Reference
Z1463/5
Title
Records of William Simmons Ltd, Simmons Mill, Leighton Buzzard
Date free text
1876 - 1960
Production date
From: 1876 To: 1960
Admin/biog history
Frederick Simmons bought Leighton Mill (also known as Flemons Mill) in 1874. After his death it was run by his son William Simmons, who installed a new process of roller milling in 1880. Much of the property was destroyed by fire in 1911 and had to be rebuilt.
William Simmons died in 1929 and the business passed to his nephews, A. Buckmaster and F. Tooley. They continued to trade under his name until the 1950s when the name Snowwis was registered. Shortly afterwards they set up a new bakery plant and began producing bread and cakes for local shops. They were taken over by Rank Hovis McDougall Ltd in 1964 and the flour mill closed at the end of that year.
[See ' The Coming of a Town: The Story of Leighton Buzzard and Linslade' by R. V. Willis]
Archival history
These records were found in an outhouse of the old mill buildings and donated to the Leighton Buzzard and District Archaeological and Historical Society in 2011.
Level of description
sub-fonds
Persons/institution keyword
Keywords