged properties. New designs were created in the late forties and fifties and extension work became more common. The work of the firm gradually moved eastwards, into what was once Essex, as land around London became more built-up. The firm was finally wound up in 1972/3.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 LMA/4430 1895-1980 Collection 3.98 linear metres Reader Brothers , builders
Reader Brothers was a firm of builders established in the 1890's by Tom and Richard Reader. They began work drafting designs in the front room of a terrace house in Hackney, renting lock-ups in the area. The firm expanded in the years leading up to the First World War building fashionable houses for the middle class. By the 1920's the firm was renting premises in a defunct Hackney corset factory. These premises seem to have been acquired as the firm re-built them to their own design in 1928.
The 1930's brought renewed prosperity to the firm. Between 1932 and 1939 they built and sold some 'two thousand houses' at Chingford, Winchmore Hill, Loughton, Cricklewood and Edgware, as well as undertaking housing schemes for the borough of Poplar and additional wings to Saint Andrews Hospital. Building began again after the Second World War along with work repairing bomb damaged properties. New designs were created in the late forties and fifties and extension work became more common. The work of the firm gradually moved eastwards, into what was once Essex, as land around London became more built-up. The firm was finally wound up in 1972/3.
Donated to the Archive in 2002.
Records of Reader Brothers, builders, 1895-1980. The collection consists of three main types of record: There is administrative material which includes both the 'formal' records of Reader Brothers (Builders) Limited, such as the Memorandum and Articles of Association, Minutes of meetings, Registers of Members and records relating to shares; as well as various accounts ledgers, cash, petty cash and wages books, diaries and notebooks.
Secondly there are files, planning applications and other legal documents - some with plans attached.
Then there are books and other printed material related to the building trade and lastly there are plans and drawing of housing projects undertaken by the company.
The material has been arranged into the following series: LMA/4430/01 is Administration: 'formal' records of the business, accounts, staff records, diaries and notebooks LMA/4430/02 is a series of files, planning applications and other legal documents - some with plans attached LMA/4430/03 is a small series of sketchbooks used to draft ideas for building details and other notes LMA/4430/04 consists of publications about the building trade, including published plans of houses and bungalows, 'Ideal Home' catalogues and a large number of leaflets and advertising material for products and services LMA/4430/05 are plans of buildings.
These records are open to public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to closure periods.
Copyright rests with the depositor.
English
Fit
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
A fuller history of the family and the business can be found in 'Builders of Repute: the story of Reader Brothers' by Josephine Boyle (granddaughter of Richard Reader) published by The Suitable Press, Woodford Green (ISBN 0954168801). A copy of the book is available on the library shelves {LMA reference 35.11REA}
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.
July to October 2009 Town and country planning Planning control Planning applications Law Legal documents Information sciences Communications media Publications Information sources Documents Articles of association Management Business management Plans Visual materials Building plans People People by occupation Personnel Construction industry personnel Builders Construction engineering Building operations Building construction Urban development Construction industry Industry Financial records Business records Business administration Reader Brothers , builders Business
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated to the Archive in 2002.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of Reader Brothers, builders, 1895-1980. The collection consists of three main types of record: There is administrative material which includes both the 'formal' records of Reader Brothers (Builders) Limited, such as the Memorandum and Articles of Association, Minutes of meetings, Registers of Members and records relating to shares; as well as various accounts ledgers, cash, petty cash and wages books, diaries and notebooks.
Secondly there are files, planning applications and other legal documents - some with plans attached.
Then there are books and other printed material related to the building trade and lastly there are plans and drawing of housing projects undertaken by the company.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The material has been arranged into the following series: LMA/4430/01 is Administration: 'formal' records of the business, accounts, staff records, diaries and notebooks LMA/4430/02 is a series of files, planning applications and other legal documents - some with plans attached LMA/4430/03 is a small series of sketchbooks used to draft ideas for building details and other notes LMA/4430/04 consists of publications about the building trade, including published plans of houses and bungalows, 'Ideal Home' catalogues and a large number of leaflets and advertising material for products and services LMA/4430/05 are plans of buildings.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These records are open to public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to closure periods.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright rests with the depositor.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
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
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
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