A BRIEF HISTORY OF JOHNSTON & JEFF LTD

In The Beginning:

Johnston & Jeff Ltd was founded in 1880, by George Gilchrist Johnston & George Hunter Jeff. They traded as agricultural seed, grain & pea merchants from premises at 61 High Street, Hull.
The present managing director, Richard Johnston, is the great-grandson of George Johnston, the business having remained family owned & run for four generations.

George G Johnston		Mrs & Mrs George Jeff

The two Georges next expanded into birdseed, & over the years the machining & cleaning of birdseed has become a major part of the business.
The growing company needed new premises & found them nearby at 52 High Street, the former home of a high street merchant who lived in a house at the front of the building, with warehousing at the back. Johnston & Jeff Ltd continued to use this property for over 100 years, until traffic-calming measures in the 1980's made it unsuitable for use as a working warehouse & the building was sold to a property company who have since let it fall into dis-repair.

The Early Years:

In 1915, George L Johnston, the elder son of George G Johnston, was taken into partnership.
George Jeff retired in November 1926, & died on the 9th of September 1936 aged 80.
At around this time, George G Johnston's other two sons Alan & Howard became partners, & the three sons carried on the business after his death on the 30th of June 1934, aged 84.
Another property, Park warehouse, was destroyed by fire in September 1935. To this day Johnston & Jeff Ltd manufacture 'Park' pigeon corn blend, named after it.

Having enjoyed a succesful time during the 1920's, the decline in agricultural prosperity between the wars adversly affected the firm. They carried on until the outbreak of war in 1939, which brought about an increase in business, particularly in the machining & marketing of blue & marrowfat threshed peas

The War Years:

Anyone interested in the history of Hull, will know the devastation caused to the city by bombing raids during WW2, with countless buildings damaged or destroyed. One of Johnston & Jeff Ltd's premises at 188 High Street, was no exception.
An incendiary attack on the city left the building partly ablaze. Unfortunately the low tide meant there was no water to pump from the River Hull to extinguish it. The fire took hold & gutted the property. During demolition, it was discovered that some of the windowsills were actually grave stones, possibly from nearby Holy Trinity church.

Bomb damage to Johnston & Jeff Ltd's premises at 188 High Street, Hull

A Fresh Start:

The second half of the century saw the firm going from strength to strength in their new premises at 63 High Street, built to replace those destroyed in the war.
George L Johnston retired on the 30th June 1946, & died on Christmas Day 1948.
Alan & Howard carried on until 1947, when Alan's son Ian was taken into partnership on his return from navel service in WW2. Under the leadership of 'Mr Ian', new ideas & technology were introduced to bring the company up to date.
The 1970's saw Johnston & Jeff Ltd pioneer the importation of bulk container shipments from Australia & New Zealand, & the seeds for the now hugely succesful pre-package service, were sown (with peanuts!)

				Photo Coming Soon
Alan G Johnston		Howard Johnston		Ian Johnston

Ian Johnston retired in 1999, & is enjoying spending time with his grandchildren; gardening; computing; & taking holidays with his wife Olive.
He continues to takes a back-seat interest in the company, & his extensive knowledge of grass-seed still proves invaluable.
His retirement was made easier by knowing that he was handing the reins over to his son Richard, the current managing director, whose enthusiastic, modern approach will ensure that Johnston & Jeff Ltd remain at the forefront of their field for many years to come.

Read more about Richard HERE