Sanderson+&+Murray

=Sanderson & Murray Limited=

Company Number: SC001091 Date of Incorporation: 25 February 1882 Contact Details: 39 St Vincent Place, Glasgow, G1 2QQ Operating Details: Dissolved 12 September 2000 Other names (if known): Function of Company*: Holding companies including head offices (at time of dissolution) (7415), clothing production (1822) Headquarters/Base of Operations Location: Galashiels Area of Operation: Borders- see history


 * Taken from Standard Industrial Classification 2003, as used by Companies House in 2010

Records
Held By: Heart of Hawick Heritage Hub, GB 1097 SC/S/6

Scope/type: Sanderson & Murray Ltd, Galashiels, records, 1789-1945, including: Correspondence, 1855-1915; Journal, 1882-1895; Ledger, 1895-1921; Balance book, 1872-1908; Legal documents, 1789-1915; Accounts,1854-1915; Papers relating to Buenos Aires Land purchase, 1882-1889; Correspondence and miscellaneous, 1852-1916, undated; Boiler house records, 1925-1945; Photographs, 1945, undated

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Company History
Sanderson & Murray Ltd was established in 1844, in Roxburgh Street, Galashiels by John Murray (1819-1892) and William Sanderson (d 1880). John Murray was born in Jedburgh and worked in the family carrier's business. In 1839 he was employed at Galashiels as the local agent for Machell & Co, carriers between Edinburgh, Liverpool and Manchester. At the same time he set up in business on his own, buying waste from Borders wool manufacturers and selling it to the cloth makers in Yorkshire. Murray married the sister of William Sanderson of Sanderson & Paterson, builders in Low Buckholmside, and he and his brother-in-law went into partnership. William Sanderson provided the capital, and Murray had the expertise in wool trading. In1856 the company bought land and established premises in Low Buckholmside, and began fellmongering (selling of sheep-skins). That same year John Murray made a buying trip to Hamburg with his nephew, John Sanderson, and, in 1857, when Sanderson was only 20, Murray sent him on a buying trip to Australia and New Zealand; making him a partner a year later. On his return to Australia in 1858 it was decided that he should settle there. In Australia he traded as John Sanderson & Co and eventually went on to become independent of the parent company; expanding and establishing branches in other countries.

In 1860 Sanderson and Murray rented premises in Alloa for tanning, later transferring this part of the business back to Galashiels. In 1862 John Sanderson returned for a visit to the Borders and plans were laid to invest the profits from the parent company into sheep-farming. A new venture was undertaken in 1863 when land was bought in New Zealand and placed under the management of a J W Turnbull. There were disastrous fires in 1873 and again in 1882 which destroyed most of the Galashiels buildings, but the company rebuilt and continued to expand their interests to the Continent, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania and to the South Americas. In 1870 they started the London firm of Sanderson, Murray & Co, Wool-merchants. William Sanderson died in 1880 and John Murray continued the business until his death in 1892.

In 1902 the Galashiels company became a separate limited company, concentrating on fellmongering and leather dressing, and the London branch became Sanderson, Murray & Elder, wool-brokers. By the early 20th century the Sanderson family had transferred their interests to the London firm and the Galashiels company was left under control of the Murray family, until they sold their interest to Lord Barnby in 1918. From 1895 onwards William Addison (d 1954) developed an interest in the company, eventually becoming Managing Director and gaining the controlling interest, until his death when his son, William Addison (d 1977) took over the post. During the First World War they produced sheepskin jackets for the Forces. They went on to produce Beaver Lamb, which was popular post-war for coats, and made slippers etc until sheepskin and suede coats became fashionable. Sanderson and Murray Ltd closed down in 1980. The company was a holding company disposing of company assets until 2000.

Moray McLaren, Sanderson & Murray Fellmongers and Wool Mongers 1844-1954 (Galashiels); Galashiels, A Modern History (Galashiels History Committee and Ettrick and Lauderdale District Council, 1983) [] NA9956 accessed 03/09/2008

Information supplied by the Heritage Hub at Heart of Hawick, reused with permission