Ste46:
Although Henry Tate and Sons and Abraham Lyle and Sons amalgamated in 1921, and Silvertown and Plaistow Wharf refineries were less than a mile apart, when I worked out of there over 30 years ago as far as the staff were concerned Tates was Tates and Lyles was Lyles and ‘never the twain shall meet’!I understand that although both refineries were sold to American Sugar Refining in 2010, the name of Tate and Lyle has survived and somehow continues to prosper.
A history of T&L called ‘Sugar and all that’ was written in 1978 by Anthony Hugill and makes very interesting reading for those who may be interested in it. I believe it is still available from several sources on t’internet.
Steve
PS - you may get the impression that I enjoyed my ten years there: I did - it was a good, steady job run in the old-fashioned way where the customer was king. I was quite sad when the contract ended.
Surprisingly Henry Tate & Abraham Lyle never meet.
The refinery’s were sold on the understanding that they could only use the name on the products if they continued to make them.
As far as I know now the home market is very small and most refined is going for export (?)
A lot of people are unaware the the Tate Gallery was founded by Henry Tate using his own collection at the time.