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BRITISH VINEGARS LIMITED

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Reference	B/BFY
Covering dates	1757-1960
Held by	London Metropolitan Archives
Extent	120 files

Source of acquisition	Records deposited on 21 April 1972 and 3 March 1977, Accession Nos. Ac72.30 and Ac77.29
Creators	British Vinegars Limited, 1932-
Arrangement	This collection includes records of: BEAUFOY AND COMPANY : Legal Documents Property Vinegar Production Employees Trade Correspondence and Sales Accounts Printed Matter and Photographs BEAUFOY, GRIMBLE AND COMPANY, LONDON PANTER, WOODWARD AND COMPANY, BRISTOL CAMBRIAN VINEGAR COMPANY, LEEDS CHAMPION AND SLEE LIMITED, LONDON SARSONS LIMITED, LONDON DUFRAIS AND COMPANY, LONDON BRITISH VINEGARS LIMITED BRITISH VINEGARS LIMITED: COLLECTIONS
Related information	The Minet Library holds correspondence of Henry Benjamin Hanbury Beaufoy (1786-1851) dating from 1847 to 1851. This mainly concerns the establishment of the Lambeth Ragged School built by Henry circa 1847 as a memorial to his wife Eliza. Records of the school itself are held in the Greater London Record Office (ref: A/BFY).

Administrative history:

This collection contains records of various British vinegar producing companies that united to form British Vinegars Limited (BVL). Dates of amalgamation of the various companies with BVL are given in the development chart at the end of this introduction.
Records date from 1747 to 1960. The earlier and greater bulk of records concern Beaufoy and Company of South Lambeth which became part of BVL at its formation in 1932.
BEAUFOY AND COMPANY
Mark Beaufoy (1718-1782) established a manufactory of vinegar and 'mimicked wines' in the early 1740s at Cuper's Garden, south of the River Thames (see B/BFY/18-19). In 1810 the company moved to South Lambeth, between Vauxhall and Stockwell, on part of Noel Caron's estate. The Beaufoy family's connection with vinegar production ended in 1941 when George Maurice Beaufoy (1893-1941) was killed by enemy action in the yard.
The above and further information concerning Beaufoy and Company may be obtained from an article by Barbara Kerr, published in History Today July 1973, entitled 'The Beaufoys of Lambeth'.

Contents:

This collection includes legal papers, property records, staff records, vinegar production records, financial records and printed material

BEAUFOY AND COMPANY [no ref. or date]

Creator(s): Beaufoy and Company, 1740-1932

LEGAL DOCUMENTS [no ref. or date]

Partnership agreement between Mark Beaufoy of Lambeth, vinegar merchant and maker of sweets, and William Biddle of Lambeth, late apprentice to Beaufoy, concerning one third share in business B/BFY/001 1761 Jan

1 document

Bond from John and Thomas Overton, coach spring makers, to Mark Beaufoy, vinegar merchant, for payment of 480 pounds B/BFY/002 1762 Sep - 1763 Nov

1 document

Bond from William Ingham, dealer in wines, to Mark Beaufoy and William Biddle, vinegar merchants, for payment of 100 pounds B/BFY/003 1764 Apr

1 document

Arbitration case papers for Mark Beaufoy, vinegar merchant, versus Joseph James, blewmaker and riding clerk for Beaufoy B/BFY/004 1767 May - 1769 Apr

4 documents

Agreement on rent of land at Lambeth Marsh between Thomas Nash and Richard Hill B/BFY/005 1769

1 document

Related information: (see also B/BFY/18-19)

Bonds from Seawell, Harding and Vaughan, grocers, and from Halsell and Shepheard, to Mark Beaufoy and William Biddle, vinegar merchants, concerning payment of 1,000 pounds B/BFY/006 1777 Aug - 1780 May

3 documents

Partnership agreement between Henry Beaufoy and William Biddle, vinegar merchant and maker of sweets B/BFY/007 1783 Jul

1 document in glass frame

Partnership agreement between Henry Beaufoy and William Biddle, vinegar merchant and maker of sweets duplicate of B/BFY/7 B/BFY/008 1783 Jul

1 document

Employment contract for clerk. Signed by Richard Watson, clerk, J.H. Beaufoy and Thomas James B/BFY/009 1787

1 document

Copy of agreement Dec 1791 between William James, victualler, and George Blakely, victualler, concerning sale of the lease of the Sign of the Ship, Shakespeare Walk, parish of St. Paul Shadwell B/BFY/010 c.1791

1 document

Agreement between Beaufoy, Biddle and James, and other makers of Raisin and other British wines concerning cost of wines, pipes and shipping charges B/BFY/011 1800 May

1 document in glass frame

Affidavit by Thomas James concerning extra duty on barrels of vinegar delivered at Deptford Yard, [under Vinegar Act 1805] B/BFY/012 1808 Dec

1 document in glass frame

Agreement for sale of land in Cotman's Field, parish of Lambeth, from Benjamin Shaw and Mary May to John Hanbury Beaufoy B/BFY/013 1810

1 document

Releases from William W. Biddle, farmer, and from Henry G. Biddle, gentleman, to Andrews E. Biddle and John Hanbury Beaufoy B/BFY/014-015 1820 Aug

2 documents

Printed advertisement of dissolution of partnership between John Hanbury Beaufoy and Henry Beaufoy on 29 May 1833, from the London Gazette B/BFY/016 1833 Jun

1 document

Partnership agreement between Henry Benjamin Hanbury Beaufoy, maker of vinegar and British wines, and his brother George Beaufoy. Includes copy of letter to the bank from H.B.H. Beaufoy B/BFY/017 1851 Jul

2 documents

PROPERTY [no ref. or date]

Printed maps showing location of Beaufoy, Wine and Vinegar Maker, before and after building of works at Cuper's Gardens, Lambeth B/BFY/018 c.1766

2 documents

Letters from Society of Jesus College, Oxford, to Mark and Henry Beaufoy concerning lease and use of Cuper's Gardens. Includes some copies of letters in reply B/BFY/019 1779 Mar - 1809

22 documents

Strand Bridge and new sites: compensation accounts and notes on removal to Caron Estate B/BFY/020 1810 - 1811

5 documents

Printed catalogue of building materials from the 'Late Messrs Beaufoy and Company's Distillery at Cuper's Bridge, Lambeth, to be sold by Auction' B/BFY/021 1813

1 document in glass frame

VINEGAR PRODUCTION [no ref. or date]

Letters from B. Watts in Lisbon concerning acquisition of raisins in Portugal during Spanish war [with England]. Includes invoices and shipping clearance notes B/BFY/022 1774 - 1780

8 documents

Memorandum concerning Irish made vinegar. J.H. Beaufoy's hand B/BFY/023 1809 Apr

1 document

Letters from the Right Honourable Lord Dundonald to Colonel Henry Beaufoy concerning the manufacture of vinegar and requesting pecuniary aid B/BFY/024 1813 Nov - 1813 Dec

3 documents

Letters from John Hanbury Beaufoy to Henry Beaufoy concerning purchase of fruit, cost of keeping a working horse, vinegar manufacture Act/Bill, and objections to labels B/BFY/025-027 1815 Mar - 1820 Aug

3 documents

Treatise and notes on wine-making and recipes for fruit wines B/BFY/028 1820s - 1830s

1 volume

Note from Mr Day concerning amount of malt used in brewing vinegar B/BFY/029 1828 May

1 document

Letter from John Ladl[ow] to Henry Beaufoy concerning 'tripe' forming in the vinegar brew B/BFY/030 1833 May

1 document

Sample embossed label papers and accompanying notes from [S. Sparrow] B/BFY/031 1833 Nov

1 document

Correspondence and notes concerning details of vinegar and wine manufacture and works B/BFY/032 1840 - 1864

21 documents

Notes of vinegar prices for various other business. Includes prices of hampers and salt B/BFY/033 1854 - 1877

1 notebook

Related information: See also B/BFY/50

Copies of notices from Mr Cooper, Manager of Beaufoy and Company, concerning the transfer of licences for vinegar and acetic acid production B/BFY/034 1860 - 1862

2 documents

Metropolis Soft Spring Water Company: printed matter. Includes note of water supply required for works B/BFY/035 1790s? - 1830s

5 documents

Newspaper and magazine articles concerning pure water supply, distilling and malt B/BFY/036 1835 Mar - 1835 Oct

3 documents

EMPLOYEES [no ref. or date]

Memorandum of salary and allowances for the foreman, Peter Green. J.H. Beaufoy's hand B/BFY/037 1812 Oct

1 document

Correspondence with and concerning employees B/BFY/038 1818 Sep - 1847 Aug

15 document

Employees records including list of books available to staff, 1825, salaries for 1839-40, list of men in club for sickness benefit 1839-40 B/BFY/039-041 1825 - 1840

7 documents

Note of overtime for mechanics (blacksmiths, millwrights, carpenters, wheelrights and painters) for 1839-40 B/BFY/042 1840 Mar

1 document

Copy of letter from Henry Beaufoy to Thomas Fulton Junior, [journeyman] explaining aspects of a traveller's employment contract B/BFY/043 1838 Nov

1 document

TRADE CORRESPONDENCE AND SALES [no ref. or date]

British wines and raisins: letter to Henry Beaufoy from Joseph James enclosing minutes of meeting of merchants, grocers and sweet makers concerning duty on sweets and wines made with raisins. B/BFY/044 1786

2 documents

Related information: See also B/BFY/62-63

Correspondence between vinegar traders and with Treasury Commissioners concerning duty on wines and prices of vinegar. Includes copies of minutes of traders meetings in 1838 and 1840. B/BFY/045 1801 Oct - 1840 Feb

18 document

Related information: See also B/BFY/62-63

Admiralty: correspondence with Navy Office concerning vinegar casks and price of vinegar supplied to Deptford Yard. Includes letter from Thomas Champion concerning vinegar companies accounts with the Navy Office B/BFY/046 1803 Apr - 1816 Oct

22 documents

Letter from Navy Office to Messrs Beaufoy, James and Company concerning duty on barrels of vinegar B/BFY/047 1805 May

1 document in glass frame

Proportions of the Navy Contract at its final close, in tonnes B/BFY/048 1816 Apr

1 document in glass frame

Correspondence between Miss Frances James and J.H. Beaufoy concerning execution of releases B/BFY/049 1817 May - 1817 Jun

3 documents

Price lists of various vinegar companies for their produce. B/BFY/050 1817 Oct - 1847 Oct

24 documents

Related information: See also B/BFY/33

Correspondence with Commissioners of Victualling and Captain Parry of Deptford Yard concerning concentrated vinegar for use on the 'Discovery Ships' to the Arctic to save space B/BFY/051 1821 Jan

6 documents

Letter from G. Palmer in Calcutta to Beaufoy and Company enclosing note concerning sale of Beaufoy's acetic acid B/BFY/052 1822 Feb - 1822 Jul

2 documents

Copy of letter from Henry Beaufoy to Charles Day promoting sales of vinegar B/BFY/053 1824 Jun

1 document

Copy of letter from Henry Beaufoy to Messrs Day and [Martin?] undertaking order to supply vinegar of 'a quality which may be justly termed magnificent' B/BFY/054 1827 Nov

1 document

Letter from John Travers of Swithins Lane to Henry Beaufoy concerning their business relationship. Includes copy of reply from Beaufoy B/BFY/055 1840 Sep

1 document

Letter from James Sutton in reply to Henry Beaufoy's letter of condolence B/BFY/056 1842 Aug

1 document

Letters from Whitehall to Henry Beaufoy concerning the vinegar trade and tariffs. Includes copies of letters in reply B/BFY/057 1844 May - 1845 Jul

10 document

Letter book. Indexed B/BFY/058 1871 Oct - 1899 May

1 volume

Private letter book mainly signed by Mark Beaufoy. Partially indexed B/BFY/059 1900 May - 1901 Jul

1 volume

Private letter book mainly signed by Mark Beaufoy. Indexed B/BFY/060 1901 Jul - 1914 Jul

1 volume

ACCOUNTS [no ref. or date]

Annual balance sheets giving accounts of trade, stock and other expenses B/BFY/061 1747 - 1761

26 documents

Annual accounts of duty on sweets and vinegar charged to Mark Beaufoy and other traders. Accounts for 1760/61 and 1777/78 are missing. B/BFY/062 1757 - 1780

21 documents

Related information: See also B/BFY/44-45

Annual accounts of duty on vinegar and sweets charged to Mark Beaufoy and other traders. B/BFY/063 1764 - 1783

21 documents

Related information: See also B/BFY/44-45

Annual balance sheets for the ship 'Sally' B/BFY/064 1774 - 1775

2 documents

Draft account of Mark Beaufoy with 'JHB' from 1784 to 1786 B/BFY/065 1788 Mar

1 document

Annual stock accounts balance sheets B/BFY/066 1789 - 1792

12 document

Receipt from 'Beaufoy, Biddle & James, Makers of Vinegar and Raisin Wine' for vinegar B/BFY/067 1797 Jan

1 document in glass frame

Receipt from 'Beaufoy, Biddle and James, Makers of Vinegar and Raisin Wine' for vinegar sold B/BFY/068 1797 Nov

1 document in glass frame

Cheques for payment, Beaufoys B/BFY/069 1795 May - 1825 Aug

4 documents

PRINTED MATTER AND PHOTOGRAPHS [no ref. or date]

Beaufoy's Digestive Bread, 'expressly for invalids and those employed in sedentary occupations': pamphlet advertisement B/BFY/070 1835

1 document

'Beaufoy's instant cure for the tooth-ache': newspaper advertisement B/BFY/071 1870s ?

1 document

Beaufoys' Crystal Vinegar ' ...not liable to turn ropy, foul, or mothery, in the hottest climates': printed leaflet advertising the uses of white vinegar B/BFY/072 n.d. - [c.1900?]

1 document

Counting House. Inscription on back identifies office workers B/BFY/073 1897

1 photograph

'Some Account of the old established firm of Beaufoy and Company'. Contains pictures of works and workers B/BFY/074 1897/8

1 booklet

Head and shoulders portrait of Mark Beaufoy 1854-1922 B/BFY/075 1900s? - 1910?

1 photograph

'First Day of Carmen's uniforms': horse drawn vehicle behind carmen and H.M. Beaufoy and [Mark] Beaufoy B/BFY/076 c.1910

1 postcard

BEAUFOY, GRIMBLE AND COMPANY, LONDON [no ref. or date]

Creator(s): Beaufoy, Grimble and Company, London

Advertising and histories [no ref. or date]

Letter enclosing advertisement for Grimble and Company's Vinegar, illustrating vinegar warehouse B/BFY/077 1887 - 1949 Oct

2 documents

The House of Grimble - A History. History of vinegar company founded in 1840, Cumberland Market, London NW1. Includes cutting from 'Batley News' re brewing works, 1976 B/BFY/078 1920s - 1976

1 booklet

Beaufoy, Grimble and Company Limited - copy of advertisement in The Mercantile Guardian B/BFY/079 1930 Mar

1 document

PANTER, WOODWARD AND COMPANY, BRISTOL [no ref. or date]

Creator(s): Panter, Woodward and Company, Bristol

Staff [no ref. or date]

Vinegar Works: List of staff, total monthly sales, 1859/60-1908, notes of maintenance of works (indexed) and notes on vinegar manufacture B/BFY/080 1866 Sep - 1907 Jan

1 volume

CAMBRIAN VINEGAR COMPANY, LEEDS [no ref. or date]

Creator(s): Cambrian Vinegar Company, Leeds

Newspaper cuttings and photographs [no ref. or date]

Newspaper cuttings and some letters received by the company B/BFY/081 1880s - 1907

1 volume

Newspaper cuttings. Includes advertisements and some letters received by the company B/BFY/082 1903 - 1930 Jan

1 volume

Loose documents formerly enclosed in B/BFY/81-82 mainly concerning Cambrian Vinegar Company. Includes some bottle labels B/BFY/083 1880s - 1930

1 file

Photographs of works, including buildings, yard, machinery and loading stage: formerly enclosed in B/BFY/82 B/BFY/084 c.1910 ?

9 postcards

Advertisements, news cuttings and handbills concerning Cambrian and other vinegar companies (See also B/BFY/105): formerly enclosed in B/BFY/82 B/BFY/085 1903 - 1930

1 file

Page long advertisement entitled 'Malt Vinegar: its uses and values for Health and Household' and historical note on ancient Romans' use of vinegar: formerly enclosed in B/BFY/82 B/BFY/086 c.1918

1 file

Cambrian Vinegar Company publication: 'Tis 30 Years Since or The History of an Industry' by James Brodie B/BFY/087 1894

1 volume

CHAMPION AND SLEE LIMITED, LONDON [no ref. or date]

Creator(s): Champion and Slee Limited, London

Administration [no ref. or date]

Champion's Vinegar Brewery, City Road, London: catalogue of plant, machinery and building materials for sale by auction. Annotated with prices B/BFY/088 1907 Oct

1 booklet

Shares prospectus B/BFY/089 1907

documents

Printed annual balance sheet and reports 1908-1914 B/BFY/090 1908 - 1914

7 documents

Reprints from The Financial Times concerning annual general meetings B/BFY/091 Dec 1909 - Dec 1914

7 documents

Directors' minute book 'No.2'. Minutes are signed by Herbert H. Slee, chairman B/BFY/092 1914 Dec - 1927 Jan

1 volume

Benevolent Fund account book 'No.1' B/BFY/093 1919 Oct - 1928 Sep

1 volume

Private Ledger 'No.6'. Indexed B/BFY/094 1921 Oct - 1925 Sep

1 volume

Photographs of women processing bottles of Champion's vinegar and men rolling out barrels of vinegar B/BFY/095 1920s - 1930s

2 photographs

Photograph of Champion's Bottled Malt Vinegar Truck/bus (part of British Vinegars Limited) B/BFY/096 [1940s] - [1950s]

1 photograph

Related information: see also B/BFY/112

SARSONS LIMITED, LONDON [no ref. or date]

Creator(s): Sarsons Limited, London

Advertising and photographs [no ref. or date]

Print of Cartoon entitled 'The Irony of Circumstance' - acetic faced women in front of sign, 'Virgin Vinegar' B/BFY/097 c.1893

1 document

Sarsons Virgin Vinegar colour advertisement entitled 'She would have Sarsons' B/BFY/098 1900s

1 postcard

Sarsons Vinegar truck B/BFY/099 [1930s] - [1940s?]

1 photograph

Sarson's vinegar works. Interior views of vats, factory floor and barrel making B/BFY/100 [1940s?]

49 photographs

DUFRAIS AND COMPANY, LONDON [no ref. or date]

Creator(s): Dufrais and Company, London

Staff [no ref. or date]

Certificate of membership of Dufrais and Company Limited of Deptford Green, London SE8, to National Union of Manufacturers (Incorporated) B/BFY/101 1933 Jun

1 document

BRITISH VINEGARS LIMITED [no ref. or date]

Photographs [no ref. or date]

Transport trucks B/BFY/102 [1920s] - [1950s]

7 photographs

Cartoon of barrels marked BVL. Caption reads 'To sales from factory control - only a hint of course' signed K.D. B/BFY/103 [1920s] - [1950s?]

1 document in glass frame

COLLECTIONS [no ref. or date]

'Every Man his own Brewer' by Samuel Child, Brewer', explaining the art and mystery of brewing...To Reduce the Expense of a Family, and Lessen the Destructive Practice of Public-House Tipling' B/BFY/104 1802

1 booklet

Newspaper cuttings from 1870s-1880s and some receipts 1826-1841 concerning various vinegar companies. Includes advertisements. Partially indexed. Inscribed 'Panter, Woodward and Co[mpany]...1872' B/BFY/105 1826 Sep - 1938

1 volume

Newspaper cuttings. Includes advertisements. Indexed B/BFY/106 1888 - 1894

1 volume

Newspaper cuttings concerning vinegar manufacturing. Partially indexed. Includes advertisements B/BFY/107 1894 Mar - 1942 Oct

1 volume

Newspaper cuttings concerning manufacturing and use of vinegar. Includes some advertisements B/BFY/108 1924 Jan - 1940 Apr

1 volume

Newspaper cuttings concerning manufacturing and use of vinegar B/BFY/109 1937 Aug - 1952 Sep

1 volume

Newspaper cuttings arranged under headings, 'Financial', Prosecutions' and 'Miscellaneous' B/BFY/110 1952 Sep - 1960 Jun

1 binder

Newspaper article from Islington Gazette on Champion and Company Limited, City Road 1883 enclosed with note from Mr Johnson B/BFY/111 1883 Jun - 1949 Nov

2 documents

Copy of photograph of horse drawn ombnibus in Hampstead with 'Champion's Vinegar' advertisement B/BFY/112 [1890s] - [1900s]

2 photographs

Beaufoy and Company brewing works after fire on 17 June 1916. Includes 'Stills in "mill" ' and 'Roof of brewhouse' B/BFY/113 1916

4 photographs

Photographs of rubble, [bomb damaged buildings?] B/BFY/114 1940 - 1941

15 photograph

Transcript of article on history of "Vinegar Associations" B/BFY/115 1939 Feb

1 file

Letter from G.E. Done of H.P. Sauce in reply to copy letter from H.J. Sarsons of British Vinegars Limited concerning early correspondence B/BFY/116 1939 Feb

2 documents

'Family Tradition - The Biography of a Business 1641 - 1941' by Henry Sarson (pages 7-19 are missing - concerning Beaufoy). Includes chart of development of BVL B/BFY/117 c.1942

1 file

Copy of pen and ink drawing by William Duncan Stewart "The Parafin Man" distributing paraffin from barrel to woman and two children B/BFY/118 1912

1 document

Cecil R. House [at South Lambeth?] B/BFY/119 1946 Jun

1 watercolour painting

The Cock, public house, 003 Denmark Hill, Camberwell, plans and elevations B/BFY/120 1938 Oct - 1955 Jan

9 documents

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