Chivers and Sons
of Histon, Cambridge. (1929)
of The Orchard Factory, Histon, Cambridge. (1947)
See also Chiver's Jellies
1806 The Chivers family settled as fruit farmers at Histon, in a district which has an historic association with fruit growing, for it is on record that an orchard was planted there as long ago as the seventh century, by the first Abbot of Ely. Their efforts met with success, and ultimately the time came when the quantity of fruit produced was so great that difficulty was experienced in marketing it, even though supplies were sent far afield by road and rail. The suggestion was then made of preserving the fruit on the spot where it was grown, and in 1873 the first boiling of jam took place in a small barn which still stands on the firm's estates.[1]
1873 A disused stable formed the original boiling room, and a barn constituted the warehouse. Within two years the stable and the barn proved much too small to meet the requirements of the rapidly proving trade, and land was acquired adjoining the railway station at Histon upon which a block of buildings was erected. In 1880 the buildings had been more than, doubled in size; and still further advance took place in 1894.[2]
1887 'A gold medal has been awarded to Messrs. S. Chivers and Sons for their whole fruit jams and improved home-made marmalade at the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition, Saltaire, 1887.'[3]
1889 Jellies were introduced, followed by marmalade, custard powder and lemon curd.[4]
1891 Partnership dissolved. '...the Partnership lately subsisting between us at Histon, in the county of Cambridge, in the trade or business of Jam Manufacturers and Wholesale Confectioners, was this day dissolved by mutual consent. As witness our hands this. 17th day of November, 1891. Stephen Chivers, Senior; William Chivers; John Chivers; Stephen Chivers, Junr.’[5]
1896 Charles Tibbit Lack was appointed the resident engineer and developed the canning machinery. He went on to design jam filling, fruit sorting can making and sterilisation equipment which helped transform Chivers into one of the world’s leading manufactures of preserves.
1901 The company was registered on 14 March, to acquire the business of jam manufacturers of 'S. Chivers and Sons'. [6]
1914 Incorporated as a Private Limited Company. Directors: John Chivers (Chairman and Managing Director) and Stephen Chivers. Specialities: The manufacture of Jams, Jellies, Marmalade, and Lemonade; also the packing of English Fruits in bottles and tins. Have extensive fruit farms at Histon, Impington, Haslingfield, Aldreth, Haddenham, Dry Drayton, and Lakenheath.[7]
1930s Chivers and Sons owned 1,500 a. in Histon and adjoining parishes, and another 4,500 a. elsewhere in Cambridgeshire, all run from a central estate office at Histon.[8]
1929 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Manufacturers of Chivers' Jams, Fruit Jellies and Marmalades, Canned Fruits, Fruit Salad, Chivers' Jellies, Jelly Creams, Mincemeat and Christmas Plum Puddings, Custard Powder, Lemon Curd, Pure Honey, Coffee Essence and other Goods. (Stand No. C.61) [9]
1939 There were over 3,000 full-time employees, with offices in East Anglia as well as additional factories in Montrose, Newry and Huntingdon, and the company owned almost 8,000 acres (32 km2) of farms.
1947 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Manufacturers of Jams, Jellies and Olde English Marmalade in jars sealed with Chivers' patent replaceable metal cover. Also Jelly Crystals, Baking Powder, Ground Coffee, Coffee Essence, Vegetables, Apple Juice, Mincemeat, Honey, Curt. (Earls Court, 1st Floor, Stand No. 589) [10]
1953 The Orchard Factory, Histon, Cambridge. Manufacturers Of Jams, Olde English Marmalade, Table Jellies, Jelly Crystals, Jelly Creams, Coffee, Custard Powder, Baking Powder, Canned Fruit, Canned Vegetables, Honey, Apple Juice, Blackcurrant Puree.[11]
1959 The factories and farms were sold to Schweppes.
1961 The family bought most of the farms back.
1964 Schweppes formed a new subsidiary Chivers-Hartley bringing together the various products of the Chivers and Hartleys brands[12]
1986 Acquired by Premier Foods who built a new factory
2011 the Chivers brand was sold to the Boyne Valley Group who still make a range of preserves under the Chivers name.[13]
The Histon factory was later sold to the Hain Daniels Group, the UK arm of the Hain Celestial Group, who offer a number of British table brands such as Frank Cooper’s Marmalade, Hartley’s Jam, Roses Marmalade and Gales Honey.[14]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1931 Institution of Mechanical Engineers: Visits to Works
- ↑ Eastern Daily Press - Wednesday 20 August 1902
- ↑ Cambridge Independent Press - Friday 13 January 1888
- ↑ Cambridge Historian
- ↑ The London Gazette Publication date: 20 November 1891 Issue: 26225 Page: 6187
- ↑ The Stock Exchange Year Book 1908
- ↑ 1914 Who's Who in Business: Company C
- ↑ British History on-line
- ↑ 1929 British Industries Fair p38
- ↑ 1947 British Industries Fair p60
- ↑ 1953 British Industries Fair: Company C
- ↑ The Times Dec. 19, 1963
- ↑ Yahoo Finance
- ↑ [1] Museum of Cambridge