Catalogue description Records of Supplies Division

Details of Division within WORK
Reference: Division within WORK
Title: Records of Supplies Division
Description:

Records concerning the Supplies Division's responsibility for the provision of furnishings and equipment for public buildings not on the civil list.

  • Supplies Division: Registered Files (SP Series): WORK 61; (SDA Series): WORK 62; (SX Series): WORK 63.
  • Supplies Division: Design Drawings, WORK 64
  • Supplies Division: Photographic Collection, WORK 65
  • Supplies Division: Publications, WORK 66
Date: 1920-1990
Related material:

For records of the Supplies Division of the Property Services Agency see

CM 9
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Creator:

Department of the Environment, Supplies Division, 1970-1972

Ministry of Public Building and Works, Supplies Division, 1962-1970

Ministry of Works and Buildings, Supplies Division, 1940-1942

Ministry of Works and Planning, Supplies Division, 1942-1943

Ministry of Works, Supplies Division, 1943-1962

Office of Works, Supplies Division, 1907-1940

Property Services Agency, Supplies Division, 1972-1984

The Crown Suppliers, 1984-1991

The Crown Suppliers, The Buying Agency, 1989-1991
Physical description: 6 series
Access conditions: Subject to 30 year closure unless otherwise stated
Immediate source of acquisition:

Department of the Environment , from 1990
Administrative / biographical background:

In 1828 the Office of Works was given responsibility for the furnishing of all public offices, the law courts and official residences, other than those on the civil list. In the twentieth century, the range of items supplied extended beyond furniture and office equipment, encompassing at various times such diverse requirements as fire-fighting equipment for the Auxiliary Fire Service in the Second World War, canteen equipment and ceremonial decorations. The division also acted as a central purchasing agency for the provisioning of government departments and for fuel supply, letting of related contracts and controlling related stores. It was also responsible for disposal of surplus stores.

The Supplies Division of the Office of Works and its successors passed to the Department of the Environment in 1970 and to the Property Services Agency (PSA) in 1972. The Supplies Division of the PSA operated as a trading fund from 1976 and in 1984 was renamed The Crown Suppliers. In 1989 The Buying Agency was set up as part of The Crown Suppliers, and in 1991 The Buying Agency replaced The Crown Suppliers.

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