Papers of BROWN & MERRY (Leighton Buzzard)

The archives of Brown and Merry of Leighton Buzzard (Auctioneers and Estate Agents)

List of contents

Outline History of the Firm

Introduction to the collection

BML 0 Ordnance Survey maps

[Not listed - these are incorporated within the main CRO series of Ordnance Survey maps]

BML 1 Maps and plans

BML 1/1-31 Maps and plans

BML 1/32-41 Building plans

BML 2 Valuation books, 1873-1947

BML 2/1/1-3 First series, 1873-1877

BML 2/2/0-46 Second series, 1875-1898

BML 2/3/1-20 A.W.Merry first series, 1896-1924

BML 2/4/1-195 A.W.Merry second series, 1905-47

BML 2/5/1-10 A.W.Merry third series, 1932-41

BML 2/6/1-8 Miscellaneous

BML 3 Financial records, 1915-1947

BML 3/1/1-3 Ledgers, 1915-1918

BML 3/2/1 Invoices, 1938-9

BML 3/3/2 Statements, 1945-7

BML 4 Office administration and business papers, 1904-1942

BML 5 Merry family: personal papers, 1897-1947

BML 6 Macnamara Estate

BML 6/1 Estate income accounts, 1881-1916

BML 6/2 Estate payment accounts, 1881-1887

BML 6/3 Vouchers and receipts, 1882-1887

BML 6/4 Tithe records, 1842-1916

BML 6/5 Inclosure papers, 1798-188

BML 6/6/1-2 Tenancy agreements, 1890-1905

BML 6/6/3 Farm particulars, 1881-1890

BML 6/6/4-5 Field tracings and farm maps, 1849-1906

BML 6/7 Estate administration, 1878-1913

BML 6/8 Private papers of Arthur Macnamara, 1880-1928

BML 6/9 Billington parish, 1888-1890

BML 6/10 Ordnance Survey map indexes, 1879-1880

BML 6/11 Pedley estates trustees, 1866-1916

BML 7 Lady Sophia Macnamara: Billington Manor and personal papers, 1906-1913

BML 8-9 [numbers not used]

BML 10 Sale catalogues and agency papers - arranged by parish - 1860-1963

Deposited on 27th November 1964

The business archives deposited by the Leighton Buzzard office of Messrs. Brown and Merry complement the material from the Bedford office (ref: BMB). Together these deposits constitute an important archive which both illustrates the workings of a local office and provides a wealth of information on the locality. The loose documents and bundles of papers for the Bedfordshire parishes are especially important (ref: BML 10). The papers for parishes in other counties has been transferred to the appropriate County Record Office, but the core business records such as the valuation books (BML 2), ledgers (BML 3) and office records (BML 4) contain some out-County material and give a view of the operation of the business as a whole.

Cataloguing

The collection was received when the Record Office still operated from premises in the old Shire Hall. At the time of the move to the present building in 1969 it had not been listed, but the boxes were numbered (as boxes 114 to 155) for the move and these box numbers were used as the basis for an interim catalogue compiled by an assistant archivist in about 1980. Gradually the material has been systematically listed - beginning with the maps (now BML 1) and loose papers (BML 10) - and ending with the main business archive (BML 2-7). The superseded box list has been retained for future reference (ref: CRV 72).

The Macnamara Estate

Among the firm's principal clients was Arthur Macnamara of Billington, whose estate (previously managed by William Paxton) was run by the firm. The Macnamara estate comprised the Billington Manor, Caddington Hall, Eaton Bray and Whipsnade estates with properties - partly in Buckinghamshire. and Herts. -in the parishes of Billington, Caddington, Eaton Bray, Kensworth, Luton (Limbury), Markyate Street, Flamstead, Houghton Regis, Slapton, Studham, Totternhoe and Whipsnade. Most of the papers cover the period from 1880 to 1915, and may have been taken over from Paxton. It is not clear when A.W. Merry became agent, but the account books for the Eaton Bray estate commence in 1897 (ref: BML 6/1/7-8). There is an agreement of A.W. Merry as agent for John Macnamara, 1906 (ref: BML 4/3/1 ii).

The Rothschilds

Material relating to the Tring Park and Ashton Wold estates has mainly been transferred to Hertfordshire Record Office, although some material remains among the core business records. There are valuation books of Feb. 1924 concerning the Tring and Ashton Wold estates (ref: BML 2/4/85-88), and further volumes in the series relating to Rothschild properties (ref: BML 2/4/141, 158, and 162-3). A few stray records held at Bedford (ref: BMTr) will probably be transferred to Hertfordshire at some future date.

Outline history of the firm

1832 William Brown established business in Tring

1834 Firm established (ex.inf. advertisements of 1949 and 1962)

1893 A.W. Merry (1868-1948) articled to Joseph and Joseph John Gale, Estate Agents etc., Wallingford (BML 5/1/3)

1896 A.W. Merry takes over the business of Messrs. Hart & Son, and becomes established at 17 High Street, Leighton Buzzard. First valuation notebook begins in April 1896

1915 Consideration of amalgamation with William Brown & Co. (BML 4/3/2 i)

1915 Amalgamation of A.W. Merry, 17 High Street, Leighton Buzzard, with Messrs. Stafford and Rogers of Bedford. Trading as Stafford, Rogers and A.W. Merry from 1 July 1915 (BMB 1/1/18 and BML 4/3/2 ii-iv)

1948 Death of Arthur W. Merry

1964 Stafford, Rogers and Merry join with William Brown & Co. to form Brown and Merry

1982 Firm celebrates 150th anniversary (report in Bedfordshire. and Buckinghamshire. Observer 22 June 1982)