London Metropolitan Archives

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London Metropolitan Archives - Item Details

FREDERICK HUTH AND COMPANY

Date of Creation:

1812 - 1956

Reference Code:

CLC/B/087

Scope and Content:
  • Records of Frederick Huth and Company, merchants and bankers. The material in this archive is incomplete, reflecting primarily the merchant and banking business during the 19th century. The records comprise correspondence and financial material, including some relating to the subsidary businesses in Spain, Chile and Peru.
Extent: 41 production units.
Classification: BUSINESSES
Former Reference: Ms 10700- 06 and Ms 22305- and Ms 25049- 50
Site Location: London Metropolitan Archives
Level of Description:
    Collection

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Administrative History:
  • Frederick Huth first established his own business in Corunna, Spain, in 1805. He came to London in 1809 and set up business as a merchant at 17 Broad Street Buildings. In 1814 he took John Frederick Gruning into partnership and the resulting firm, Huth and Company, moved to 1 South Place, Finsbury. It moved again in 1818 to 9 South Street, Finsbury, where it remained until 1839; then it moved to 10 Moorgate before its final move in 1872 to 12 Tokenhouse Yard. Throughout the 19th century the firm is described in London directories as "merchants"; only from 1904 is the description "bankers" added, although it is clear that the business always included banking. From 1912-24 the firm had a fur warehouse at 64 Park Street, Southwark, and from 1925-36 at 58-60 Cannon Street; it also had a tea warehouse at 37 Fenchurch Street, 1921 - 1872.

    A South American company was formed in 1854 which traded as Frederick Huth, Gruning and Company at Valparaiso and Lima until 1878 when it became Huth and Company of Valparaiso. Frederick Huth and Company of London received half the profits of this company.

    In 1936 the company was dissolved: the banking business was acquired by British Overseas Bank Ltd., and the fur business by C.M. Lampson and Company Ltd.

    For further information see: 'Frederick Huth and Company, 1809 - 1936: the history of a City of London
    Merchant Bank' by Dr John W. Hawkins (2015) [received by the author for addition to LMA Library September 2015)
Creator: Frederick Huth and Co | merchants and bankers
Copyright: Depositor
Source of Acquisition:
  • The archive was presented to Guildhall Library in 1961, 1987 and 1991 and catalogued by members of Guildhall Library staff. The Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section merged with the London Metropolitan Archives in 2009.
  • 1987/030
  • 1991/033
Access Restrictions: These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions
Arrangement: Records arranged by MS number, assigned during cataloguing at the Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section.
Related Material: Additional Huth manuscripts (letter and account books ca. 1820-ca. 1861) are in the custody of University College Library, London and Ms 25049 is a list supplied by this library of the material they hold.
Publication Notes:

Andrew J Murray has written the only published biography of Huth, "Home from the Hill" (London, 1970), which contains some information on the early history of the company.

Language Notes: English, French, German and Spanish