Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1853-1980 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
33 production units.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Welch, Margetson and Company, a firm of menswear manufacturers specialising in shirts, collars, silk handkerchiefs, silk neckties, scarves and braces, was established in 1832. It was one of the first companies to introduce an in-working factory arrangement for the making of shirts. In 1847 the first Londonderry factory was opened, followed by Carlisle Road factory, Londonderry, in 1876. A tie factory was built in Bermondsey in 1890, to which the production of all other company products moved in due course. Early in the 20th century a factory for the shirt, collar and tie trade was opened in Melbourne, Australia, and in 1911 a limited liability company was formed, Welch, Margetson and Company (Overseas).
Welch, Margetson and Company became a public company in 1948 and was taken over by Viyella International Limited in 1968. During the early 20th century there was a company social club called the Crownfield Sports and Social Club. The Martus Fifty Club, a social club for employees who had completed fifty years with the company, was formed in 1949.
The company was based at 7 Farringdon Street (1832-5), 132 Cheapside (1836-43), 134 Cheapside (1844-9), 17 Cheapside and 46 Old Change (1850-7), 16-17 Cheapside (1858-98), 16-30 Moor Lane (1899-40), 5 Warwick Street (1943-63) and 237 Long Lane, Bermondsey (1929-).
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 CLC/B/222 1853-1980 Collection 33 production units. Welch, Margetson and Co Ltd , menswear manufacturers
Welch, Margetson and Company, a firm of menswear manufacturers specialising in shirts, collars, silk handkerchiefs, silk neckties, scarves and braces, was established in 1832. It was one of the first companies to introduce an in-working factory arrangement for the making of shirts. In 1847 the first Londonderry factory was opened, followed by Carlisle Road factory, Londonderry, in 1876. A tie factory was built in Bermondsey in 1890, to which the production of all other company products moved in due course. Early in the 20th century a factory for the shirt, collar and tie trade was opened in Melbourne, Australia, and in 1911 a limited liability company was formed, Welch, Margetson and Company (Overseas).
Welch, Margetson and Company became a public company in 1948 and was taken over by Viyella International Limited in 1968. During the early 20th century there was a company social club called the Crownfield Sports and Social Club. The Martus Fifty Club, a social club for employees who had completed fifty years with the company, was formed in 1949.
The company was based at 7 Farringdon Street (1832-5), 132 Cheapside (1836-43), 134 Cheapside (1844-9), 17 Cheapside and 46 Old Change (1850-7), 16-17 Cheapside (1858-98), 16-30 Moor Lane (1899-40), 5 Warwick Street (1943-63) and 237 Long Lane, Bermondsey (1929-).
The company's archives were deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library in 1986. They were catalogued by an assistant archivist in December 2002. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.
Records of Welch, Margetson and Company Limited, menswear manufacturers, including memorandum and articles of association; Board minutes; correspondence; annual reports and accounts; photographs of offices in Australia and of staff at work in offices, shops, factories and laundry; file on products, process and other firms; advertising; catalogues and price lists; papers relating to staff clubs; papers relating to property; and notes on the history of the company.
Records arranged by MS number, assigned during cataloguing at the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section.
Access by appointment only. Please contact staff.
Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.
English
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
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. Clothing workers Facilities Industrial facilities Industrial plants Information sources Documents Business records Cultural heritage Customs and traditions Fashion Health Hygiene Laundries Sports clubs Leisure Leisure time activities Clubs Social clubs Textile industry personnel Personnel People by occupation People Clothing trade Trade (practice) Welch , Margetson and Co Ltd , menswear manufacturers London England UK Western Europe Europe Australia Oceania
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The company's archives were deposited in the Manuscripts Section of Guildhall Library in 1986. They were catalogued by an assistant archivist in December 2002. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of Welch, Margetson and Company Limited, menswear manufacturers, including memorandum and articles of association; Board minutes; correspondence; annual reports and accounts; photographs of offices in Australia and of staff at work in offices, shops, factories and laundry; file on products, process and other firms; advertising; catalogues and price lists; papers relating to staff clubs; papers relating to property; and notes on the history of the company.
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
Access by appointment only. Please contact staff.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright to this collection 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
Subject access points
- Industrial facilities
- Industrial facilities » Industrial plants
- Information sources
- Documents
- Cultural heritage
- Intangible cultural heritage » Customs and traditions
- Intangible cultural heritage » Customs and traditions » Fashion
- Health
- Health » Hygiene
- Leisure
- Leisure time activities
- Leisure time activities » Clubs
- Personnel
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