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MIBTRE HOUSE A Brief History
124 THE KING’S ROAD CHELSEA LONDON SW3 4TP
The International Tea Company’s Stores Ltd
The builders of Mitre House,The International Tea Company’s Stores Ltd, began life in 1878 as Kearley & Company. Its founder was Hudson Ewbanke Kearley (later Viscount Devonport), the son of a master builder.The first retail branch of the Company opened up in 1878 in Brentford.
Hudon Ewbanke Kearley was in business with E.Tetley & Sons, the well known tea merchants of Mincing Lane, and his Company became known as the International Tea Company. In 1895 the Inter- nationalTea Company was regis- tered as “The International Tea Company’s Stores Ltd”.
A copy of the 1933 drainage plans for Mitre House shows the architect Fred W. Shenton (FRIBA) and the owners of the building I.T.S. Properties Develop- ment Company.
Front elevation of Mitre House 20 March 1933 and Drainage Plans (opposite page) 1st, 2nd and 3rd floor plans 1933