Reference
Z1302
Title
Dunstable & District Chamber of Trade
Date free text
February 1934 - June 1996
Production date
From: 1933 To: 1996
Admin/biog history
The Dunstable and District Chamber of Trade was formed some time before March 1933 (the earliest surviving minute book, starting in February 1934, indicates its existence in at least the preceding year) and ceased as an organisation in the spring of 2008. It was affiliated to the National Chamber of Trade (NCT merged with The Association of British Chambers of Commerce in c. late 1992), and became an associate member of the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce at the start of 1994.
Scope and Content
The surviving correspondence is largely with officials within Dunstable Town Council and South Beds. District Council (especially the Planning Department and divisions concerned with the environment) and associated committees, as well as with the MP for Dunstable and the traders in the area.
Traffic and transport, parking, the cleanliness and appearance of the town, planning, rates and rents figure significantly among the topics, as well as Sunday Trading, late-night opening, Dunstable Market and other matters specific to times when national laws or local arrangements were under review.
The records supply something of an inside perspective on legislation and other matters affecting businesses in Dunstable and even nationally, and illustrates roles the Chamber played, or was perceived to play, in the business community and the town in general.
They also present the development, problems and interests of the town from the angle of the tradesmen, and offers sidelights on EEC, national and regional policies' effects on a locality; social and commercial trends; material culture and even tourism.
Related materials [at time of cataloguing]: Several dinner menus, etc., for the Chamber's annual dinner and dance from c. 1950s-1960s are in Z452/DM.
Exent
1.25 boxes
Archival history
The materials were in the possession of officers of the Dunstable Chamber of Trade until their deposit in July 2007. A measure of weeding has taken place, reducing the correspondence files by approximately 30%.
Level of description
fonds