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Fonds

Record of Bird Brothers, Builders and Contractors of Milton Keynes Village

Catalogue reference: D/164

What’s it about?

This record is about the Record of Bird Brothers, Builders and Contractors of Milton Keynes Village dating from 1873-1961.

Is it available online?

Maybe, but not on The National Archives website. This record is held at Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies. How to view it.

Can I see it in person?

Not at The National Archives, but you may be able to view it in person at Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies. How to view it.

Full description and record details

Reference
D/164
Title
Record of Bird Brothers, Builders and Contractors of Milton Keynes Village
Date
1873-1961
Description

This collection includes accounts, wages books, estate books and miscellaneous material

Held by
Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies
Language
English
Creator(s)
<corpname>Bird Brothers, 1798-1960, Milton Keynes Village, builders</corpname>
Physical description
19 files
Immediate source of acquisition

AR. 8/86

Administrative / biographical background

These records were found in no. 22 Milton Keynes Village, home of the Bird family since the late eighteenth century (see report on the house by B. Giggins in B.R.O. pamphlet series). They begin in 1873 but the family business is much older; five members of the Bird family at Milton Keynes are described as carpenters in the 1798 Posse Comitatus. Bird Brothers remained one of the main building firms in the area up to the late 1950's.

Their clientele included neighbouring farms and cottages, the church and rector, the Rural District Council, Milton Keynes and Broughton Schools.

They did much work on the Milton Keynes Estate which was owned by the Finch family, who were principal landowners in Milton Keynes. Work done for the Finches was carefully differentiated from that done for other clients (including estate tenants) and recorded separately.

In common with other village builders the Bird Brothers acted as local builder, contractor, carpenter, undertaker, furniture maker and "odd job" man. (see The Village Carpenter by Walter Rose for general description).

Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/dea2b76d-bf4c-42ed-9927-c99625c514ec/

Catalogue hierarchy

73,047 records

This record is held at Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies

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Record of Bird Brothers, Builders and Contractors of Milton Keynes Village