WB/S4/1/1/7

Statutory Declaration of Stephen Jefferson Gordon of 16 Coleman Street, London, solicitor, partner in Lawrance, Messer & Company

13 Feb 1941

From: 1940 To: 1941

that: - German air raids of 29 Dec-1 Jan 1940/1 created many fires in London; - water appeared in basement of 16 Coleman Street in which was strongroom of firm which had a cill 3 inches high to protect from water, which it did successfully; - water cleared from basement by night of Friday, 3 Jan 1941; - on morning of Monday 6 Jan 1941 it was discovered that the water had returned, overfolwed the cill and soaked deed boxes on the lowest racks of the strongroom, the flood increased for several days until City Corporation found the water main damaged, indirectly, by enemy action; - there was no electricity supply to the building meaning electric pumps were unusable; - deed boxes removed as quickly as possible and, on advice from Lloyds Bank Limited and Waterlow & Sons Limited, the deeds were unpacked, hung up and dried by electric fan as soon as power was restired - sworn before Alfred Hurner, Commissioner for Oaths

item

Gordon, Stephen Jefferson,
Lawrance, Messer & Company,
Lloyds Bank Limited,
Waterlow & Sons Limited,
Hurner, Alfred

Messer & Company Lawrance, specific solicitors, air raids over UK, local flooding, electricity, Lloyds Bank Limited, Waterlow & Sons Limited, DEEDS, City of London Coleman Street