Claude Moss Leigh
Claude Moss Leigh (17 May 1888 – 19 January 1964) was a pioneer of social housing in the United Kingdom and the founder of MEPC plc, one of the United Kingdom's largest property companies.
Career[edit]
The son of London surveyor, Claude Leigh initially joined his father's business before venturing out on his own providing quality housing for working class people.[1]
Leigh was a pioneer of social housing who in 1929 established the Metropolitan Housing Corporation to provide rented accommodation in London.[1] By 1937 he was attracting attention because of the large number of blocks of residential accommodation he was buying up.[2]
In 1946, following the introduction of rent controls, Leigh focussed on commercial property and merged his business with several others to form the Metropolitan Estates & Property Corporation.[1] He expanded this business into one of the United Kingdom's largest property concerns.[1]
Leigh was also keen on horse racing and owned racehorses:[3] he acquired the famous racecourse, Star Kingdom, in 1949.[4]
He died in January 1964 at Montego Bay in Jamaica.[5]
Family[edit]
He was married three times - in 1913 to Ester Boss, in 1925 to Myrtle Johnson and in 1945 to Gay Laithwaite.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d MEPC plc at Funding Universe
- ^ Claude Leigh Management Hansard, 25 November 1937
- ^ Obituary: Michael Allen Daily Telegraph, 12 March 2009
- ^ Star Kingdom at Thoroughbred Heritage
- ^ a b Hanson, Michael, A Short History of MEPC, 1991
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