RECORDS OF THURSTON BROTHERS LTD, 188 HIGH STREET, UCKFIELD

Table of contents

Introduction

AMS6528/1/1-3 Day books of Trayton Eade, butchers, 1850-1856

AMS6528/2/1 Memorandum and articles of association, 1964

AMS6528/3/1-19 J W Swain trading as Thurston Brothers: annual accounts and working papers, 1940/41 - 1958/59

AMS6528/4/1-10 J W Swain slaughter house contractor: annual accounts and working papers, 1942/43 - 1952/53

AMS6528/5/1-2 Customer accounts, 1955-1966

AMS6528/6/1-3 Weekly and monthly account totals, 1971-1992

AMS6528/7/1 Wages books, 1975-1980

AMS6528/8/1-2 Day books, 1992-1997

AMS6528/9/1-2 Other financial records, 1940/41 - 1983

AMS6528/10/1-9 Stock books, 1940-1998

AMS6528/11/1 Customer records, 1940s

AMS6528/12/1-2 Market books, 1979-1982

AMS6528/13/1-4 Certificates and awards, 1981-1997

AMS6528/14/1-4 Newscuttings and articles, 1991-1999

AMS6528/15/1-29 Photographs, 1900-1997

AMS6528/16/1-17 Other records, 1941-1999

Documents are closed to public inspection for 30 years from the last date of a document

Records deposited 12 May 1999 (ACC 7900)

Introduction

George Eade ran a butcher's business in Uckfield from at least 1828-1829 (Pigot's directory) and was followed by various family members: Trayton, Frederick, and George Frederick. It was originally a farm shop in Church Street with a slaughterhouse attached. 188 High Street, originally a large house, was converted into a shop when larger premises were needed, probably during the 1870s

The shop had been taken over by George Edwin Thurston by 1910 (IRV 1/121). Contemporary photographs show the name 'Hart' as well as 'Thurston' displayed on the frontage, but the connection is unclear. There may well have been a link with Thurston Brothers, butchers, of Cross-in-Hand, and High Street, Heathfield (Kelly's directory, 1927), and possibly a family connection with Ernest Frederick Thurston, butcher, of Bolney (Kelly's, 1938). G E Thurston died on 27 December 1939, and the business was purchased from his widow, Eleanor May Thurston, in April 1940 by partners Arthur James O'Hara of 35 Old Orchard Road, Eastbourne, and James William Swain. They continued to trade as Thurston Brothers because changing the name would have caused complications with war-time rationing arrangements. A J O'Hara had managed a butcher's shop in Eastbourne prior to the partnership, and also ran a shop at 53 St Leonards Road, Bexhill-on-Sea in the early 1940s. J W Swain had previously managed Dewhurst in Eastbourne; he ran a slaughterhouse contracting business at Bridge Farm meadows, Uckfield, presumably that formerly run by George Thurston

The partnership ceased in March 1947, when J W Swain purchased O'Hara's share in the business. J W Swain purchased 188 High Street, Uckfield, the slaughterhouse, and Bridge Farm meadows in July 1954. The slaughterhouse was sold in January 1958. J W Swain was joined by his son David, who ran the business until it closed on 20 February 1999