GROSVENOR, CHATER & CO. (STATIONERS AND PAPERMAKERS) RECORDS

Records of Grosvenor Chater & Co., mostly relating to the Abbey Mill, 1827-1982, including letter books, 1897-1927; correspondence and papers, 1903-[1970s]; diaries, 1934-1980; paper samples, 1943-1981; photographs, 1880-1980; order books, 1886-1939; records relating to paper sales, 1899-1966; records of paper made, 1872-1975; stock books, 1890-1936; records of goods purchased, 1890-1979; statistics, 1920-1982; wages books, 1880-1956; account books, 1827-1978; and maps and plans, 1868-1964.

The stationery firm of Grosvenor, Chater & Co. was established by Robert Grosvenor, a wholesale stationer in Leadenhall Street, London. The firm was founded c. 1690 (though evidence for its founding is uncertain) and is believed to be one of the earliest suppliers to the Bank of England, incorporated in 1694. In 1790, Eliezer Chater became a partner. The firm became known as Grosvenor, Chater & Co. in 1804. From 1765 to 1851, the headquarters of the firm was at 11 Cornhill. Later it moved to Cannon Street, where the firm remained until 1974. The firm acquired the Abbey Mill, in the Greenfield Valley, Holywell, Flintshire, in 1854. The mill, which had operated since 1770, produced high-quality writing and ledger paper. At one stage the Abbey Mill became a separate company, Grosvenor Chater (Abbey Mill) Limited. The mill closed in 1982, and in 1992, the Grosvenor Chater group of companies were dissolved.

Arranged into the following: letter books; correspondence and papers; diaries; samples; trade marks; analyses; photographs; order books; paper sales; paper made; stock books; goods purchased; statistics; wages books; account books; maps and plans; and historical notes.

Data Protection Act restrictions will apply to any items less than 100 years old that contain personal information as defined by the Act.

Please order documents using the alternative reference number (where provided).

Compiled by Richard Burman for the ANW project. The following sources were used to compile this description: Flintshire Record Office, Schedule of Grosvenor, Chater MSS; Companies House websearch (http://ws1info.companieshouse.gov.uk/), viewed 13 September 2004.

A hard copy of the catalogue is available in Flintshire Record Office and at the National Register of Archives.

Compiled by Richard Burman for the ANW project. The following sources were used to compile this description: Flintshire Record Office, Schedule of Grosvenor, Chater MSS; Companies House websearch (http://ws1info.companieshouse.gov.uk/), viewed 13 Sep 2004.

Usual copyright regulations apply.

Usual Copyright Restrictions Apply.

All records deposited at Flintshire Record Office have been retained.

Accruals are not expected.

Further material in the Flintshire Record Office is:

A tape recording of an interview with A. Hugh Rutt, Joint Managing Director of Abbey Mills, TR/20.

A cine film of Abbey Mills was transferred to the National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales, MG/16/A/1661; a video copy is available in Flintshire Record Office, V/6.