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Parry & Company

Company History

Thomas Parry & Co.Thomas Parry of Welshpool arrived in Mardas in 1798, aged 20, to take over the post of Official Accountant for Madras. He later became the private secretary to the Governor of Madras. By 1792 he started a business, known as 'Thomas Parry & Co', shipping goods and produce to England, partly in partership with unknown individuals. In 1803 he purchased a property at the corner of the Esplanade and First Line Beach Road in Madras, which became known as Parry's Corner and was the long-time headquarters of the company. He withdrew from the business in 1814 but it continued retaining his name. He rejoined the company in 1818 but died of cholera in 1824. The business continued after his death and retained his name.
Parry, Dare & Co was the renamed company formed in 1829.
Parry & Company was the further renamed company established in 1839 .

Parry & Company

The company grew into one of India's largest Managing Agents and had offices in 16 towns in the Madras Presidency as well as Calcutta, Bombay and Rangoon. In 1917 they were represented in the Bombay Presidency by 'Killick, Nixon & Company'; by 'Steel Brothers & Co Ltd' in Rangoon, Burma; and 'Scott & Co' in Mauritius outside India. Their UK based company was 'Parry Murray & Co Ltd' .

Parry's Engineering Ltd

'Parry's Engineering Ltd' was initially a branch of 'Parry & Company' that opened in Calcutta in the early 1900's at 8 Lyons Range, later moving to 11 Clive Street. They also had an engineering workshop in Lower Circular Road known as the 'Vulcan Iron works'.

On the outbreak of the First World War the company 'Orenstein & Koppel' was passed by the 'Custodian of Enemy Property' over to 'Parry & Company' 'Orenstein & Koppel' had been represented in India by 'Parry & Company

Managing Agencies

'Parry & Company' were Managing Agent for a number companies, those identified are deatailed under the following headings:-

Sugar and Fertilizer Interests

'Parry & Company' had extensive interests in the sugar and fertilizer industries and had opened some of the earliest factories in each industry:-

• ‘Nellikuppam Sugar Factory’. Established in 1845. See separate page for more information . "Southern India: Its History, People, Commerce, and Industrial Resources" shows some photographs of the sugar factory, the confectionery plant and the jaggery godown plant all at Nellikuppam
• ‘Decan Sugar & Abraki Co Ltd’, with works about 9 miles from Cocnada. The factory can only be worked for 6 months of the year owing to the local supply of jaggery (cane sugar) being limited, but distillation of spirit goes on throughout the whole of the year.
• ‘Cane Crushing Plant’ erected at Anakapalle, at the cetnre of a large area devoted to sugar cane
• 'East India Distilleries and Sugar Factories Ltd', the owners of the KPM Sugar Factory. See separate page for more information

Shipping and Insurance

'Parry & Company' also had interests in shipping and insurance

• ‘British India Steam Navigation Co Ltd’ at Cuddalore .

Also Agents in Madras for :-

• ‘Natal Direct Line of Steamers’
• ‘Alliance Life Assurance Co Ltd’
• ‘English Scottish Law Life Assurance Corporation’
• ‘General Accident Assurance Corporation Ltd'
• ‘Merchants’ Marine Insurance Company’
• ‘Ocean Marine Insurance Company’
• ‘Royal Exchange Fire, Life & Marine Assurance Company’
• ‘Sun Fire Insurance Company’
• ‘New Zealand Insurance Company (Fire & Marine)’
• ‘North British & Mercantile Insurance Company'

Selling Agents Various

'Parry & Company' also represented a number of overseas companies. Those identified were :-

• ‘Aeromotor Company’ of Chicago
• ‘Ruberoid Co Ltd’ of Middlesex UK, Roofing materials.
• ‘Messrs Brunner, Mond & Co Ltd’ of Northwich, Cheshire, UK. Producers ofproduce soda ash, for the cotton industry.
• ‘North Western Cyanide Co Ltd’. Use not known

Selling Agents Railway Equipment

'Parry & Company'were also selling agents in the Madras Presidency, and in some instances all India, for numerous European companies at various times including:-

• ‘Andrew Barclay Sons & Co Ltd' of Kilmarnock UK. Locomotive Constructors
• ‘Railway Mine & Plantation Equipment Ltd' of Cheshire UK. A firm of agents for railway and other equipment.
• ‘Ransomes & Rapier' of Ipswich UK. Manufacturer of railway equipment and later cranes.
• ‘Orenstein & Koppel' a German light railway builder and supplier see separate page for more information

Railways

'Parry & Company' also had interests in railways:-

• ‘Kulasekharapatnam Tissainvillai Light Railway' was originally constructed to carry jaggery (cane sugar) for the sole use of 'Parry and Company', the Managing Agent the 'East India Distilleries and Sugar Factories Ltd', the owners of the KPM Sugar Factory, the 18 mile(29km) section from Tissianvillai to the factory at Kulasekharapatnam opened on 8 July 1915 and later extended see separate page for more information.
• ‘Tinnevelly-Tiruchendur Railway' was in use in 1926 which apparently had been completed as a private railway by 'Parry and Company". The line ran from Tiruchendur to Tissianvilai touching the port of Kulasekarapatnam, which has shipping connection with Colombo and Tuticorin. See separate page for more information

Other Interests

'Parry & Company'had other interests :-

• ‘New Maladabar Timber Yards and Saw Mills Ltd’ at Kallai near Calicut. The timber being obtained from the surrounding hills and sawn into scantlings, railway sleepers, and planks
• ‘Suphuric Acid Plant’ at Ranipet
• ‘Pottery Works’ at Ranipet in which jars are made for conveying the acid to all parts of India