Chemical manufacturer, set up in 1875. Its products included pure muriate of zinc, iron remover, sizing ingredients, Amazon rubber chemicals, Paton's soap economiser and woollen scourers. Grimshaw's remained in business until 1957.

The Great Central Railway (GCR) began its existence in 1837 as the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway authorised to build a railway between Manchester and Sheffield via Woodhead. In 1846 it took over the Manchester & Lincoln Union Railway, the Sheffield & Lincolnshire Junction Railway and the Sheffield & Lincolnshire Extension Railway and changed its name to the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway. It changed its name again in 1897 when it became known as the Great Central Railway Company. Until the building of the London Extension in 1893 its area of operations was east from Manchester to Sheffield and the south Yorkshire coalfields, and North Lincolnshire. It expanded westwards as a member of the Cheshire Lines Committee. As a result of its rivalry with the Great Northern Railway, it became a member of the Euston Square Confederacy (an anti-competitive conspiracy of the LNWR, LYR, East Lancashire and MR) from 1851 to 1857, when it settled its differences with GNR. The GCR expanded southwards into Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Its purpose was to collect coal traffic which was then forwarded to the GNR for delivery over the GNR’s system. However, the ambition of its chairman, Sir Edward Watkin, was to extend to London and beyond. The London Extension was completed in 1897. It ran from Annesley near Nottingham to Quainton Road, where it joined the Metropolitan Railway, and terminated in its new London terminus at Marylebone. The GCR subsequently built a new route jointly with the GWR via Aylesbury, Princes Risborough and High Wycombe to give it a second approach to Marylebone. Its main works were at Gorton in Greater Manchester. Sir Edward Watkin was appointed general manager in 1854 but resigned in 1862. He was chairman between 1864 to 1894. He was ambitious for the GCR and turned it from a provincial railway into a national one. Sir Sam Fay became general manager in 1902. J G Robinson became chief mechanical engineer in 1900. His 2-8-0 became the Railway Operating Department’s locomotive during the Great War. The GCR became part of the London & North Eastern Railway under Grouping in 1923. The London Extension and the lines through the Woodhead Tunnel have now been lifted.

Department of the British Government responsible for the collection of direct taxation, including income tax, NI contributions, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, corporation tax, petroleum revenue tax and stamp duty. Merged with HM Customs and Excise in 2005 to form HM Revenue and Customs.

The General Post Office was established in England in 1660 by Charles II. It grew to cover telecommunications as well as the postal system. The GPO was abolished in 1969 and the assets were transferred to The Post Office, changing it from a Department of State to a statutory corporation.

Accountancy firm based in Mosley Street, Manchester. Known to be active in 1926-1928.

Auctioneers and valuers based in Manchester, known to have been active 1921-1923.

Valuers and auctioneers based in Manchester. Known to have been active 1913-1923.

Solicitors firm based in Manchester, known to be active 1927-1931.

Manufacturer of dyestuffs, founded in Clayton, Manchester in 1876 by Charles Dreyfus. On 1 May 1911, the Society of Chemical Industry in Basle (later known as CIBA), took control of the company and in 1913 Charles Dreyfus resigned.

The Municipal Corporations Act of 1835 enabled towns to be granted a charter of incorporation after the inhabitants and householders had made an application to the Privy Council. The Charter of Incorporation was given to the town on the 23 October 1838 and allowed the six townships of Manchester, Cheetham, Hulme, Ardwick, Chorlton on Medlock and Beswick to become incorporate and provide the mechanism to set up the Borough of Manchester, made up of a Mayor, 16 aldermen and 48 councillors. In 1844 the council resolved by an Act of Parliament for the good governance, regulation and policing of the borough by purchase the manorial rights of the Manor of Manchester from the then Lord of the Manor, Sir Oswald Mosely. This was duly done and although the council had a greater control over the well-being and safety of its inhabitants it was still a town. Manchester did not achieve city status until 1853, only the second one to be granted since the Reformation.

Manchester was incorporated in 1838 under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 as the Corporation of Manchester or Manchester Corporation. Under the Local Government Act 1972 the council was reconstituted as a metropolitan borough council in 1974.

The North British Insurance company was established on 19 October 1809. The company obtained a royal charter in 1824, and in 1862, the company merged with the Mercantile Fire Insurance Company and became North British & Mercantile Insurance Company. The company was incorporated as a limited company on 1 November 1920 and became a subsidiary of the Commercial Union Assurance Company Ltd in 1959.

The Yorkshire Insurance Company was established in 1824 as the Yorkshire Fire and Life Insurance Company. On 27 May 1908, the company changed its name to the Yorkshire Insurance Company and was registered as a limited company on 3 June 1908. The company purchased its first fire engine in November 1824 tackled fires in York until the city corporation assumed responsibility for all fire fighting in 1876. The company was acquired by the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation Ltd in 1968.

Established in 1861 as the London and Lancashire Fire Insurance Company. In 1919 it acquired the Law Union and Rock Insurance Company Limited. In 1920 its name was changed to the London and Lancashire Insurance Company Limited. In 1961 it was acquired by, the Royal Insurance Company Limited.