G W AND A E THOMSON LIMITED {PAWNBROKERS}

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0074 LMA/4702
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: G W AND A E THOMSON LIMITED {PAWNBROKERS}
Date(s)	: 1954-2000
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 2.78 linear metres
Name of creator(s)	: G.W. and A.E. Thomson Limited | Pawnbrokers and jewellers A. E. and D. A. Thomson Limited | Pawnbrokers and jewellers D. A. Thomson and Sons Limited | Pawnbrokers and jewellers | 1963-1982 Saramar Limited | Mail Order Company | 1964-2000

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The family business was established in the early 1800s in London and traded as pawnbrokers and jewellers. The main company, G.W. and A.E. Thomson Limited occupied premises at 36 Chalk Farm Road. The company established several branches which were situated at:
105 Uxbridge Road 'Shepherd's Bush Branch'
756 - 158 Holloway Road Branch
228 Kilburn High Street
63 Praed Street

The Holloway Road Branch was subject to an armed robbery in 1983 in which a staff assistant had been party. The branch closed the following year.

In 1954 an additional business was opened at 158 Portobello Road which was incorporated as A. E. and D. A. Thomson Limited.

In 1963 a further additional business was opened at Watford which was incorporated as D. A. Thomson and Sons Limited. This business closed in April 1982.

The companies traded as 'Thomsons.'

Saramar Limited was a mail order business run by the family. It was incorporated in 1964. The company ceased to trade in March 1998 and dissolved in 2000.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

The collection includes ledgers showing pledges, stock and sales books; balance sheets and accounts; certificates of incorporation or memorandum and articles of agreement; correspondence covering a range of topics including the robbery of the Holloway Branch, letters from customers and matters relating to the closure or liquidisation of branches. There are also a series of auction sale catalogues (a family member was also a director of the London Bridge Auction Rooms) showing lots put for sale by Thomsons.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Arranged in six record groups as follows:
LMA/4702/01: Corporate and administrative
LMA/4702/02: Finance
LMA/4702/03: Operations
LMA/4702/04: A. E. and D. A. Thomson Limited
LMA/4702/05: D. A. Thomson and Sons Limited
LMA/4702/06: Saramar Limited

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, 1998.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright is held by the City of London.

Finding aids:

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

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Donated in June 2013 and May 2014.

Allied Materials

Related material:

The British Library hold an oral history recorded as part of the Millennium Memory Bank project (C900/05089) of Nigel Thomson (listed as Thompson) one of the last of the family to operate the business.

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

Rules or conventions:
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.

Date(s) of descriptions:
Added April 2016.