Records of L R Grant Ltd, timber and esparto merchants, Edinburgh, Scotland

Reference
- GB 248 UGD 237/2
Dates of Creation
- 1925-1940
Name of Creator
- L R Grant Ltd (timber and esparto merchants: 1928-1940: Edinburgh, Scotland)
Language of Material
- English and French
Physical Description
- [To be confirmed]
  There are no physical characteristics that affect the use of this material.

Scope and Content

Minutes 1928-1940
Journals 1925-1940
Financial records 1929-1939
Purchase book 1935-1938
Register of members 1928-1936
Memoranda and articles of association 1928
Correspondence 1927-1936
Papers relating to Society Anonyme Alfatiere 1928-1935

Administrative / Biographical History

L R Grant Ltd was incorporated as a limited liability company in 1928 in Edinburgh, Scotland. The company traded in timber and esparto, a tough wiry grass from northern Africa whose fibre is used to make paper and cordage. The company's first directors were John D Tod, chairman, the esparto importer Leslie Renwick Grant, William Jardine and James Stewart. A share capital of £25,000 was raised with the issue of 25,000 shares valued at £1 each.

In 1932 , the company established a subsidiary, Society Anonyme Alfatiere , to manage the growing of the company's esparto grass in Tunisia and Algeria. The manager of this company, Mr Melca, went on to defraud the company of at least £12,000 in 1936 . This lead to the winding-up of the company's North African interests which by 1937 included 63 baling stations. In 1940 , the company entered into voluntary liquidation.

Leslie Renwick Grant continued to have business interests in the esparto trade. He was a founder, in 1955, of W Grant & Co (Agents) Ltd , timber and esparto merchants, Edinburgh, and was also a director of William Sommerville & Son Ltd , producers of high quality printing and paper, Milton Bridge, Edinburgh, from 1934 until at least 1969.

Arrangement

This material is arranged into series, which consist of numbers of items related by format and/or function. Within series, the items are generally arranged chronologically.