HAMPSHIRE GROWERS LTD COLLECTION

Contains: salaries and wages books 1946-1961; schedules of assets 1949-1962; annual financial statements 1954-1971; microfilm of minute books 1946-1959, 1964-1969, minute book 1960-1963; rule book 1968; press release Success Comes to Hampshire Growers 1965; proof advertisements 1958-1960, 1964; newspaper advertisements [c1959]; pamphlet - Advertisements for Use by Societies in the Local Press [c1959]; pamphlet regarding Pension and Life Assurance Scheme [c1969]; black and white photographs including images of N P Hobson, General Manager, Hampshire Growers Ltd auction, Pack house, packing produce, loading pallets onto lorries, formal dinner, produce, workers packing produce, packing crates 1950's- 1960's; typescript of history of the Society 1950's-1960's.

Hampshire Growers Ltd was formed in 1946, occupying premises at Shedfield, near Southampton. Two growers' organisations had already been in operation during the War in the Romsey and Alton districts, but a need was recognised for a larger organisation to market the crops of the hundreds of Hampshire growers. Originally the cooperative also supplied fertilisers and other agricultural commodities and the supply of packing materials as well as arranging contracts with jammers for soft fruit growers. Initially sales to local wholesalers were not encouraged, the cooperative preferring to distribute its merchandise in more distant markets; but a policy change in 1949 introduced a combination of local and distant trade and in a further change in 1951 the auction system of marketing produce was adopted. Subsequently the cooperative ceased to act as a supplier of agricultural commodities, the warehouse space thus released being necessary for the increasing turnover in produce.

AC Accounts

AC4 Journals

AC7 Financial Statements

AD Administrative Records

AD1 Minutes

CO Company Records

CO2 Records of Companies and limited concerns

P Publications, Promotions and Advertising Records

P5 News and Press Releases

P8 Printing Proofs and artworks

P9 Other Records

PH3 Photographic Prints

SP Social and Personal Record

SP1 General reference records including company histories

Open for consultation

The records were deposited in 1972. (Accession number CR72/94)

Compiled by Caroline Gould, January 2003

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

Please contact the Archivist