Identity area
Reference code
AR948
Title
Date(s)
- 1887 - 1979 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
3 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Repository
Archival history
Custodial:
The donor was a Director and Company Secretary. He retained the records when the Company was taken over in 1979.
Administrative:
William Ashby founded a business in 1825 as a barge owner and carrier of builders materials. The company later started a cement works in Greenwich in 1870 although this was abandoned in 1925 when the company became a full time builders merchants. It moved to Victoria at the beginning of the twentieth century, to London Road Norbury in 1939 and to Manor Road, South Norwood in 1972 where new premises were built adjoining the railway. During the 1960s they expanded to set up branch offices at Orpington, Egham, Pinner, Brentford and Lewisham. They also took over two subsidiary companies in Norfolk (Aldridges and Bardwell and Sons).
William Ashby and Sons were themselves taken over by Readymix Concrete in 1979. The Manor Road premises were later occupied by Geoprint.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Box one:
Minute Book 1887 - 1893 (note: mostly unused)
Rough Minute Book 1892
Letter books: 1892, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1910
Agenda Book
Ledger 1893
Stock Book (1887 onwards)
Register of Debentures
Book of Bills Receivable
Register of bills payable 1908 - 1931
Various leases, agreements, debentures. This is split into bundles re:
Debentures (3); Property Agreements/Tenancies; Commercial Agreements and Licences; Miscellaneous property documents including schedule of deeds and original certificates of incorporation.
Box two
Envelope of business documents concerning transport including a riverside crane at Brentford.
Envelope of confidential agreements and F.C.s Trust Deeds
Vehicle Registration Docs
Blue folder: spare copies from share register
Impression of a seal in a box
Ashby badges (3)
Drainage material catalogue (5 copies)
Blue folder: Sale of shares - aborted
Green folder: correspondence concerning close company status
Blue folder: photocopies of various documents concerning the legal takeover of Aldridge and Bardwell
Blue Folder: photocopied minutes of AGMS, 1892 - 1977.
Blue Folder: Insurance and plans etc of depots and premises.
Blue Folder: Photocopied minutes of Directors Meetings, 1957 - 1979.
Grey folder: drawings and papers, Aldridges, Norfolk (timber merchants taken over 1966)
Blue folder: photographs of depot at South Norwood
Posh photo album: Bardwell Sons
Paper Bag: Photos, photographs of depots at South Norwood and Egham on the original station site
Red photo album: Aldridge
2 books unused share certificates.
Brown folder: Directors
Box three
Large envelope with copies of pages of Directors Minutes, 1892 - 1957
Blue folder: Valuation and copy of share register. This dates from 1973 when the sale of the company was first being considered.
Carbon copies, Kitchens Today, 1971 - 1975 (invoices etc)
Large file marked archives includes:
File of Circulars to shareholders concerning the sale of shares which increased the capital of the company.
N. Thames Gas Board, Dealers Order Book
Pad of Kitchens Today paper
Various guarantees
Photos of offices designed by M Crowley, 1974, South Norwood
Civic Trust Award, 1973
Drawings thereof
Folder of Offers for shares
Kitchens Today Drawings
Booklets on Pension scheme
Stationery
Staff dinner, 1977
Big file marked history containing:
Packet of photos of Kitchens Today (showrooms in the 1960s at Beckenham and Sunbury)
Envelopes of small photos
Cuttings from Staines and Egham News 1975 and
Thankyou letters for souvenirs 1975
Photos of Aldridge, Timber Preservation company
Photographs cement works at Greenwich during demolition.
Glossy photos of new buildings at Manor Road South Norwood and Windsor House, Norbury, 1964.
Photographs of proposed office in Greenwich.
Cert of Registration of canal boat
Agreement between Messrs Ashby and Lady Cooper
Other letters of family interest.