Catalogue description Sir Herbert Charles Janes Archive

Papers of Sir H.C. Janes

Janes, Sir, Herbert Charles, 1884-c 1980, knight, of Luton, Bedfordshire

The Archive

Before 1936 Sir H.C. Janes' papers accumulated in no particular order but in that year his secretary started a series of annual files under two headings, "Personal Section" and "Church Activities". By contrast the political and business papers were arranged according to type.

In 1971-2 a catalogue was prepared by the historian Mr. D. Kennett, who amalgamated some of the files in the different annual sections. Many of the pre-1936 documents along with the title deeds, estate plans and printed matter were omitted from his catalogue. When full cataloguing commenced in May 1985 the shortcomings of the original 1936 filing system became obvious. In order to find material on a particular topic it was necessary to consult files scattered through the many annual sections. Consequently, it was decided to retain the main subject headings, i.e. "General and Personal Papers", "Church Activities", "Political Activities" and "Business Papers", but to amalgamate all the files relating to one topic or society.

An annotated copy of D. Kennett's catalogue is held with the master copy of the present catalogue at CRV 32.

Early life of Sir H.C. Janes

Herbert Charles Janes was born on 10th October 1884 at The Row, Great Gaddesden, Herts. son of Charles W. Janes, farm labourer and Sarah Janes, formerly Clayton. In 1887 the family moved to Luton where H.C. Janes attended Old Bedford Road School until he was twelve years old. On leaving school H.C. Janes was porter and delivery boy to, successively, H.E. Cocker, chemist, A.J. Anderson, photographer, J. Briggs and Co., hat ribbon manufacturer and Clay and Co. straw hat manufacturers.

The Luton Railway Mission was an important influence on H.C. Janes' early life. There he met Mrs Irons, a local Salvationist, whose question "Are you saved?" inspired him to become a devout Christian and a lifelong supporter of the Baptist church. H.C. Janes first met Arthur Cole, a local Baptist and jobbing builder, at the Railway Mission. In September 1905 Cole offered him a job as a clerk at 17s 6d a week.

H.C. Janes Ltd. builders and contractors

The firm which later became H.C. Janes Ltd was founded by Arthur Cole, but the exact date is uncertain. According to a report prepared by Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Co. solicitors in 1944 (JN352/1) the firm was then about sixty years old. However, it seems more likely that the firm was founded in the 1890s. A. Cole is listed as a private resident in the 1894 Kelly's directory, but in the commercial section of the 1898 edition there is the entry; "Arthur Cole, builder and carpenter & agent for English & foreign bees, 3, Edward St; workshops High Town Road".

Before 1914 A Cole was chiefly a jobbing builder, the only notable exception being a contract to build Limbury Baptist chapel in 1905-6. Around 1907 the decorating and plumbing side of the business was developed. During the First World War the firm built a new factory for Laporte Ltd. (built in 1915-6 and a second factory in 1919) in Conway Road, Luton and a foundry for T. Balmforth and Co. boiler makers, Pondwicks Road, Luton (built c.1916; this firm manufactured bomb casings during the war)

In 1920 the business became a limited company, Arthur Cole Ltd. (JN342-3) During the 1920s house-building became an increasingly important side of the business. Council housing estates were built by the firm at Houghton Regis, St. Ives and Berkhamstead in 1920-21. In 1925 Arthur Cole Ltd narrowly avoided bankruptcy when Halden Estates Co. of Strand, London defaulted on payments for houses built for them at Ickenham and Ruislip (JN348), but by April 1926 Arthur Cole Ltd had paid off its creditors. (JN349). In 1927 the firm became H.C. Janes Ltd when A. Cole retired.

From the late 1920s the firm was involved with increasingly large contracts for both individual buildings and housing estates (see JN483-489; JN483 includes a list of contracts undertaken, 1936-1941). Perhaps one of the most notable buildings was the Luton and Dunstable Hospital built in 1937-8.

In 1958 H.C. Janes Limited became a public company (JN356) with Sir H.C. Janes as Chairman of the Board until he retired in September 1962.

The firm was absorbed by Barratt Homes in the 1970s.

Political Activities - Luton Town Council

H.C. Janes unsuccessfully contested Dallow Ward, Luton as a Liberal in November 1935 against the Labour councillor W.G. Veals (JN303). In February 1942 he was elected to Wardown Ward by the Committee of the Council to fill a casual vacancy caused by Councillor Brooker accepting the office of Alderman (JN304). H.C. Janes successfully defended the seat in 1945, 1947 and 1951 and was elected Alderman in 1952. (JN305-7). He was Mayor of Luton during coronation year - from May 1953 to May 1954. In 1958 Sir H.C. Janes left Luton for Worthing and took no further part in the politics of the town.

Who Was Who. 1971 - 1980

JANES, Sir Herbert (Charles), Kt 1954; Founder and Chairman of H. C. Janes Ltd, Builders and Civil Engineers, retired from Chairmanship, July 1962; b 10 Oct. 1884; s of Charles Walter Janes; m 1st, 1911, Edith Brown, Luton; one s three d (and er s killed. RAF, 1943); 2nd, 1944, Hilda Horsfall, Bradford. Educ: Luton. Mem. Luton Borough Council, 1942-58; Mayor, 1953-54. Pres. Baptist Men's Movement, 1943; Pres. Mid-Herts Sunday Sch. Union, 1939-45; Pres. Luton and Dunstable Master Builders Assoc., 1945-46; Pres. Beds Union of Baptist and Congregational Churches, 1947-48; Chm. Baptist Missionary Soc., 1949-50; Treas. Baptist Commonwealth Soc., 1946-62. Pres., Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland, 1956; Founded: The Janes Trust (from which many charitable bequests have been made); Sir Herbert Janes Village for Old People at Luton, 1958; Green Hills Youth Rendezvous, Worthing, 1962; Green Hills Club for Old People Luton, 1963. Has travelled considerably. Recreations: golf, bridge, travel, cinephotography. Address: 74 Seabright, West Parade, Worthing.

[Died 21 June 1977.

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