A selection of printed material from the Robert Wood Collection. For more information see the note entitled 'The Robert Wood Collection' below.
Hartlepool Mechanics Institute, Catalogue of books 1848
More detail »A. Fernie, Steam Ship Furnisher and Stores Dealer, unused invoice.
More detail »A printed Notice from 1852 showing Coal prices being charged by local merchants Anthony Harris & Co.
More detail »A printed Notice (in French), from 1849, showing Coal prices being charged by local merchant Anthony Harris.
More detail »Anthony Harris, Memorandum for charter 1800s.
More detail »Anthony Harris, Rates of coal freights, 1800s.
More detail »Anthony Harris, blank receipts 1800s.
More detail »Apprentice Seaman Indenture Papers 1800s
More detail »Blank Account of Charges, Anthony Harris.
More detail »Blank Seaman's Advance Note.
More detail »Blank cheque from Anthony Harris, Coal Exporter.
More detail »Blank receipt, Corporation for Relief of Seamen 1840s. Taken from ship's company.
More detail »Cargo delivery paper 1860
More detail »An accident report form for the works.
More detail »Certificate of Health from Hartlepool Harbour.
More detail »Certificate of Health to enter Hartlepool Harbour.
More detail »Chit for Water, Dock Office, Hartlepool 1840s.
More detail »Custom House, Hartlepool, information regarding laden coal.
More detail »Customs blank receipt from the 1830s.
More detail »Piece-Work prices of rivetting from Denton, Gray & Co.
More detail »Dock Office, Hartlepool. Blank invoice.
More detail »E. Sellentin, Coal and Coke Exporter, advert for business 1871.
More detail »A table drawn up comparing the dates repairs promised by and the actual dates of delivery.
More detail »Headed notepaper from Middleton Ship Yard, West Hartlepool
More detail »A template for the estimation of repairs to shipping from Edward Withy & Co.
More detail »Entry and Cocket form (Customs) from Thos. C. Gibson & Co
More detail »F. Charleton Huntley & Co, Charter Party. Notice regarding ship's coal.
More detail »Francis Pounder, Boat Builder, Invoice
More detail »Geo. Booth, Ship and Anchor Smith, Headed paper.
More detail »Geo. Pyman & Co., opening of a Coaling Depot at Malta 1877.
More detail »George Blumer & Son, Timber Merchant, Headed paper
More detail »A printed Notice showing Coal Prices being charged by local merchants George Lockwood Junior - date unknown.
More detail »A letter written by George Lockwood, Junior, regarding coal prices.
More detail »George Smith, Marine Stores, blank invoice.
More detail »Gideon Smales & Son, Timber Merchants, Headed Paper.
More detail »Guthe, Murdoch & Co., Tons of coal on board for ships use.
More detail »Harbour Master's Notice to Remove Ships 1840s.
More detail »Harbour Master, blank Notice to Remove Timber.
More detail »Harrison & Singleton, Baltic Saw Mills, Appointment Card.
More detail »Hartlepool Association for the Recovery of Demurrage rules 1842.
More detail »Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company, Annual Accounts 1848.
More detail »Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company, Rates, Toll, Dues and Regulations.
More detail »Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company, Report of the Committee 1838.
More detail »Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company, Report of the Committee 1850.
More detail »Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company, Special General Meeting called 1848.
More detail »Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company, blank receipt 1840s.
More detail »Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company, blank water receipts.
More detail »Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company, letter regarding dividend 1849.
More detail »Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company, letter regarding memorial to Thomas Wood 1846.
More detail »Hartlepool Dock and Railway, Audit form 1840.
More detail »Hartlepool Dock and Railway, blank dividend form 1842.
More detail »Hartlepool Dock and Railway, blank dividend form 1844.
More detail »Hartlepool Dock and Railway, blank dividend form 1852.
More detail »Hartlepool Dock and Railway, blank dividend form 1852.
More detail »Hartlepool Dock and Railway, blank dividend form 1855.
More detail »Hartlepool Dock and Railway, use of proxy vote.
More detail »Hartlepool Extension and Headland Improvement. Letter concerning the extending the boundaries.
More detail »Hartlepool Literary, Scientific & Mechanical Institution, receipt of subscriptions, 1849
More detail »Hartlepool Literary, Scientific & Mechanical Institution, rules
More detail »Printed memo from the company J. Procter.
More detail »Movement order for goods.
More detail »Hartlepool Marine Insurance Association, Application for insurance 1850s.
More detail »Hartlepool Marine Insurance Association, Notice regarding goods carried on shipping.
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institute Building Fund 1960.
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institute, Poor Andrew's Lamentation. Although it does not actually mention the Mechanics Institute by name, this poem was obviously written regarding it's demise in 1868. This follows a special meeting to discuss the state of the club.
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institute, a special meeting 1868 to discuss the present critical state of the Institute.
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institute, arrangements for a bazaar 1865.
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institute, letter asking for donations 1860s.
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institute, letter asking for subscriptions 1865
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institute, list of member's names 1847.
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institute, list of member's names 1852.
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institute, more money required.
More detail »Hartlepool Mutual Marine Insurance Association, Blank Receipt.
More detail »Hartlepool Mutual Marine Insurance Association, Headed paper.
More detail »Hartlepool Mutual Marine Insurance Association, List of Ships 1877.
More detail »Hartlepool Mutual Marine Insurance Association, List of losses 1855.
More detail »Hartlepool Mutual Marine Insurance Association, Rules & Regulations 1875
More detail »Hartlepool Mutual Marine Insurance Association, Rules and Regulations 1853.
More detail »Hartlepool Pier and Port Bill, reply to the Commissioners of the Bill.
More detail »Watch list for bad weather including the manning of life-boats.
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commission, Contract for extension of Breakwater.
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commission, List of members 1882
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commission, annual inspection of Sea Works.
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commission, chart showing depths of water 1870s
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commission, extension of breakwater 1870s, blank invoice.
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commission, list of members 1881.
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commission, rules for Dredger staff
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commissioners. A statement of the receipts and payments for 1907.
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commissioners. A statement of the receipts and payments for 1867.
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commissioners. A statement of the receipts and payments for 1853.
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commissioners, blank Tender for Stores
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commissioners, Blank estimate form for the Breakwater.
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commissioners, Inspection of other harbours.
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commissioners, letter to the North Eastern Railway Company c1871.
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commissioners, report regarding a Gale in 1857.
More detail »Share certificate for the company.
More detail »Hartlepool Shipowners Society, notice of meeting, 1862.
More detail »Hartlepool Shipowners Society, notice of meeting 1862.
More detail »Hartlepool Shipowners Society, scale of wages 1854.
More detail »Huntley & Co., Ship Chandler, invoice.
More detail »Huntley & Co., Ship Chandler, unused invoice.
More detail »I.E. Groves, Memorandum for Charter. Relating to movement of coals.
More detail »Invoice, W.H. Scaife, Coal Fitter, 1871.
More detail »J. & T. Tiplady Brown, Timber Merchants, Headed paper.
More detail »J. Loveday, Ship Chandler, blank invoice.
More detail »J.H. Pounder & Co., Boat Builder, blank memorandum
More detail »James Rhodes & Co, Timber Merchants, Price List 1881
More detail »John & James Cockburn, Ship Wrights, Headed paper.
More detail »John Bell Jnr., Dealer in Marine Stores, headed paper.
More detail »John Cowley & Co., Blank Invoice.
More detail »John Meldrum, Sailmaker, headed paper.
More detail »John Richardson, Timber Merchant, Money Order for £100, 1829.
More detail »Jonathan Backhouse & Co., Blank Money Order.
More detail »Jos Hill & Son, Block Mast and Pump Makers, blank invoice.
More detail »Jos. Mellanby & Co., map of Hartlepool with instructions in French, 1840s.
More detail »Joseph Mellanby, Hartlepool Agency, 1842. Letter informing pepole that he is still acting as an agent.
More detail »Joseph Mellanby, blank invoice.
More detail »Letter of meeting to discuss 'Custom House Grievances' 1860. Obvously sent to a few companies.
More detail »Letter of thanks to the Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company from Mr W.M. Davison for a Testimonial.
More detail »Letter requesting payment from T.C. Gibson, 1851
More detail »Lindburg & Hornung, Memorandum for charter 1850s.
More detail »Printed company paper concerning movement of goods by rail.
More detail »Printed company paper concerning movement of sand from Hartlepool.
More detail »A printed Notice showing Coal Prices being charged by local merchants Matthewson and Clay - date unknown.
More detail »A printed Notice showing Coal Prices being charged by local merchants Matthewson and Clay - date unknown.
More detail »A printed Notice showing Coal Prices (in French), being charged by local merchants Matthewson and Clay - date unknown.
More detail »Meeting of ship owners, 1841 to set up a Society regarding the alteration in Timber Duties.
More detail »Meeting of ship owners 1853 regarding pilotage.
More detail »Meeting of ship owners 1859.
More detail »Meeting of ship owners and captains 1847. Wages for a London voyage not to exceed £5.
More detail »A template of a propeller shaft used in construction, repair.
More detail »Mutual Marine Insurance Association, Ships Insured February 1872.
More detail »Newburn Saw Mills, Blank Money Order.
More detail »Notice of increase in price of coals 1853
More detail »Notice of intention to load Goods, Coastwise.
More detail »Notice of intention to load Goods, FOREIGN.
More detail »Dock office, Hartlepool, notice of intention to weigh a wagon of coal.
More detail »Officer for Health, West Hartlepool, a ship isolation notice and an all clear notice.
More detail »Pape & Day, Timber Merchants, unused invoice.
More detail »Pearson Meldrum, Sailmaker & Ship Chandler, headed paper.
More detail »Pile, Spence & Co., Headed form
More detail »Pilot's Custom House Note.
More detail »Port of Hartlepool, Bill of Entry 1871.Refers to sleepers.
More detail »Port of Hartlepool, blank Manifest of a Cargo.
More detail »Port of Hartlepool, Notice of intention to load goods FOREIGN 1800s.
More detail »Price List, Theodor Martens & Co., 1848
More detail »A check list to be completed on shipping from R. Jobson & Co.
More detail »Headed paper from R. Jobson & Co., Middleton Works, Hartlepool.
More detail »R. Smith, Chains and Anchors, Headed paper.
More detail »R.T. Lindman, blank freight manifesto 1800s.
More detail »Report of Derelicts. Proforma for the Receiver of Droits of Admiralty.
More detail »A report to Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commissioners regarding a gale in October 1859.
More detail »A paper regarding the setting up of Richardsons, Denton, Duck & Co. Ltd.
More detail »An example of their indenture papers.
More detail »Invoice to John Procter for stationery.
More detail »Another invoice to John Procter for stationery.
More detail »A letter to the firm from their own Secretary dated 1865
More detail »Rowell and Richardson, unused Coal Invoice.
More detail »Scale for victualling merchant vessels at sea, 1844
More detail »Shipping Bill
More detail »Specification, Chaldrons of coal.
More detail »A letter, on headed paper, regarding the present prices of delivered iron.
More detail »T. Richardson & Sons, West Hartlepool Rolling Mills. A movement invoice for this company.
More detail »An invoice for movement of goods from Hartlepool to West Hartlepool.
More detail »T.C. Gibson & Co., blank invoice 1800's.
More detail »Taylor and Charlton, business dissolved, 1846.
More detail »Testemonial to Mr. Davison. Letter concering the testemonial.
More detail »The Hartlepool Port Sanitary Authority, a blank cheque.
More detail »Robert Wood was a West Hartlepool-based local historian who acquired a collection of local ephemera (posters, leaflets, etc.) in 1958. This came into Hartlepool Museums Service’s collections in 1977 after Robert Wood’s death. Along with the ephemera, there are other books that contain the results of some of Robert Wood’s research. He also passed on items to Hartlepool Reference Library, which are now in the Library’s collection.
He was a teacher by profession, becoming the headmaster of Rossmere Junior School, West Hartlepool, during the 1950s and 1960s, retiring in 1973.
Robert Wood collected the ephemera from Ord’s, a local printing firm. The firm had been storing all the paperwork from a 19th century printer, John Procter. Originally this had been stored in Mason’s printing works at old Hartlepool, (F. Mason took over the works after the deaths of both Procter and his son). Ord’s took over the firm from Mason. They had been ordered to remove it during the Second World War, because it was a fire hazard.
According to Robert Wood, the then owner of the printing works had taken all the paper out of the attic, and left it in the back street. Some people took away posters, to frame up and hang as decorative items. So the owner removed the remaining paper into a shed at the rear of the printing works, where it stayed until he had a conversation with Robert Wood. Mr Ord told Robert Wood he was welcome to take away all the old papers. By the time Wood rescued the collection, some of it was in a very bad state. However, the papers three or four layers down had been protected (the roof of the shed leaked) and there were still many fascinating items that had survived. Wood said he would take the collection off the printer’s hands, and from then on Robert Wood spent the rest of his life sorting through the enormous collection (about 40,000 items).
After Robert Wood’s death, the theatre posters were bought for a theatre and music hall museum in Sunderland. That project was short-lived, all the theatre posters are now in Newcastle Archives. All of the remaining collection, including all handwritten items, came to Hartlepool Museums. Many are on display in the Museum of Hartlepool.
More detail »Thomas C. Gibson & Co., blank invoice, 1840s.
More detail »Thomas Curry & Co., Prices of timber for delivery at Quebec 1845.
More detail »Thomas Day, Ship Chandler, prices
More detail »Thomas Day, Ship Chandler, unused invoice.
More detail »Thomas Walker & Co., Saw and Planing Mills, Price List.
More detail »Thos. C. Gibson, change of company name to Joshua Johnson & Co. 1844
More detail »A form from the master of a ship to customs informing them that his crew were authorised to collect goods from a bonded warehouse.
More detail »Papers regarding cargo.
More detail »Transire, Port of Hartlepool.
More detail »Blank customs form for the Port of Hartlepool.
More detail »The rules of the Unemployed Teacher's Fund of Public Elementary Teacher's Society.
More detail »Unknown company, Prices for sawing at Hartlepool.
More detail »W.H. Scaife, Coal Fitter, Invoice, 1871.
More detail »West Hartlepool Athenaeum, Notice of erection of building and subscriptions, c1851
More detail »Erection of West Hartlepool Athenaeum, letter requesting support 1851.
More detail »West Hartlepool Literary and Mechanics Institution, Purpose of the club 1852
More detail »West Hartlepool Literary and Mechanics Institution, Voting paper, 1857
More detail »West Hartlepool Literary and Mechanics Institution, members of the museum committee.
More detail »West Hartlepool Literary and Mechanics Institution, notice of AGM 1855
More detail »William Appleton & Co., Blank invoice.
More detail »Winspear & Taylor, Shipwrights & Blacksmiths, Headed paper.
More detail »Robert Wood was a native of West Hartlepool who lived there all his life except for his years in the Armed Forces during World War II. He was born in the Public Market in 1908 in a room which looked out on the Market Yard, so his interest in the history of the development of the town was by no means an academic one.
He attended Newburn and Church Square Schools before winning a scholarship to the Grammar School. After receiving his professional training at the City of Leeds College, his first appointment as a qualified teacher was to Jesmond Road School in 1929, where he stayed until 1940. He was Head Teacher of Ward Jackson School before he took charge of Rossmere Junior School from 1953 until his retirement in 1973. He was always interested in the history of the North-East in general and Teesside in particular, and frequently wrote, lectured and broadcast on these subjects.
More detail »