A Ruffer and Sons

History

Founded by Baron Joseph Ruffer, a German merchant, in 1872 to support his family's involvement in the silk trade. By the turn of the century the bank had diversified into supporting farming and the wool trade in both French and Belgium Flanders and opened a branch in London to manage its cross Channel interests. Hit badly by losses during the First World War it was forced to seek a loan from the Bank of England and convert from a partnership to a limited company, with the bank as primary shareholder. Further losses during the 1930s, and the Second World War led to the company being liquidated in 1941, although it existed in legal limbo until 1964.