Company director information

[ChrisWd]

Hi,

Does anyone know if it's possible to get UK company director information dating back to the 1920's/30's?  I am researching someone that I know would have been director of several companies and I'd like to find out the company names and area of business they traded in.

Any advice appreciated.

Regards,
Chris

[lizdb]

Companies House does have a website, I expect a Google will find it, but I don't know how far back the online records would go.

[ChrisWd]

Thanks.

I have looked at the Companies House website but it seems to be more geared up to providing company related services and information about existing or recently dissolved companies.  I have heard that their archive doesn't extend back very far.  Does anyone know if this is true?

Regards,
Chris

[avm228]

If the companies in question are likely to have been dissolved (other than recently), company records of that age - including in the case of each company its register of directors - will by now have been moved over to the National Archives.

For further information see www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/companies-and-businesses.htm, especially at 4.1. As you will see, by no means all files will have been preserved, and current status will depend in part upon whether the companies were private or public, and their respective dates of dissolution.

Such records as have been preserved will be arranged by company and not (to my knowledge) globally searchable by the name of a particular director.

[avm228]

Just to add: for those of my ancestors who have been company directors I have found relevant information, variously, at:

www.london-gazette.co.uk (free)

www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk (requires payment/subscription either directly or through Findmypast).

and on The Times Digital Archive (which may be available through your local library service).

[ChrisWd]

Many thanks for this information.

I have searched on the London Gazette website and not found anything significant.  The Times online archive is available through our local library service and can be accessed remotely using my library card number.  I will look into the British Newspaper Archive....have used it in the past, but not recently.

I will also pursue the TNA link.  Fortunately I know the name of the investment trust company that the person set up, so that will be a good starting point.

Regards,
Chris

[mshrmh]

Chris - some companies do pass their records on to local archives and museums (not always when they wind up) so searching the Access to Archives pages could find something:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/advanced-search.aspx?tab=1

You could also try the archives and museums in the appropriate local area - some have listings on business related holdings.

[ChrisWd]

Many thanks for your help.
Chris

[Mavals]

Hi Chris

Information I picked up from Twitter.
I understand that today, at the Guild of One Name Studies Conference, a guest speaker was from Companies House and that it has records of directors back to the 1800s. register/ access : http://companieshouse.gov.uk/toolstohelp/chdDirectinfo.shtml

No idea if it is of any use but I hope this helps