Reference
Z1390
Title
Griffin of Leighton Buzzard and Stanbridge - Business and Family Archive
Admin/biog history
John Griffin was a farmer from Stanbridge. His father, also John, farmed Hill Top Farm in Billington, which he purchased in 1886. John junior was then tenant at Church Farm, which was sold in 1913 and he then moved as tenant to Old Farm. He decided to purchase the farm when it came up for auction in May 1921 but died a month after the purchase, of a bee sting in the neck. His widow Louisa was forced to sell the farm, the sale being completed in 1925 and the family moving to 8 Heath Road, Leighton Buzzard [see Z1390/2 - Griffin Family Papers].
Two of his sons, Ron [Ronald James] and Jack [Jack Austen], were interested in the still new field of wireless telegraphy ands had experimented with it whilst at the farm. Ron Griffin had worked at a firm called London and Brown in the High Street and, when the job came to an end, decided to open an electrical shop at 63 North Street in 1926 with Jack as Griffin Brothers. As soon as he left school the third brother, Bert [Hubert George], joined the business. In 1931 the firm leased 11 High Street as their new showroom, which then became their principal outlet, although the North Street premises continued to be used as well.
The firm became a limited company in the 1940s and later took over 13 High Street in addition to Number 11. A factory was established in Beaudesert as Griffin Brothers and Taylor just after World War Two, the latter being David Taylor who, with Bert Griffin, ran the electrical contracting side of the business. The business in Beaudesert was later taken over by Deritend Electrical, a Midlands firm but closed in 1969.
Ron Griffin died in 1966. Jack and Bert Griffin retired during the 1970s, the former dying in 1979 and the latter in 1986. Anderson Photographic moved into part of 11 High Street. The business eventually closed in 1984 unable to compete with much larger companies during a time of economic recession.
Level of description
fonds