What happened to Solicitors Allan D Lemon and Watts, Salisbury?

[AngelaR]

I'm hoping one of my fellow RootsChatters will be able to help with this one!

Because of an ultra-tidy mother, I have almost no family papers passed down to me  Something that has survived is a set of distribution accounts for a family member who died in 1945. The contents of his estate went to his siblings, but some of the names look odd and I'd like to find if any correspondance on the estate still survives in any archives. The solicitors who drafted the accounts were-

 Allan D Lemon and Watts, 88 Crane Street, Salisbury

That address is now a bookshop, but I was thinking that, if the practice folded up or was bought out or whatever, their records should be somewhere. I've checked the Wiltshire Record Office catalogue on line with no joy so I thought that possibly some other firm took over the records. Does anyone know how to find that out?

I'm looking forward to some bright ideas as I seem to have run out 

Angela

[Redroger]

A long shot, it might be worthwhile looking for the name of a solicitor in this firm before 1945, and then try to find the same name in another local firm later on. Just might work.

[nigelp]

The 1995/6 Solicitors' Regional Directory has the firm of Lemon Felton at 86 Crane Street, Salisbury. John D. Felton is the senior partner of this firm at this date. Perhaps Allan D. Lemon was the founder of this firm.

The above firm appears to have become Lemon Line & Felton. A Google search still shows this firm in Salisbury and where you can find their phone number.

Nigel

The addresses for Lemon Line & Felton now appear to be Richard Griffiths & Co (Solicitors).

[AngelaR]

Thank you so much Redroger and Nigel for your extremely helpful suggestions. It never occurred to me to try and trace individual solicitors - I have the name of one as well! The 2 alternative leads for Lemon Line and Felton plus Richard Griffiths and co are excellent ideas as well.

Just shows what happens when people look at a problem differently...

I shall go off and follow these ideas and will report back as to what happens.

Thanks again

Angela

[Redroger]

Confident it will be successful Angela, At least with the solicitors. Survival of the papers is more chancey.

[AngelaR]

Yes, I'm sure the obvious answer to a storeroom full of paper is to shred it 

I've contacted Richard Griffiths and they were very kind but couldn't help. They took over the building from Lemon Line and Feltham, who went out of business, but didn't inherit any files. I imagine that records might have gone with one of the original partners to his new firm, but who knows!

I also contacted Wiltshire Record Office in case they'd been passed anything, but not so 

I wonder where next - Law Society? You don't half learn a lot doing family history research....

Thanks again for your ideas and interest

Angela

[nigelp]

Hi,

I have sent you a PM with some suggestions and contact names.

Nigel

[AngelaR]

Thanks so much Nigel 

I'm giving your suggestions a try.

Angela

[Redroger]

If the suggestions are not confidential, and Nigel has no objection, perhaps they are worth sharing?