Paint factory that was at 92 Church Road. Closed in 1964 when it the company was taken over by Donald Macpherson. Telephone number was MITcham 4444.

clip from 1954 aerial photo on Merton Memories, reference Mit_​Buildings_​57-2 and copyright London Borough of Merton

News Articles
From the Mitcham News & Mercury, 14th February, 1964, page 1

Macpherson’s take over Parson’s
FEARS FOR JOBS AT TWO FACTORIES
‘Redundancy is possible’

A THREAT of redundancy hangs over some employees of local paint firms Donald Macpherson and Thomas Parsons, it is revealed this week.

For on January 31 negotiations for Macphersons to take over Parsons were completed and now the redundancy threat is clear.

Manager Mr. C. J. Flynn said this week that redundancy was possible although the firm would take every consideration and do everything possible for their employees.

He said it was impossible at this stage to say how many people may be redundant.

In a statement the chairman. Mr. R. P. Chester. says: “We shall give every assistance to all potentially redundant staff in obtaining other employment which will include reasonable time off without loss of pay so that they may attend potential employers for interviews and so forth.”

Wherever possible, Mr Chester said, alternative employment will be offered at other Group factories and where necessary assistance will be given with expenses.

He added: “It is realised that without loyal and keen staff a company cannot succeed and we therefore hope that the thought which has been given to the position to each employee of Thos. Parsons will prompt their present employees to continue to serve the new company in the loyal and true way that they have served the old.

STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN

We regret the need to close these works and we are very concerned with the way in which this closure will affect some employees. However, we will do all that we can to ensure that the hardship to employees is as little as it can be.”

And in a statement to Parsons employees the chairman of the old company said some redundancy was inevitable.

He said the directors and shareholders of Parsons would have wished to retain the business within the Parsons family but the difficult trading conditions experienced over the past few years together with the greatly increased competition in the paint trade has made this impossible.

Parsons, which was founded in 1802, are providing money which will enable a special redundancy payment to be made to employees whose services are terminated.

They are also setting up a trust fund out of which it is intended to continue the payment of ex-gratia pensions to existing pensioners and also to make payments in due course to staff who have had long service with the company.

Our City Editor writes:

Terms of the take-over of Thomas Parsons and Sons by Donald Macpherson were that Thomas Parsons formed a new company to which they transferred all the paint business, goodwill and all necessary assets and liabilities of Parsons.

The net assets of this new company amount to £325,000.

Macpherson acquired all the assets of this new company in exchange for 427,984 ordinary stock units of 5s.

these new units will rank pari passu with the existing ordinary stock, except for the final dividend of 12 per cent, recently declared in respect of the year to October 31, 1963.

The bid was first announced on November 7, 1963.

From the Mitcham Advertiser
3rd June 1954

TRIP TO BOGNOR

A party of 31 pensioners, wives and widows from Messrs. Thomas Parsons, the Mitcham paint firm, went to Bognor on Saturday for their annual outing. The firm provided tea, chocolates and cigarettes. With them was Councillor E. E. Mount, Deputy Mayor of Mitcham, who is chairman of the works’ social committee.

From the Mitcham News & Mercury, 20th January 1961:

Mitcham’s Mayor, Coun, Mrs E. Baker, helps cut the cake at the party held by Thomas Parson’s paint factory, Church Road, Mitcham. The guests were retired employees.

From the Mitcham advertiser
30th November, 1950, page 5

150 YEARS OF PAINT-MAKING

Firm of world repute

Known all over the world for their paints, varnishes and colours, Messrs. Thomas Parsons and Sons. Ltd., of Church Road, Mitcham, will next year celebrate their 150 years of existence as a business. For the greater part of that time the firm have had their main factory in Mitcham, and the total number of employees is nearly 500.

Well equipped modern factories are also established in Dublin and Glasgow. In the firms service are 55 men whose years of labour exceed 1,760. One of them, Mr. W. H. Pantling, who has just completed 50 years at the Church Road factory, stepped into the limelight at the
firms first dance and cabaret held in the Baths Hall on Friday. He made a speech before the Mayor and Mayoress, the directors and about 300 fellow employees, who loudly applauded him.

RAISED £25,000

Mrs. George Parsons, director of the company since 1934, received the Mayor and Mayoress and the other guests, and presided throughout the evening. She is the only daughter of Sir Alfred and Lady Newton. The late Mr. George Parsons was born in Mitcham in 1864. He died this year aged 86. For years Mr. and Mrs. G. Parsons lived in London Road, Lower Mitcham, in a house adjoining the railway and now the Labour Hall. Both are remembered for their active
interest in the Parish Church.

Mr. G. Parsons was the second son of Thomas and Emily Parsons, and a grandson of the George Parsons who, in 1802, joined the firm of William Wood varnish manufacturers of Long Acre, London He was as educated at Croydon and in 1881 started work in the factory at Mitcham. On the death of his father in 1884 he became co-partner and owner of the business with his elder brother, Thomas.

During the first world war he raised over £25,000 in aid of the Fulham Homes for disabled ex-Service men by organising an exhibition of war models in the Parsons showrooms in Oxford Street, London.

Departmental heads present included Mr. O. C. Williams (secretary and general manager), and Mr. J. A. Downie (works manager).

Part of the story of the progress of this celebrated Mitcham firm was related by the Mayor (Aid. T. A. East) during an interval in the dance and cabaret programme. He congratulated the firm and Mr. Pantling.

The organising committee of the function were Mrs. I. Blake, Messrs. A. Marshall. (secretary and M.C.), and R. C. Sutton, and Coun. E. E. Mount, whose father, the late Coun. Harry Mount, was also with the firm for many years.

1937 ad from Flight Magazine

Text of ad:

PARSONS’

Enamels – Paints
and Varnishes
for
Aircraft
and aerodrome buildings
to British Standards
Institution and Air Ministry
specifications

THOS. PARSONS & SONS LTD.
Makers of varnishes & fine colours since 1802

315-317 Oxford Street, London, W.
Works: Mitcham, Surrey

Telephones:
Mayfair 0742 (six lines) 3647 (two lines)
Telegrams: “Varjap, Phone, London”

Members of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors

Mr Thomas Parsons, of Mitcham, and of Parsons and Sons, varnish manufacturers, 40, Long-acre, who died at the Laurele, Woodside, Wimbledon, on November 1st, aged 41, left personal estate of the net value of £19,600 8s. and £23,163 5s. 2d. gross.

Source: Surrey Mirror – Friday 08 February 1901 from the British Newspaper Archive (subscription required).

MITCHAM.

The will (dated April 6, 1871), of Mr. Thomas Parsons, late of No. 40, Long-acre, and of No. 6, Baron-Grove, Mitcham, varnish manufacturer, who died Oct. 18 last, has been proved by Mrs. Emily Parsons, the widow, the value of the personal estate in the United Kingdom amounting to over £34,000. The only persons benefited by the will are the testator’s wife and children.

Source: Surrey Mirror – Saturday 03 January 1885 from the British Newspaper Archive.

Might be related:
Norfolk Chronicle – Saturday 12 September 1778

JAMES PARSONS, at his MANUFACTORY, Stratford, near Bow Bridge, sells Tar and Turpentine, and makes Pitch, Rozin; Oil of Turpentine, Oil of Tar, Varnish of Pine, and Oil of Fir for mixing with White Lead. and has been many Years used his and has been many Years used in his Navy for paying Ships’ Sides and Masts : It is the best, cheapest and neatest Preparation for preserving from Decay all Timber Buildings, Gates, Rails, &c. &c. exposed to Weather; it preserves the Colour of the Timber, and new Work pay’d with it requires no other Paint. Iron Pallisades, &c. pay’d with Varnish of Pine, are prevented from Rust. One Gallon will pay 144 square feet. OIL of TAR is an effectual Remedy against the Fly and Scab in Sheep, and the Mange in Dogs: It is used for softening Rigging. OIL FIR mixes with White Lead and gives beautiful Gloss, it is an elegant Paint for the Inside of Houses, and the best Preservative for the Bottoms of Boats, or any thing else where a fine White is required. Varnish Paints of different Colours ready prepared.

The will of Mr. Thomas Parsons, late of No. 40, Long-acre, and at No. 6, Baron-grove, Mitcham, varnish manufacturer, was proved on the 3rd inst., the estate in the United Kingdom amounting to over £34,000.

Source: Cheltenham Chronicle – Tuesday 30 December 1884 from the British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)

Varnish, Paints and Cellulose Solutions

Source:
Borough of Mitcham List of Factories,
Town Clerk’s Department,
July 1963.
Available at Merton Heritage and Local Studies Centre at Morden Library.
Reference L2 (670) MIT