A selection of printed material from the Robert Wood Collection. For more information see the note entitled 'The Robert Wood Collection' below.
The Commissioners of the Pier and Port of Hartlepool, require a lighkeeper for the Heugh Light.
More detail »A meeting of owners of property, 1849 regarding the erection of a wall around Victoria Dock.
More detail »Advert for the appointment of a Surveyor 1849.
More detail »All the stores from the wrecked schooner 'Autumn' for sale, by auction, 1849
More detail »An Epidemic Disease 1849. Advice regarding the avoidance of the disease.
More detail »Appeal for funds to build a lifeboat house in 1856.
More detail »Apprentices to the Sea Service, applications required.
More detail »The new ship Caluria was bound from Sunderland for the East Indies (Bombay) with a cargo of coal. Less than 24 hours into her first trip she stranded on Middleton Beach during a storm in December 1854. All efforts to refloat the vessel were in vain and she was auctioned off in January 1855.
£9 & 2 shillings was distributed among the crew of the Hartlepool life boat, Mary Ann, who rescued the crew of the Caluria.
More detail »Ballast Discharging. Notice regarding the dues for such.
More detail »Ballast Discharging, 1853, charge to be incurred.
More detail »Ballast Discharging, 1854, charges to be incurred.
More detail »Ballast to be unloaded free of charge 1871
More detail »Borough of Hartlepool - Canine Madness (Rabies). Notice regarding keeping dogs locked up and the punishment for disobeying the order.
More detail »Borough of Hartlepool - Cattle Plague. A notice regarding the movement of animals.
More detail »Brig for sale by public auction, 1849, 'Sythe'
More detail »Brig for sale 1850, 'Rainbow'
More detail »Brig for sale 1854, 'Rosetta'
More detail »Brig for sale by public auction 1857, 'Sarah & Ann'
More detail »Brig for sale by public auction, 1858, 'Emma'
More detail »British & Foreign Sailor's Society, notice regarding a meeting to be held in 1841 in aid of the Society
More detail »British and Foreign Sailor's Society, annual public meeting to be held in the Wesleyan Chapel.
More detail »Bye Laws relating to Hartlepool Ferry 1851.
More detail »Bye Laws relating to the Ferry 1851.
More detail »Cancellation of sale, hull and materials of the schooner 'Jubilee' 1857
More detail »Cancellation of trip to Scarborough, now going to Sunderland. Date unknown
More detail »Caution - Public Notice thanking Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company for not prosecuting Thos. Harrison for stealing wood.
More detail »Cheap trip to Newcastle 1854.
More detail »Cholera - a Warning and Entreaty. A letter regarding the treatment and prevention of Cholera.
More detail »Constant employment for seamen, 1856
More detail »Contagious Diseases Animals Act 1869. Areas of West Hartlepool Docks declared infected.
More detail »Damaged ship's stores for sale by auction, 1849, 'Mary Hudson'
More detail »Daring Robbery, £5 reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of an offender.
More detail »Donkey Engine to be sold by public auction 1882.
More detail »Drying of nets on the Town Moor 1870
More detail »Estimates wanted for the salvage of the brig Cruiser 1850.
More detail »Estimates wanted for the salvage of two stranded vessels, Canada & Tweed.
More detail »Excursion to Sunderland & Shields 1850.
More detail »Falsehood Exposed and Impudence Chastised. To do with a brass band.
More detail »Fishing boat for sail by public auction, 1860, 'Experiment'
More detail »Five Pounds Reward given for information leading to the conviction of offenders who pulled up some posts.
More detail »Notice to all vessels proceeding to French Ports.
More detail »Grand Concert in the Temperance Hall on 24th Novenber 1875 on behalf of the Hartlepool Branch of the Port of Hull Society's Sailor's Orphan Home.
More detail »Grand Pleasure Excursion to Sunderland, date not known
More detail »Harbour of Refuge Bill, meeting called 1855.
More detail »Hartlepool & District Teacher's Association Meeting Agendas, 1891 - 1893.
More detail »Hartlepool Commissioners, Notice regarding the dumping of ballast, etc. 1835
More detail »Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company, additional bye laws 1845.
More detail »Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company, notice regarding Harbour Dues on Steam Vessels 1839.
More detail »Hartlepool Ferry, application sfor employment notice, 1853.
More detail »Hartlepool Life Preserving Society advertising an exhibition in 1843
More detail »Hartlepool Literary & Mechanics Institute, Ball in aid of funds 1852 in the Assembly Rooms, Athenaeum.
More detail »Hartlepool Literary, Scientific and Mechanical Institution, a Grand Soiree, year unknown.
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institute, a special meeting 1868 to discuss the present critical state of the Institute.
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institute, auction of newspapers 1866.
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institute, lecture by Elihu Burritt 1864
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institute, lecture by George Linaeus Banks 1851.
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institute, lecture by Rev. H. Jones 1858.
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institute, lecture on Education by Mr. Harrison 1841.
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institute, lecture on the use of science 1841.
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institute, public tea party and soiree 1853.
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institute, purchase of books 1860
More detail »Hartlepool Mechanics Institution, Trip to Middlesbro' Polytechnic Exhibition by steamer, year unknown.
More detail »Hartlepool Pier and Port Commission, Notice of meeting to elect two Shipowner Commissioners 1853.
More detail »Hartlepool Port & Harbour Act 1855. A public meeting to elect The Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commissioners 1860.
More detail »Hartlepool Port & Harbour Act 1855, offences under this Act.
More detail »Hartlepool Port & Harbour Act 1855 & 1869. Notice of a register of Importers and Exporters.
More detail »Hartlepool Port & Harbour Act 1855 & 1869. Notice of a register of Importers and Exporters.
More detail »Hartlepool Port & Harbour Act 1855, an adjourned meeting 1858.
More detail »Hartlepool Port & Harbour Act 1855, election of Shipowner Commissioners.
More detail »Hartlepool Port & Pier, Extract from Bill regarding the payment of duties 1837.
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commission, Notice as to payment of duty 1869.
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commission, Schedule of Rates or Tolls 1869.
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commissioners, Tender for the removal of two wrecks.
More detail »Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commissioners, notice regarding anchoring 1869
More detail »Hartlepool Shipowners Society, notice of meeting 1862.
More detail »Notice informing ships masters that the Port of Hartlepool had bought two steam boats to assist ships in and out of the port and the charge to be made for the use of them.
More detail »Hartlepool Working Men's Literary & Reading Room 1857. Evening classes to re-commence
More detail »Hartlepool and District Natural History Society trip to Saltburn 1878.
More detail »Herring Boat for sale by public auction, 1848, 'Three Brothers'
More detail »Herring Boat for sale by public auction, 1880, 'Hendersons'
More detail »Herring Fishing Boat for sale by public auction, 1841, 'Two Brothers'
More detail »Hull and Stores of wrecked barque 'British Banner' for sale, by auction, 1867
More detail »Hull and Stores of wrecked sloop 'Lochiel' for sale by auction 1841
More detail »Hull and materials from the brig 'Nimrod' for sale by auction 1849
More detail »Hull and materials from the brig 'Symmetry' for sale, by auction, 1847
More detail »Hull of the Brig 'Caluria' for sale by public auction, 1855
More detail »Hull of the Brig 'Deptford' for sale by public auction, 1854
More detail »Hull of the Brig 'Docter Daniel' for sale by auction, 1856
More detail »Hull of the Brig 'Emma' for sale by public auction, 1849
More detail »Hull of the Brig 'Robert & Mary' for sale 1874 by public auction.
More detail »Hull of the Danish Sloop 'Anna Christina' for sale by public auction, 1853
More detail »Hull, stores and materials from the 'Celia' for sale by auction, 1844
More detail »Hull, stores and materials from the 'Seenymphe' for sale by auction, 1843
More detail »Inhabitant Householder nuisances 1849. A notice from the Common Council regarding this matter.
More detail »Inspector of Nuisances - Disposal of House Refuse 1865. Notice of prosecution.
More detail »J.P. Denton & Co. offering a five pounds reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of a person who cut a towline on a newly launched boat.
More detail »Jno Joss, Ship Chandler, Crockery Ware for sale.
More detail »John Pile, Shipbuilder. Sawyers wanted.
More detail »Ladies Linen League. Grand Garden Fete in the Hospital Grounds. To take place on 13th July 1929.
More detail »Launch of a new Lifeboat 1878
More detail »Lifeboat Sermon, 1843
More detail »A meeting called to discuss the erection of a Lighthouse on the Hartlepool Heugh, 1844.
More detail »Lottery to be drawn for a mahogany built boat at the Union Hotel. Tickets from Mr Burnett, High Street, Hartlepool.
More detail »Materials from the wrecked brig 'George and Eleanor' for sale by auction. Year not known.
More detail »Mechanics Institute, auction of newspapers 1800s.
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 »Messers Parkin & Co. offering a five guineas rewards for information leading to the apprehension of a person who thrMessers Parkin & Coew a stone through their window.
More detail »Missions to Seamen Society 1875, Social evening at the Athenaeum
More detail »Missions to Seamen Society 1875, Sunday night services in the Athenaeum.
More detail »Notice as to free navigation between England and Ports of Russia 1856.
More detail »Notice of a Sermon o be held on board of vessels lying in the Harbour.
More detail »Notice regarding Hydrophobia (Rabies). All stray dogs to be seized vy the Police.
More detail »Notice regarding the seizure of dogs.
More detail »Notice regarding loading of ships.
More detail »Notice regarding pits for ashes, chips and sweepings.
More detail »Notice regarding salvage from a lost vessel.
More detail »Notice to Mariners, Hartlepool Harbour Light.
More detail »Notice to Mariners, Hartlepool Harbour Lights.
More detail »Notice to Mariners, Hartlepool Harbour Lights.
More detail »Notice to Mariners, Hartlepool Harbour Lights 1840
More detail »Notice to Masters of Danish Vessels from the Danish Consul General 1853.
More detail »Notice to Ship's Captains regarding one of the crew to take the Ship on Turn.
More detail »Nuisance Removal Committee - Seaton Carew. Notice regarding Night Soil from Ash Pits
More detail »Orations by Henry Vincent, Esq., in the Town Hall, 1853.
More detail »Parish of Seaton Carew - Nuisance's Removal Act 1855. Notice regarding problem housing in Seaton Carew.
More detail »Part of the bottom of the brig X.L. for sale by public auction, 1843
More detail »Pleasure Boat for sale by public auction, 1842, 'Phantom'
More detail »Pleasure Yacht for sale by public auction, 1848, 'Ximo'
More detail »Pleasure trip to Newcastle & Shields 1852.
More detail »Pleasure trip to North Shields, 1847, aboard the Powerful.
More detail »Pleasure trip to Redcar 1851.
More detail »Pleasure trip to Sunderland 1847
More detail »Pleasure trip to Tynemouth, 1847 aboard the Prince Albert.
More detail »Pleasure trip to Whitby 1855
More detail »Polling papers for Election of Town Improvement Commissioners 1877
More detail »Port & Harbour of Hartlepool. Notice regarding mooring of vessels 1874.
More detail »Port of Hartlepool, public meeting 1850 regarding a bill to be introduced to Parliament.
More detail »Port of Hartlepool, public notice regarding the dumping of rubbish 1871.
More detail »Port of Hartlepool, tenders required for repairs to a jetty 1856.
More detail »Port of Hartlepool, tenders required for repairs to a jetty 1857.
More detail »Postponement of Lecture on coal, 1855
More detail »Public Meeting 1842 to procure the Privileges of a Port for this Harbour.
More detail »Public Meeting 1848 to discuss Navigation Laws.
More detail »Public Meeting, 1853
More detail »Public Meeting Called regarding Hartlepool Bay 1850.
More detail »Public Meeting Called regarding making Hartlepool a Harbour of Refuge 1855.
More detail »Public Notice, 1848 - Cholera. Notice regarding the cleaning up and removal of material that might help the spread of the disease.
More detail »Raffle of the yacht 'La Sylphide' at the Union Hotel, Hartlepool. Subscriptions received by Mr Watson, Union Hotel or Mr Melanby, Ship Broker.
More detail »Removal of Cobles, Nets, etc., 1842. Notice form the council.
More detail »A poster describing how to try and bring a drowned person back to life.
More detail »Another poster regarding bringing a drowned person back to life.
More detail »Reward offered for a piece of American Pine Timber.
More detail »A public notice regarding rocket pratice in 1843.
More detail »Royal Humane Society, recovering persons apparently drowned or dead.
More detail »Notififcation of two sermons ny the Rev. G. Warne in aid of the Orphan Institution 1838.
More detail »A public notice advertising a Sailor's Tea in The Temerance Hall, Lumley Street on February 23rd 1875 in aid of The Home for Sailor's Orphans, Hull where 220 children have found happy asylum including 28 from Hartlepool.
More detail »Sale, by auction, of Materials and Stores saved from the schooner 'Gazelle' 1842.
More detail »Sale, by auction, of ship's stores saved from the 'Broedertrouw' 1852
More detail »Sale of wreck and unclaimed goods, by auction, 1849
More detail »Schooner for sale 1851, 'Ruby'
More detail »Schooner for sale 1857, 'Ruby'.
More detail »Poster for Science Lectures fo the People at the Temerance Hall, Hartlepool. Arranged by Robert Edger, Honorary Secretary, University Extension Committee. Year not known.
More detail »Seaton Carew - Nuisance. Minutes of meeting concerning nuisances.
More detail »Ship for sale 1848, 'Grace'.
More detail »Ship for sale 1853, 'Millert'
More detail »Ship's Timber from the schooner 'Gazelle' for sale, by auction, 1842
More detail »Ship's Timber from the wreck of the brig 'Alfred' for saleby auction, 1836
More detail »Ship's Timber from the wrecks of the 'Fanny' & 'Mitchell' for sale, by auction, 1835
More detail »Ships for sale following the dissolution of the Hartlepool and Durham Commercial Shipping Company.
More detail »Sloop for sale 1838.
More detail »Steam Boat for sale by public auction, 1840, 'Braddyll'
More detail »Stockton Union - Gratuitous Vaccination. Notice of vaccinations against Cow Pox and Small Pox in Hartlepool.
More detail »Sunderland Sailor's Society, public meeting to be held in 1843 to form a Hartlepool Branch.
More detail »Take Notice -Hartlepool Quadrille Band denying any involvement in a planned trip 1847.
More detail »Temperance Pleasure Trip to Sunderland Park 1859.
More detail »Tenders required for construction of a road on the West side of the Town Moor 1870.
More detail »Tenders required for construction of the sea wall 1852.
More detail »Tenders wanted for a Life Boat House, 1851.
More detail »Tenders wanted for removal of property on the Fish Sands.
More detail »Tenders wanted for the refloating of a stranded vessel.
More detail »Tenders wanted for the refloating of a stranded vessel, Hardwicke, 1852.
More detail »Tenders wanted for the refloating of a stranded vessel, Neptune, 1855.
More detail »Testemonial, Mr. James Leary. A public Notice regarding Mr Leary's departure from the Excise in 1851.
More detail »The Commissioners of the Port and Pier, notice The Commissioners of the Port and Pier, notice regarding the removal of vessels 1841regarding the removal of vessels 1841.
More detail »The Perils of Seamen Afloat and Ashore, an addres to be given by the Reverend Boyer in 1875. Organised by the Missions to Seamen Society.
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 »The Rural Sanitary Authority of the Hartlepool Union - Notice regarding the disposal of Slops and such.
More detail »To Cow-Keepers and others. Notice concerning grazing on the Town Moor.
More detail »To the Constables of the Township of Hartlepool 1846. Notice regarding the seizure and execution of stray dogs.
More detail »Trip to Huntcliffe Foot 1841 - Stockton Amateur Band.
More detail »Trip to Newcastle Races 1847
More detail »Trip to Sunderland 1842
More detail »Trip to Whitby 1841.
More detail »West Hartlepool Athenaeum, foundation ceremonial public dinner, 1851.
More detail »West Hartlepool Athenaeum, request for tenders for the building work, 1851
More detail »West Hartlepool Extension & Improvement Act 1870, election poster, Chas. T. Casebourne.
More detail »West Hartlepool Extension & Improvement Act 1870, election poster, Geo. Stephenson.
More detail »West Hartlepool Harbour & Railway, cancellation of trip 1855.
More detail »West Hartlepool Improvement Act 1854, election poster, John Pile.
More detail »West Hartlepool Improvement Act 1854, election poster, John Pile.
More detail »West Hartlepool Improvement Act 1854, election poster, T.R. Liverseed
More detail »West Hartlepool Improvement Act 1854, making of a rate.
More detail »West Hartlepool Improvement Act 1854, regulations for Slaughter Houses.
More detail »West Hartlepool Improvement Act 1854, tenders required for building work.
More detail »West Hartlepool Improvement Act 1854, tenders wanted for drainage works.
More detail »West Hartlepool Improvement Act, appointment of Surveyor and Inspector of Nuisances.
More detail »West Hartlepool Literary and Mechanics Institution, Evening Classes, 1855
More detail »West Hartlepool Literary and Mechanics Institution, Soiree, 1855.
More detail »West Hartlepool Literary and Mechanics Institution, Three Lectures, 1853
More detail »West Hartlepool Literary and Mechanics Institution, Three Lectures, 1853
More detail »West Hartlepool Literary and Mechanics Institution, a Fancy Bazaar in aid of club funds.
More detail »West Hartlepool Literary and Mechanics Institution, exhibition of photographs, 1855
More detail »West Hartlepool Literary and Mechanics Institution, sale of newspapers 1854.
More detail »Whitsuntide Treat - Trip to Whitby
More detail »Wm. Bainbridge, Turn Office. Advertising his skills with ship's paperwork 1846
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 »Working Men's Literary Institute, Lecture, 1858 by the Rev A. Howson on 'Nineveh'
More detail »Working Men's Literary Institute, a Grand Soiree, 1857. Meeting to be addressed by Henry Pease, M.P.
More detail »Wreck Materials from the brig 'Thomas Burdon' for sale by public auction, 1843.
More detail »Wreck and cargo from the brig 'Lady Sale' for sale by public auction, 1870
More detail »Wreck and cargo from the brig 'Peace' for sale by public auction, 1871
More detail »Wreck and materials of the schooner 'George' for sale, by auction, 1852
More detail »Wreck and stores of the brig X.L. for sale, by auction, 1843
More detail »Wreck of the brig 'Addison' for sale, by auction, 1837
More detail »Wreck of the brig 'Ann' for sale, by auction, 1839
More detail »Wreck of the schooner 'Helen' for sale, by auction, 1839
More detail »Wrecked Materiels (sic) from the Brig 'Felicity' for sale bu public auction, 1839
More detail »Yacht for sale 1846 'Tom Thumb'
More detail »Yacht for sale by auction, 1846, 'Tom Thumb'
More detail »Yacht foir sale 1848 'Ximo'
More detail »Yacht for sale 1853 'Melantha'
More detail »Yacht for sale by public auction, 1856, 'Allies'
More detail ȣ10 reward offered for information regarding damage to the Docks 1842.
More detail ȣ5 reward offered for defamation of character 1862. Middlesbrough licensee from Burton House , Middlesbrough offering a reward to anyone who can state who started a rumour that his Ales are Drugged.
More detail »