Cordes (Dos Works) Ltd, records 1835-1957 (mainly 1835-1908)
GB0218.D169, D372
GB0218.D169, D372
GB0218.D169, D372

Summary Information

Repository
Gwent Archives
Creator
Cordes (Dos Works) Ltd.
Title
Cordes (Dos Works) Ltd MSS
ID
GB0218.D169, D372
Date
1835-1957 (mainly 1835-1908)
Extent
0.015 Cubic Metres
General Physical Description note
To be supplied
Language
English

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Biographical/Historical note

J. J. Cordes and amp; Co. Ltd was a firm of nail manufacturers based in Newport, Monmouthshire, founded by James Jamieson Cordes (b. [1799]). Cordes was of Spanish and American descent, becoming a naturalized British citizen in 1853. He opened the Dos Works in Newport in about 1857, so named because it was the second works he established. J. J. Cordes & Co. Ltd went into liquidation in 1903. Its assets were taken over by Cordes (Dos) Works Ltd and the Dos Works remained open until 1961.

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Scope and Contents note

Records of Cordes (Dos Works) Ltd, 1835-1957, including deeds and related documents, 1835-1900, relating to properties in Newport, Malpas, and Bassaleg, Monmouthshire; business records, 1840-1908, including minutes, 1883-1899, management agreements, 1840-1853, and papers relating to the liquidation of J. J. Cordes & Co., 1903-1904; naturalisation papers of J. J. Cordes, 1844-1853; correspondence, 1847-1853, 1952-1956.

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Arrangement note

D169 arranged into the following: administration; management and development; property; general; personal and private; D372 arranged broadly chronologically.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 Gwent Archives

Conditions Governing Access note

Usual conditions apply

Conditions Governing Use note

Usual copyright regulations apply

Accruals note

Accruals are not expected

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

D372 deposited by Messrs Pennington & Son, 64 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2, 1962.

Appraisal note

All records have been retained

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Related Materials

Related Archival Materials note

A history of the company is in Gwent Record Office, Misc. MSS 2099.

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Controlled Access Headings

Subject(s)

  • Cordes (Dos Works) Ltd--Archives; Manufacturing industries--Wales--Newport;

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Other Finding Aids note

Hard copies of the catalogue are available at Gwent Record Office and the National Register of Archives.

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Collection Inventory

Administration 

 D169/27 Minute Book of Directors of Messrs. J.J. Cordes and Co. Ltd. Minutes of General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company and of Extraordinary General Meetings, 18 Oct 1883-20 Dec 1898. 18 Oct 1883-29 Aug 1899 

 D169/28 Copy Letter Book (Out) Mainly letters written by F.W. Raikes concerning plant, employment of girls, processes, workmen, Association of Nail Manufacturers, sale of works at Newport, formation of new company. 3 Mar 1885-29 Jan 1908 

 D169/39 Bills of Costs of Messrs. Colborne, Coulman and Lawrence in respect of: a) completion of Articles of Association 1903, b) Issue of further debentures 1904 and c) Inquiry into death of John Nelson, a workman 1904. 1903-1904 

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Management and Development 

 D169/3 Agreement (1) J.J. Cordes and Co. (2) Richard Michell. Michell to give his faithful and confidential services to J.J. Cordes and Co. and to receive wages therefore at the rate of 35/- a week, 6 working days of 10 hours a day, 6a.m. to 6 p.m., with allowances for overtime. Michell not to be bound by Agreement if wages not paid punctually. May be discharged if irregular in attendance or inattentive to his work. To remain in force for 10 years and a penalty of £1000 for breach of engagement. 7 Apr 1840 

 D169/4 Head of Agreement (Copy) between J.J. Cordes, H. Ewbank and John Edward Lee. Lee to become a partner for 14 years in the Newport Nail, Spike and Rivet concern conducted by J.J. Cordes and Co. To provide £4000 capital and receive 1/16th of the new profits (minimum £800). Lee to be entitled to retire in ill health on giving notice. Management of business at Newport to be under the control of the majority of the partners but until the majority of them shall be fit to make alterations the partnership to be carried on by Cordes and Lee. Original signed by Ewbank, Cordes and Lee. F.H. Mitchell concurring in the arrangement. 1 Jun 1841 

 D169/29 Book of Rules and Regulations Detailing Working hours, piece work, conduct, fines and forfeit money for boys and the duties etc., of the foreman mechanic, tenders and feeders, furnace mason, rod sorter, clerk of the yard, fireman, and list of fines. 14 Nov 1848 

 D169/6 Heads of Agreement between J.J. Cordes, F.H. Mitchell, J.E. Lee, T. Cordes and F.I. Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell to receive certain sums of money. A new partnership to be formed commencing on 1 June 1853 of J.J.Cordes, F.H. Mitchell, J.E. Lee, T. Cordes and F.I. Mitchell. (J.J. Cordes, F.H. Mitchell and J.E. Lee to have ¼ each, T. Cordes and F.I. Mitchell to have 1/8 each). The new firm to purchase the lease of the works at Newport and the old plant from F.H.Mitchell and Henry Ewbank. J.J. Cordes and J.E. Lee giving the time necessary for the effectual working of their departments to receive £500 per annum salaries. T. Cordes and F.I. Mitchell to receive £150 per annum salaries. New partners to provide £40,000 for floating capital etc. 1 Mar 1853 

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Property 

 D169/1 Lease for 90 years (Copy) (1) Sir Charles Morgan of Tredegar co. Mon. Bart. and Charles Morgan Robinson Morgan of Ruperra Castle co. Glam. Esq. (2) Henry Ewbank and James Jamieson Cordes of Idol Lane in City of London, Merchants. All that piece of land containing 4 acres 1 rood 2 perches exclusive of the road or way of 25 feet wide set out on the west side thereof, and also all that other piece of land adjoining, containing 5 acres 2 roods 16 perches also exclusive of the roadway and also two other pieces of land adjoining containing 3 acres 2 roods and 2 roods and 3 perches, all situate in the Borough of Newport co. Mon. and are now or late in occupation of Mr William Brewer and are bounded on the North and East by the Monmouthshire Canal and the Newport Gas Works on the South by gardens belonging to certain houses in Mill Street and on the West by the said road. Rent £108. 17s. per annum being at the rate of £9 per acre for the first two mentioned pieces of ground upon which it is intended to build and £5 an acre for the remainder on which it was not intended to build at that time but at an increased rent of £9 an acre should it be built upon. Ewbank and Cordes within two years are to erect a factory and workmens cottages at an expenses of at least £2,000. 5 Dec 1835 

 D169/2 Lease for 90 years. (1) The Company of the Monmouthshire Canal Navigation. (2) Henry Ewbank and James Jamieson Cordes of Idol Lane in the City of London, Merchants. All that triangular close of land situated near the town of Newport co. Mon. containing 13 perches bounded on the East by the Monmouthshire Canal and on all other parts by land of Sir Charles Morgan now leased to Ewbank and Cordes (as shown on a plan). Rent £2. 2s. per annum. 2 Nov 1836 

 D169/7 Schedule of Title Deeds and Documents relating to lands and premises in the parishes of Malpas, Newport (High Street, Mill Street and Market Street) and Bassaleg co. Mon. belonging to the Misses. Nocholas in Mortgage to Sir Thomas Phillips and Thomas Smith, Esq. 1776-1853 

 D169/8 Mortgage (1) Lucas Cordes of 12 Grays Inn Square, Esq. (2) Robert Cooke of 18 Warwick Street, Regent Street, Gent. £60, on security of one undivided third part in certain property, monies, estate, interest and effects to which Lucas Cordes is entitled by virtue of a Settlement of 1850. (See D169/5) 28 Apr 1855 

 D169/9 Mortgage (1) Lucas Cordes (2) Robert Cook £40, (together with a sum of £60 already secured) on certain monies, stocks, funds and premises comprised in another indenture (see D169/8). 13 Jun 1855 

 D169/10 Reassignment (1) Robert Cooke of 18 Warwick Street, Regent Street co. Middx., Esq. (2) Lucas Cordes of 12 Grays Inn Square co. Middx. Esq. £100 of security mentioned in D169/8. 27 Aug 1855 

 D169/11 Settlement (Attested Copy) (1) James Jamieson Cordes of the Woodlands co. Mon. Esq. (2) Mary Cordes his wife. (3) Sir Thomas Phillips of Inner Temple, London, Knight and Thomas Smith of 21 Hyde Park Square co. Middx. Esq. Loss of indenture of 28 October 1850. Term of Settlement the same as in D169/5. Together with Declaration dated 3 December 1855 of Lucas Cordes that he has done nothing to affect his share of the Settlement. 7 Sep 1855 

 D169/13 Mortgage (1) Lucas Cordes of 12 Grays Inn Square co. Middx. Gent, one of the sons of James Jamieson Cordes of Newport co. Mon. and Mary his wife. (2) John Lamp Wright of 1 Kings Road, Bedford Row co. Middx. Gent. (3) John Wright of the Middle Temple, Esq., Barrister-at-Law and Stephen Ayles of Ringwood co. Hants., Gent. £25 and £525. All that 1/3 share to which Lucas Cordes is entitled by virtue of Settlement of 1850 (D169/5) and £4649 Buckinghamshire Railway stock. 13 February 1869 Endorsed with Indenture of repayment of £550 between (1) Stephen Ayles and Marie Hope Cordes of Bath co. Som., widow and executrix of Lucas Cordes (Dated 22.6.1864) 13 Nov 1855 

 D169/14 Notice of Assignment (1) Lucas Cordes (2) Sir Thomas Phillips of the Inner Temple, London and Thomas Smith of 21 Hyde Park Square co. Middx. That Lucas Cordes had assigned his entitlement of the Settlement of 28 October 1850 (D169/5) as security to John Wright and Stephen Ayles for the sum of £550. 3 Dec 1855 

 D169/18 Contract for Sale and Purchase Acknowledging that James Jamieson Cordes has purchased Brynglas Mansion House and Estate (21 acres 2 roods 1 perch) situate in parish of Malpas for the sum of £6300. (Auction for estate of Mr James Brown) 27 May 1857 

 D169/19 Order of court of Quarter Sessions for stopping up so much of a footpath leading from Newport to Caerleon and Ponthir as passes through a lane or roadway belonging to James Jamieson Cordes Esq., at Brynglas in par. Malpas. 24 Jun 1859 

 D169/30 Bank Pass Book Messrs. Smith, Payne and Smiths in account with Thomas Cordes Esq. 1868-1874 

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General 

 D169/36 Copy of Monmouthshire Evening Post Newspaper containing an account of the Development of Messrs. Cordes (Dos Works) Ltd. 21 Jul 1914 

 D169/12 Assignment (1) Henry Ewbank of Idol Lane in City of London, Merchant and James Jamieson Cordes of Newport co. Mon., Merchant. (2) Francis Henry Mitchell of Upper Wimpole Street co. Middx., Esq., and John Edward Lee of Newport, Merchant. of a triangular piece of land leased from the Monmouthshire Canal Navigation Company as in D169/0002. 31 Oct 1855 

 D169/15 Letter from Charles M.R. Morgan to Messrs. J.J. Cordes and Co. declining to purchase a piece of land containing 2 roods 8½ perches, part of piece of land containing 5 acres 2 roods 16 perches and situate in the par. of Newport demised by his father and himself to Messrs. Ewbank and Cordes in 1835. 1 May 1856 

 D169/16 Consent (1) Sir Charles Morgan Robinson Morgan of Tredegar Park co. Mon. Bart. (2) The Newport (Monmouthshire) Gas Company. Reciting Lease of 25 November 1843 relating to premises at Mill Street Newport (Gas Works) and giving consent for pulling down various buildings to enable the road leading to the gas works to be widened. 7 Jul 1856 

 D169/17 Demise (1) Newport (Mon) Gas Company (2) James Jamieson Cordes of Borough of Newport, Merchant, Francis Henry Mitchell of Upper Wimpole Street co. Middx., Esq., and John Edward Lee, Thomas Cordes and Frank Johnstone Mitchell all of Newport, Merchants. (J.J. Cordes and Co.) £200. Free liberty and right of way for agents, workmen etc., to pass from the property of Messrs. J.J. Cordes and Co., over the new road proposed to be constructed by the Gas Company, 68 years. £10 per annum. Endorsed: 2 November 1894 Release by the Gas Company from the payment of rent on payment of £50 and the taking over of the road as a public highway by Newport Corporation. 6 Aug 1856 

 D169/31 Bundle of papers being mainly correspondence relating to the financial arrangements of the new agreement of 1853 but containing also accounts relating to the Rotary engine 1841-1847; Particulars of the accounts relating to the 30 h.p. No. 1 Rotary engine 1841-1852; statement of Balances to 31 May 1852. No. of items - 21. 1847-1853 

 D169/25 Agreement for Sale and Purchase. (1) J.J. Cordes and Co. Ltd., (2) John Paton of Pontypool co. Mon, Merchant. of goodwill and trademarks, all leasehold land, equipment etc., contracts and engagements for a sum of £20,000 except office furniture etc. 13 Jul 1903 

 D169/24 Schedule of Agreements, Contracts of Sales, Contracts of Purchases and Memoranda of Agreements etc., between J.J. Cordes and Co. Ltd. and others. 28 Aug 1903 

 D169/26 Assignment (Copy) (1) J.J.Cordes and Co. Ltd., (2) Robert Tait of 2 Clifton Place, Newport, Secretary. (3) John Paton of Pontypool co. Mon. Merchant. (4) Cordes (Dos Worls) Ltd. £20,000. All premises, interest and goodwill of J.J. Cordes and Co. Ltd., in the trade of nail, spike and rivet merchants carried on by them at the Dos Works, Newport, and the trade connection therewith and the sole and exclusive right to use their brands and trade-marks etc. 1 Oct 1903 

 D169/38 Bundle of Papers relating to the liquidation of J.J. Cordes and Co. Ltd., and including valuers reports, copies of London Gazette and Local Newspapers, liquidators accounts etc. 1903-1904 

 D169/20 Consent of Newport Gas Company that Messrs. J.J. Cordes and Co., shall be at liberty to build up to the boundary of their land and acknowledgment by Cordes and Co. that they have built a stable or other building against and upon the wall of the Gas Company (Plan). Endorsed. With an assignment of the above Consent from F.H. Mitchell, R.W. Hamilton, T. Cordes, J.E. Lee, F. J. Mitchell and E.A. Lee to T.Cordes, J.E. Lee, F.J. Mitchell and E.A. Lee dated 6 August 1883. 28 Jul 1876 

 D169/32 Plan of the Dos Works (in the Borough of Newport) and adjacent locality. Drawn by Messrs. William Graham Son and Hitchcox of Newport Mon. 20 May 1884 

 D169/21 Consent (Letter) of Henry John Davies for the boundary line of Messrs. Cordes & Co. Ltd., property on the West side to run in a straight line from the corner of the wall in the yard behind the Dos Cottages to the point where the wood fencing now commences. 19 Mar 1892 

 D169/22 (1) Great Western Railway Co. by Joseph Wilkinson their general manager and agent. (2) J.J. Cordes and Co. Ltd., of the Dos Works, Newport, by Francis Walter Raikes their general manager and agent. £1250. For laying down and constructing across the railway, canal and land the junctions and sidings with the necessary operational gear to connect the works of the Company with the railway. Tenants to remove existing apparatus. 20 Aug 1897 

 D169/23 Agreement (1) Great Western Railway Co. (2) J.J. Cordes and Co. Ltd., Dos Works, Newport. for the retention of the stonework projecting into the Monmouthshire Canal where an old bridge stood and for the construction of a movable gangway to span the canal to be used only on exceptional occasions such as holidays or when locomotives are not in steam so that the drawbridge is not usable. 30 Jan 1900 

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Personal and Private 

 D169/5 Assignment upon Trusts. (1) J.J. Cordes of Newport (2) Mary Cordes his wife. (3) Sir Thomas Phillips of the Inner Temple, London, Knight, and Thomas Smith of 32 Gloucester Square co. Middx. Esq. the property or patrimony to which Mary Cordes may be entitled by virtue of the wills of Jonathan and Lydia Lucas her parents. 28 Oct 1850 

 D169/0035 Bundle of Papers relating to the naturalization of John Jamieson Cordes. Including copy of the Act to amend the Laws relating to Aliens, 1844. Correspondence, Memorial to the Home Secretary. Declaration in support of Memorial, Declaration of Householders (Charles Octavius Swinnerton Morgan of the Friars, Newport and Thomas Pope, vicar of Christchurch, Newport, Frederick Justice of Belle Vue House, Newport and Henry John Davis of Newport, Solicitor) in support of Memorial, Certificate of Naturalization signed "Palmerston", 1853. J.J. Cordes was a native of the "Republic of North America", was 54 years old in 1853 and was a manufacturer employing upwards of 300 men and supporting a free school for 400 children. He has resided in the United Kingdom for 30 years. No. of items - 10. 1844-1853 

 D169/37 Notice of Sale Lucas Cordes to Thomas Smith of 21 Hyde Park Square co. Middx. Esq., and James Jamieson Cordes the elder of the Woodlands co. Mon. of the sale of his half share in the London, Brighton and South Coast Shores which they held as Trustees for himself and his brother (John Jamieson Cordes the younger of Caius College, Cambridge) to John Jamieson Cordes the elder. 29 Mar 1854 

 D169/33 Correspondence with the Board of Trade etc., relating to the history of the firm of Messrs. Cordes (Dos Works) Ltd. Including a copy of the South Wales News Newspaper of 23 Jun 1924, containing an account of the development of the firm. No. of items - 8. 1952-1956 

 D169/34 Cutting from South Wales Argus Newspaper relating to the employment at Cordes Dos Works of workmen from Maindee. 2 Oct 1957 

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