Description

Admin History:

Chamber and Fargus were founded in 1854 when Henry Waudby Chambers and James Fargus first entered into partnership. Their first mill was located on Oxford Street with an office at 5 High Street. They then went on to lease the High Flags Mill in Wincolmlee. Chamber and Fargus began by crushing linseed and rape from the Baltic in hydraulic presses. The oil was then used in a variety of industrial processes, including paint, varnish and linoleum, and the residue making 'C & F Super Cake' for animal food. In 1905 the firm was incorporated under the Companies Act 1862 as a private limited company, with 3 of James’s 7 sons taking an active role; William Fargus as the governing director, Edwin Fargus a director and the company secretary and Frederick Fargus as another director. In 1907 the Anglo-Egyptian Oil Mills and Refinery, Lime Street were purchased from the late George Hodge. James Fargus retired in 1905 and died in 1908. The company continued to develop and grow, and such was their success that it was not until 1912 did Chamber and Fargus report their first financial loss. In 1937, the mill suffered a devastating fire and had to largely rebuilt.

Frederick Fargus retired in 1946, and died in 1964. Edwin Fargus died in 1941, with his son, James Fargus, taking over as managing director in the same year. Owen Fargus, nephew to Edwin was also appointed to the board in 1941, although he went on to retire just a few years later, in 1948. In 1947 the company was converted into a public company with the members of the family still retaining a controlling interest. Later, owing to the development of seed crushing abroad and the lessening of trade in this country, the company was forced to operate on a smaller scale. The company was eventually taken over by the Swedish Karlshamns group in 1989.

Description:

Certificate of Incorporation; Articles of Association; Records relating to shares; Financial records; Company publicity, promotional leaflets and histories; Photographs; Correspondence and letters.