Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1775 - 1989 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1.4 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The business was originally established by Mr Horton in the reign of George I (1714-1727). He was succeeded by Lucas Birch (d.1800) was a pastry-cook, confectioner and caterer, of 15 Cornhill, City of London. He was later joined by his son Samuel Birch and the business was known as Birch and Son in 1786. Samuel Birch (1757-1840) (also known as 'Mr Pattypan') served as Lord Mayor 1814-1815. He also sat on the Court of Common Council of the Corporation of London and was Alderman of the Ward of Candlewick.
The firm was later known as Birch and Birch, and as Birch, Birch and Company. The business was responsible for catering at Lord Mayor's banquets and other ceremonial and civic events as well as services for livery companies, hospitals and other organisations in and around the City of London. Turtle soup was a particular speciality prepared and promoted by the company.
In circa 1836 the business was acquired by Ring and Brymer who later moved to 39A Old Broad Street. The company was later incorporated as Ring and Brymer (Birchs) Limited.
Ring and Brymer (Birchs) Limited had premises at 46 Sun Street in 1938, registered offices at 4 Angel Court in 1952-1955, and 17 Finsbury Avenue in 1964. The business was retained by Lord Forte when he acquired the company in 1962, and based at 30-32 Sun Street in 1974. Trusthouse Forte Group acquired Gardner Merchant and Gardner Merchant Leisure later sold City interests in the Ring and Brymer Division to events caterer Chester Boyd in 1999.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 LMA/4594 1775 - 1989 Collection 1.4 linear metres Birch , Lucas , d 1800 , confectioner and caterer
The business was originally established by Mr Horton in the reign of George I (1714-1727). He was succeeded by Lucas Birch (d.1800) was a pastry-cook, confectioner and caterer, of 15 Cornhill, City of London. He was later joined by his son Samuel Birch and the business was known as Birch and Son in 1786. Samuel Birch (1757-1840) (also known as 'Mr Pattypan') served as Lord Mayor 1814-1815. He also sat on the Court of Common Council of the Corporation of London and was Alderman of the Ward of Candlewick.
The firm was later known as Birch and Birch, and as Birch, Birch and Company. The business was responsible for catering at Lord Mayor's banquets and other ceremonial and civic events as well as services for livery companies, hospitals and other organisations in and around the City of London. Turtle soup was a particular speciality prepared and promoted by the company.
In circa 1836 the business was acquired by Ring and Brymer who later moved to 39A Old Broad Street. The company was later incorporated as Ring and Brymer (Birchs) Limited.
Ring and Brymer (Birchs) Limited had premises at 46 Sun Street in 1938, registered offices at 4 Angel Court in 1952-1955, and 17 Finsbury Avenue in 1964. The business was retained by Lord Forte when he acquired the company in 1962, and based at 30-32 Sun Street in 1974. Trusthouse Forte Group acquired Gardner Merchant and Gardner Merchant Leisure later sold City interests in the Ring and Brymer Division to events caterer Chester Boyd in 1999.
LMA/4594/02/01/001 (MS 00458) was deposited at Guildhall Library in 1964 by the family. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009. The remainder of the records were gifted to London Metropolitan Archives in January 2012.
Lucas Birch day book (1775-1778), Birch and Son and Birch and Birch cash books (1785-1788, 1803-1808, 1813-1818), Ring and Brymer cash books (1856-1876), annual returns (1952-1955), photographs (1954-1989) and also special and state occasion menus books which are catalogued in detail (1910-1983).
.
Please note: special and state occasion menus books (1910-1964) remain uncatalogued please see staff for further information.
The records are arranged as follows:
LMA/4594/01; Shares
LMA/4594/02: Finance
LMA/4594/03: Operations.
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 2018.
Copyright and ownership rests with City of London except LMA/4594/02/01/001 which is held on deposit.
English
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Cash book of Lucas and Samuel Birch, 1782-1785, held at the National Art Library at Victoria and Albert Museum reference MSL/1967/431. Note: 'Turtle remains from a late 18th century well at Leadenhall Buildings' by Philip Armitage and Colin McCarthy, London Archaeologist volume 4 number 1 pages 8-16 makes reference to use of this cash book which is not held at the Museum of London as stated in the article.
Also held at the Victoria and Albert Museum is the Birch and Birch shop front (ref: W.38-1926).
For a short company history: 'Catering during ten reigns' 1923 (38 pages) [Guildhall Library: Closed Access Pam 458 and 20438 and Barbican Library: L 23.1 BIR]
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, with additions February and August 2012. Updated November 2018. Birch , Lucas , d 1800 , confectioner and caterer Service industries Caterers People People by occupation Personnel Food industry personnel Confectioners Business records Information sources Documents Financial records City of London London England UK Western Europe Europe
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
LMA/4594/02/01/001 (MS 00458) was deposited at Guildhall Library in 1964 by the family. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009. The remainder of the records were gifted to London Metropolitan Archives in January 2012.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Lucas Birch day book (1775-1778), Birch and Son and Birch and Birch cash books (1785-1788, 1803-1808, 1813-1818), Ring and Brymer cash books (1856-1876), annual returns (1952-1955), photographs (1954-1989) and also special and state occasion menus books which are catalogued in detail (1910-1983).
.
Please note: special and state occasion menus books (1910-1964) remain uncatalogued please see staff for further information.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The records are arranged as follows:
LMA/4594/01; Shares
LMA/4594/02: Finance
LMA/4594/03: Operations.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 2018.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright and ownership rests with City of London except LMA/4594/02/01/001 which is held on deposit.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Cash book of Lucas and Samuel Birch, 1782-1785, held at the National Art Library at Victoria and Albert Museum reference MSL/1967/431. Note: 'Turtle remains from a late 18th century well at Leadenhall Buildings' by Philip Armitage and Colin McCarthy, London Archaeologist volume 4 number 1 pages 8-16 makes reference to use of this cash book which is not held at the Museum of London as stated in the article.
Also held at the Victoria and Albert Museum is the Birch and Birch shop front (ref: W.38-1926).
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
Subject 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