Claude Moss Leigh
Encyclopedia
Claude Moss Leigh 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.
surveyor, Claude Leigh initially joined his father's business before venturing out on his own providing quality housing for working class
people.
Leigh was a pioneer of social housing who in 1929 established the Metropolitan Housing Corporation to provide rented accommodation in London
. By 1937 he was attracting attention because of the large number of blocks of residential accommodation he was buying up.
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
. He expanded this business into one of the United Kingdom
's largest property concerns.
Leigh was also keen on horse racing and owned racehorses: he acquired the famous racecourse, Star Kingdom
, in 1949.
He died in January 1964 at Montego Bay
in Jamaica
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the founder of MEPC plc
MEPC plc
MEPC plc is a leading British-based property investment and development business. It is headquartered in London. It used to be listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index...
, one of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's largest property companies.
Career
The son of LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
surveyor, Claude Leigh initially joined his father's business before venturing out on his own providing quality housing for working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
people.
Leigh was a pioneer of social housing who in 1929 established the Metropolitan Housing Corporation to provide rented accommodation in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. By 1937 he was attracting attention because of the large number of blocks of residential accommodation he was buying up.
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
MEPC plc
MEPC plc is a leading British-based property investment and development business. It is headquartered in London. It used to be listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index...
. He expanded this business into one of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's largest property concerns.
Leigh was also keen on horse racing and owned racehorses: he acquired the famous racecourse, Star Kingdom
Star Kingdom
Star Kingdom was a Thoroughbred race horse bred in Ireland in 1946. Exported to Australia he was an outstanding sire, being the leading sire for five seasons, the leading sire of two-year-olds seven times as well as heading the broodmare sires' list three times.Foaled on 30 April 1946, Star...
, in 1949.
He died in January 1964 at Montego Bay
Montego Bay
Montego Bay is the capital of St. James Parish and the second largest city in Jamaica by area and the fourth by population .It is a tourist destination with duty free shopping, cruise line terminal and the beaches...
in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
.