Hammond & Company records

Records relating to the foundation and operation of the firm and its subsequent takeover by Capital & Counties Bank, including:

• Foundation (1788-1898): public notice announcing opening of the bank, partnership agreements;
• Operation (1782-1903): minutes of partners’ meetings, statements of accounts, weekly summaries of transactions, general ledger, papers re opening of new branches, embezzlement by member of staff;
• Amalgamation (1897-1903): correspondence re proposed takeover by various other banks (including Lloyds Bank), correspondence re successful takeover by Capital & Counties Bank, memorandum of agreement for sale of bank, valuation of bank, liabilities and assets, capital and reserve account details, papers relating to investments and securities of the bank;
• General (1649-1955): personal papers of various partners, including Henry Gipps and William Hammond.

This private bank was founded in 1788 as Gipps, Simmons & Gipps. Of the three partners, James Simmons was a stationer, printer, publisher and mill owner; George Gipps MP was a hop dealer and apothecary, and his nephew Henry Gipps was a woollen draper. The bank went through various partnership changes, but was generally known as Hammond & Company, or the Canterbury Bank. It was one of the largest and best-managed private banks in Kent. Branches were opened in Whitstable (1863) and Ramsgate (1866). It was taken over by Capital & Counties Bank (est. 1877) in 1903.

Access is by appointment only, and at the discretion of the Archivist. Please e-mail archives@lloydsbanking.com for further information.

Item level catalogue available - please e-mail archives@lloydsbanking.com for further details.