SANDWICH AND DISTRICT GROWERS LTD COLLECTION

Contains: ledgers of payments to growers 1959-1966; sales ledgers 1960-1966; bought ledger 1969-1970; nominal ledger account index nd [1960's?]; cash books 1960-1966; sales credit book 1964-1965; pass books for shares and loans 1962-1966; account summaries 1963-1969; account sheets 1966-1967; wage cards and sheets 1967-1968; stock valuation summaries 1960's; bank statements 1967-1968; invoices 1963-1969; files containing market advice 1966-1968; receipts 1966-1969; annual reports and balance sheets 1948-1971; annual reports for Home Grown Fruits Ltd 1963-1964; papers concerning scheme for hire of goods vehicles 1950's; notes on empty containers for J G Wright Ltd 1955-1956; memorandum on office procedure 1965; marketing reports on top fruit 1965-1966; transport delivery sheets 1967-1968; order form book n.d.; insurance policies n.d.; papers relating to the Ministry of Agriculture Horticultural Improvement Scheme n.d.; papers relating to Ministry of Agriculture Working Capital Grants n.d.; forms for proposed marketing programme n.d.; correspondence relating to payment of bonus 1948; time sheets for apple peelers 1960; time sheets for vegetable grading 1967; time sheets and summaries for grading and packers 1967; correspondence relating to the resignation of the General Manager 1961-1962; summary of grading 1966; national insurance cards 1966; certificate of maintenance for York machinery 1953; agreement relating to Speedwell Cottage 1953; general register for factories 1956-1958; report on examination of lifting machines 1962-1964; papers relating to Packhorse Improvement Scheme 1965; correspondence relating to petrol rationing 1956-1967; order book for packing materials 1960's; application to the Ministry of Agriculture for tray and pallet sets 1965-1966; application to the Ministry of Agriculture for grant aid in connection with fruit handling service 1966; stocksheet for packhorse 1967-1968; memoranda to growers relating to fruit grading store and marketing arrangements 1959; correspondence with the Ministry of Agriculture relating to grant for Hermes Apple grader 1963-1964; letter from J Vinnicomb and Son Ltd 1966; rules of East Kent Growers Ltd 1941, 1966; share register 1940's -1960's; share transfers 1953-1958; share certificates, invoices and miscellaneous correspondence 1960's; licences 1950's-1960's; papers relating to shipping contracts c1967; agreement for Hire purchase 1969; file on cold storage project 1963; correspondence relating to new fruit storage scheme 1964-1965; lists of growers n.d.; brochure of Sandwich and District Growers Ltd c1962; photographs of employees at work post 1945; photographs of annual dinner groups c 1950's.

The Sandwich and District Growers Ltd, a horticultural co-operative marketing society was formed in 1941 to assist local growers in the Kent area in the event that transport was disrupted by the war. Proper trading began in 1948 and membership and turnover steadily increased so that by the early 1960's annual sales were worth over 220,000. The co-operative marketed all types of produce apples, pears, cherries, plums, soft fruits, vegetables and other market produce. Its depot was at Grove Road, Preston 9 miles North East of Canterbury and included a fruit grading and packing room, a vegetable sorting and loading shed and a despatch department which possessed a fleet of 10-12 vehicles. Membership of the co-operative was open to growers who had a 5 shareholding but this was later increased to 50.

AC Accounts

AC1 Ledgers

AC2 Cash Books

AC4 Journals and other books of original entry

AC6 Other Accounts

AD Administrative Records

AD2 General Administrative and commercial records

AD3 Labour Records

AD4 Premises Records

AD5 Materials Records

AD8 General Correspondence

CO Company Records

CO2 Records of Companies and limited concerns including capital

CO3 External Agreements

ET Technical Records

ET1 Records of Experiments and trials

MP Manufacturing and Production

MP1 Registers and lists of Production

P Publications, Promotions and Advertising Records

P2 Individual advertising publications

PH Photographic Records

PH2 Compilations of prints

SP Social and Personal Records

SP1 General reference records including company histories

Open for consultation

Records deposited in 1972 (Accession number CR72/92)

Compiled by Caroline Gould, January 2003

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

Please contact the Archivist