Collection GB 0074 ACC/0538 - WOODBRIDGE AND SONS, UXBRIDGE {SOLICITORS}

39.4 linear metres

GB 0074 ACC/0538 1281-1960 Collection 39.4 linear metres Woodbridge and Sons , solicitors x Riches and Woodbridge

The firm of Woodbridge and Sons, formerly Riches and Woodbridge, seems to have been, if not the sole firm of solicitors in Uxbridge in the 19th century, then certainly the most prominent, and many of the leading Uxbridge families are well represented in the collection. Riches and Woodbridge is listed in the Post Office Directory of 1847 as situated on the High Street, Uxbridge. By 1853 the solicitors is listed as Riches, Woodbridge and Son and by 1859 as Charles Woodbridge and Sons.

In Kelly's Directory of Essex, Hertfordshire and Middlesex of 1908 the important role of the family in local government is revealed. Woodbridge and Sons are listed as "solicitors, and solicitors to Uxbridge Permanent Building Society, 38 High Street". Charles Woodbridge is described as "solicitor, commissioner for oaths, clerk to the magistrates for Uxbridge division, clerk to the commissioners of taxes, to the Joint Hospital Board, Uxbridge Rural District Council, clerk to the guardians and assessment committee of Uxbridge Union and superintendent registrar of Uxbridge district and joint registrar of county court"; his son Algernon Rivers Woodbridge, is listed as a solicitor and deputy superintendent registrar of Uxbridge Union, while Francis Charles Woodbridge is a solicitor and clerk to Uxbridge United Charities and Thomas Hurry Riches Woodbridge is a solicitor and joint registrar of county court. Edgar Thomas Woodbridge is simply listed as 'solicitor'.

The business subsequently expanded. In the 1937 Kelly's Directory of Middlesex their offices are listed at 38 High Street, Uxbridge and 7 New Square, Lincoln's Inn, London. Algernon Rivers Woodbridge is described as a solicitor, clerk to the magistrates for Uxbridge division, clerk to commissioners of taxes and superintendent registrar of Uxbridge district; while Edgar Thomas Woodbridge is listed as deputy superintendent registrar and clerk to the Joint Hospital Board. Francis Charles Woodbridge is listed as clerk to the Uxbridge United Charities.

Although centred on Uxbridge, the firm's business spread over the neighbouring Middlesex and Buckinghamshire parishes, particularly Harlington, Hayes, Hillingdon and Denham.

Received in 1954 (Acc/0538)

Records of Woodbridge and Sons, solicitors, 1281-1960, including:

*Official records, with papers of the Uxbridge Poor Law Union, Rural Sanitary Authority and Rural District Council, and of the Uxbridge Petty Sessions (members of the firm being clerks to these bodies) and also of the Harlington Tithe Commissioners, whose clerk was William Mercer, a solicitor with no apparent connection with the Woodbridge firm;

*Charity records, comprising account books, minutes, letter books, deeds and papers of the Lords in Trust of the Manor and borough of Uxbridge, later known as the Uxbridge United Charities;

• Administrative records of the firm including account books, salaries books and partnership agreements; and

• Practice papers, which themselves fall into several groups, namely, deeds of property of which the firm became mortgagee, Woodbridge family deeds and private papers, and clients' papers, by far the largest section. A large number of probates, letters of administration and unproved wills were preserved by the firm as a separate class. The rest of the clients' papers are preserved in separate personal or family groups (covering in many cases two or three generations); since many of the documents are title deeds, these bundles have been arranged according to the parish in which their property lay, although where a family owned property in more than one parish, the whole group has been listed under the parish in which the clients resided. An index of places is provided. Original bundling has been preserved although this has sometimes interfered with the logical arrangment. Where necessary for clarification, family trees have been included; although as accurate as possible these do not claim to be comprehensive.

  In sections: Uxbridge manorial, charitable and borough records; Plans; and Property, family and manorial records.

  Available for general access.

  Copyright rests with the City of London.

  English

  Fit

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

  For the Uxbridge Poor Law Union see reference BG/U.

  For more information about local government and charities in Uxbridge, see A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 4: Harmondsworth, Hayes, Norwood with Southall, Hillingdon with Uxbridge, Ickenham, Northolt, Perivale, Ruislip, Edgware, Harrow with Pinner (1971), available online on the British History Online website.

  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 Middlesex Woodbridge and Sons , solicitors x Riches and Woodbridge Uxbridge Poor Law Union x Uxbridge Board of Guardians Uxbridge Rural Sanitary Authority Uxbridge Rural District Council Uxbridge Petty Sessions Uxbridge United Charities Harlington Tithe Commissioners Property Wills Local authorities Business records District councils Rural district councils Charity records Buildings Architecture Offices Law offices Government Local government Public administration People Poor Law union Uxbridge People by occupation Personnel Legal profession personnel Deeds Solicitors Information sources Documents Primary documents Personal papers Family records Administration of justice Courts Petty sessions England UK Western Europe Europe Hillingdon London Harlington Hayes Denham Buckinghamshire Bromley

Received in 1954 (Acc/0538)

Records of Woodbridge and Sons, solicitors, 1281-1960, including:

*Official records, with papers of the Uxbridge Poor Law Union, Rural Sanitary Authority and Rural District Council, and of the Uxbridge Petty Sessions (members of the firm being clerks to these bodies) and also of the Harlington Tithe Commissioners, whose clerk was William Mercer, a solicitor with no apparent connection with the Woodbridge firm;

*Charity records, comprising account books, minutes, letter books, deeds and papers of the Lords in Trust of the Manor and borough of Uxbridge, later known as the Uxbridge United Charities;

• Administrative records of the firm including account books, salaries books and partnership agreements; and

• Practice papers, which themselves fall into several groups, namely, deeds of property of which the firm became mortgagee, Woodbridge family deeds and private papers, and clients' papers, by far the largest section. A large number of probates, letters of administration and unproved wills were preserved by the firm as a separate class. The rest of the clients' papers are preserved in separate personal or family groups (covering in many cases two or three generations); since many of the documents are title deeds, these bundles have been arranged according to the parish in which their property lay, although where a family owned property in more than one parish, the whole group has been listed under the parish in which the clients resided. An index of places is provided. Original bundling has been preserved although this has sometimes interfered with the logical arrangment. Where necessary for clarification, family trees have been included; although as accurate as possible these do not claim to be comprehensive.

In sections: Uxbridge manorial, charitable and borough records; Plans; and Property, family and manorial records.

Available for general access.

Copyright rests with the City of London.

• English

• Latin

English

For the Uxbridge Poor Law Union see reference BG/U.

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.

• English