Leney's Financial Performance (1915-1925)

Post date: Nov 20, 2016 7:0:8 PM

The National Archives at Kew contain old Companies house files (ref BT 31/43324/46536) relating to Fredk. Leney and Sons Ltd. However, the only filed accounts I could find were balance sheets attached to returns for 1915 and 1925. These give a limited perspective of Leney's financial performance over this period. Given the downturn in alcohol consumption during WW1 (as a result of government measures) which is clearly reflected in Leney's key performance indicators, the question of what impact this had on the village arises: no indication of employment levels is available although we know that jobs had to be advertised outside the village; several people in the village held shares in the company but they were preference shares and this dividend seems to have been consistently paid; salary levels were boosted during the war (as were many salaries for those in public service; the company was very liquid reflecting its lack of further expansion and the disposal of the farm.

The two balance sheets are summarised and compared on the attached spreadsheet.