Low & Bonar PLC

Partnership agreements 1950-1966; directors’ records c 1990; share records 1912-1986; powers of attorney c1916-1945; government returns 1939-1973; correspondence 1912-1972; confidential instructions and notes c 1920-1970; bills payable book 1953-1966; papers re. investments 1923-1979; jute contract book 1930-1932; tenders log book c.1960-1970; press releases 1976-1992; press cuttings 1979-1988; booklets and brochures c 1950; salary books 1919-1970; wages books 1930-1933; personnel and pension records 1940-1978; property records 1933-1972; photographs c 1970-1985.

In 1903 John C. Low and George Bonar entered into a partnership agreement to carry on the business of merchanting jute goods in both home and foreign markets. In 1909, East Port Calender works, a cloth-finishing and bag sewing and printing establishment was acquired. In 1912 the original partnership became incorporated as a Private Limited Company, Low & Bonar Ltd and the share capital of William Fergusson & Sons Ltd was purchased to give the company an interest in jute weaving. In 1924 the company acquired control of Baxter Brothers & Co. Ltd. The Eagle Jute Mills were built in 1930 on the site of the Dens Foundry and engineering works formerly operated by Baxter Brothers.In 1951 with the acquisition of a controlling interest in Bonar Long & Co Ltd, the company diversified into the field of electrical engineering and in 1953 the group’s jute spinning activities were further expanded by the acquisition of Henry Boase & Co.

Open for consultation subject to preservation requirements. Access must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act and any other appropriate legislation.

The records were deposited by Low & Bonar PLC in 1978 and 2001 (AccM/77, AccM/80 and AccM/464).

Descriptive list. Subject source lists and databases are also available.

Fonds level description compiled by Sarah Chubb, Archives Hub Project Archivist, March 2002. Updated by Gary Smith, Archives Assistant, August 2006.