EXPRESS DAIRIES

Scope and Content

Consists of records of Express Dairies Ltd including cash book 1959, board and general meeting minutes 1880-1953, transport committee minutes 1945-1948, partnership minutes 1949-1950, register of members preference shares 1880-1948, register of members ordinary shares 1939-1947, register of members A preference shares 1929-1947, register of members 6% preference shares 1933-1947, register of share transfers 1932-1942, debenture register [c1894]-[c1937], printed memo and articles of association 1960-1974, balance sheets and profit and loss accounts 1946-1954, branch accounts and percentage books 1886-1970, profit and loss dairies and purchases and refreshment sales 1926-1949, summary of summaries 1925-1960, private ledgers 1892-1959, bought ledger 1936-1960, creamery ledger 1943-1955, catering ledger 1948-1949, day book milk purchases 1936-1960, day book farms 1943-1949, day book dairies 1937-1938, general cash received book 1931-1943, cash received book branches and balances book 1931-1958, cash book 1929-1948, cash book administrative expenses 1932-1950, capital fixed assets account book 1929-1940, echo margarine account book and milk marketing board credits book 1940-1943, invoice book College Farm 1938-1941, transport history book 1921-1952, stock book and accounts 1939-1969, refreshment complaints book 1932-1953, accident reports book 1936-1948, wages book 1916-1938, staff salaries book 1922-1958, papers relating to the pension and benefit fund 1939-1969, papers relating to property 1940-1948, visitors book Frome visitors club 1940-1941, Grange Farm Dairies private ledger 1942-1961; records of Ambrosia including directors and general meeting minutes 1917-1935; R Bowers & Sons Ltd including private ledgers, milk analysis cash books and cash books 1931-1948; Dairy Farmers Milk Supply Ltd including balance sheets and profit and loss accounts 1967-1968; Dairy Trade and Can Protection Society including council minutes 1906-1917; Hornby and Clarke Ltd balance sheets and branch trading and profit and loss 1932-1960; Independent Milk Suppliers Ltd private ledger 1930-1948; Independent Wholesale Dairies Ltd balance sheet and profit and loss accounts 1967-1968; R D Jones and Son private ledger 1940-1960; T M Lewis date book 1938-1954; Marshall Dairies Ltd register of members, private ledger and cash books 1903-1960; Metropolitan private ledger 1955-1960; C Moon and Sons private and nominal ledger 1935-1960; Guy Pearce and Company ledger, cash book, cash purchases and expenses book 1934-1948; Reliance Haulage Contractors private ledger 1932-1943, Richard and Bind private ledger 1941-1950; Robinson's Dairies private ledger 1936-1957; Strand Brassiary Cash Book 1945-1947

Administrative / Biographical History

The Express Country Milk Supply Company was established in London in 1864 by George Barham. It became the Express Dairy Company Limited in 1892. Milk was transported into London by rail, and delivered to homes. The Dairy Supply Company was formed as a separate company selling dairy equipment such as the milk churn which was invented by Barham. The company grew, purchasing College Farm, Finchley, London to conduct dairy experiments. The farm was sold in 1983. The firm also ran Express teashops, cafes and bakery and became a limited company in 1937. In 1969 Express became part of Grand Metropolitan and in 1992 part of Northern Foods. In 1998 the name of Express Dairies Plc returned, with the division of Northern Foods into two sections.

Arrangement

  • Ambrosia
  • R Bowers and Sons Ltd
  • Dairy Farmers Milk Supply Ltd
  • Dairy Trade and Can Protection Society
  • Express Dairy Ltd
  • Grange Farm Dairies
  • Hornby and Clarke
  • Independent Milk Suppliers Ltd
  • Independent Wholesale Dairies Ltd
  • R D Jones and Son
  • T M Lewis Ltd
  • Marshall Dairies Ltd
  • Metropolitan
  • C Moon and Sons
  • Guy Pearce and Company
  • Reliance Haulage Contractors
  • Richard and Bind
  • Robinson's Dairies
  • Strand Brassiary

Access Information

Available for consultation

Acquisition Information

T83/7

Note

Compiled by Zoe Watson, March 2004

Other Finding Aids

A detailed catalogue is available at the Museum of English Rural Life

Conditions Governing Use

Please contact the Archivist