Lawyers celebrate 225th birthday (From Wimbledon Guardian)

Wimbledon lawyers Gregsons celebrate 225th birthday

2:00pm Friday 8th February 2013 in News By Omar Oakes

A solicitors’ practice older than Australia will celebrate its 225th anniversary this year.

Gregsons, based in Tabor Grove, near Wimbledon town centre, was founded by Jesse Gregson in 1788, at a time when George III ruled Britain and the American War of Independence was still a recent memory.

Established in the City of London, the practice helped the prime minister, Sir Robert Peel, prepare the legislation laying the foundations for what has become the Metropolitan Police.

In 1887, Gregson’s great-grandson, Leonard Gregson became a partner and 14 years later was joined by Frederick W. Wareham – who sheltered the exiled Emile Zola at his Wimbledon home.

Wareham established a Wimbledon office in Alexandra Road, before moving in 1926 to St George’s Road and eventually in 1988, to St Christopher’s House in Tabor Road.

Michael Creamore, one of the two partners, trained with the company and described it as a “busy and thriving practice”.

He said: “It’s a very proud achievement to have lasted for so long and we’re extremely happy to have been part of Wimbledon for nearly a century.”