The HOUSE OF FRASER Archive

Company: Arthur & Co Ltd Arthur-Fraser Investments Ltd

Registration number: 832

Company name: Arthur & Co Ltd
Dates in business: 1878-c 1967

Type of business: textile manufacturer and wholesaler

Company name: Arthur-Fraser Investments Ltd
Dates in business: 1967-c 1973

Type of company: Limited liability company

Locations:
  • Queen Street, Glasgow, Scotland
  • William Street, Glasgow, Scotland
  • Miller Street, Glasgow, Scotland
  • Londonderry, Northern Ireland
  • Leeds, England
  • South Africa
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • Canada
  • London, England
  • Newcastle upon Tyne, England
  • Edinburgh, Scotland

Management of company

The first directors of the company were James Arthur, the founder of the company, William Ogilvie, John Robert Kay and Matthew Arthur. After James Arthur's death in 1885, the chair was taken by his eldest son, Matthew Arthur. Between 1928 and 1935, the chair was held by James Arthur, who, in 1935, was succeeded by Andrew Arthur, the fourth son of the founder. He only held the chair for one year and was succeeded in 1936 by Evelyn Stewart Arthur, the grandson of the founder. In 1958, on the acquisition of Arthur & Co Ltd by House of Fraser Ltd, Evelyn Arthur retired and was replaced by TR Patterson. The other directors of Arthur & Co Ltd remained at their posts after the acquisition.

Company history

The company was incorporated in 1878 with its registered office at 78 Queen Street, Glasgow, to carry on the business of Arthur & Co, textile manufacturer and wholesaler, of Glasgow. At the time of its incorporation, it had a warehouse in Queen Street, Glasgow, a large shirt factory in William Street, Glasgow, a linen factory in Londonderry, Northern Ireland and a readymade clothing factory in Leeds. The company expanded rapidly both in the UK and overseas. By Arthur?s death in 1885, the Queen Street warehouse comprised fifty departments for clothes, furniture, bedding, musical instruments, watches, clocks, jewellery, stationery, ironmongery and fancy goods. The company also had warehouses in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. In 1898, the Queen Street warehouse was added to by the acquisition of 61-67 Miller Street. Branch warehouses were also opened around this time in London, Newcastle upon Tyne and Edinburgh. The Queen Street warehouse was bombed during the second world war but was rebuilt in 1958. In the same year, Arthur & Co Ltd was acquired by House of Fraser Ltd, the department store retailers, of Glasgow. In 1966, House of Fraser Ltd sold the firm and its entire stock. In January 1967, the name of the company was changed to Arthur-Fraser Investments Ltd. The company was still in existence in 1973.

Records held for Arthur & Co Ltd:

FRAS 330
Title: Memorandum and articles of association
Date: 1878-1967
FRAS 328
Title: Minutes of general meetings of shareholders
Date: 1930-1967
FRAS 329
Title: Minutes of meetings of board of directors
Date: 1958-1969
FRAS 331
Title: Annual report and accounts
Date: 1950-1966
FRAS 471
Title: Combined register
Date: 1958-1973
FRAS 474
Title: Journal
Date: 1939-1973
FRAS 472
Title: Balance sheet
Date: 1970
FRAS 332
Title: John F Barclay, The Story of Arthur & Co Ltd: One Hundred Years of Textile Distribution
Date: 1953

Related People and Companies:

Corporation name: Arthur & Co
Dates of connection: 1878
Connection type: Arthur & Co Ltd was incorporated in 1878 to carry on the business of Arthur & Co.
Corporation name: House of Fraser Ltd
Dates of connection: 1958-1966
Connection type: House of Fraser Ltd acquired Arthur & Co in 1958 and sold it in 1966.
Name: Arthur, James, 1819-1885, clothing retailer and manufacturer
Dates of connection: 1878-1885
Connection type: Arthur was the chairman of the board of directors.

Access points: Textile manufacturers - Wholesale trade

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