Robin Sweetnam
- Reference code
- HOYFM.ACL2024.27
- Level of description
- Fonds
- Title
- Robin Sweetnam
- Scope and content
-
17th-18th century port research maritime collection, including the history, growth and operations of the Port of Belfast. Robert Sweetnam was a historian, Water Appeals Commissioner for Northern Ireland, and Deputy Chief Engineer for Belfast Harbour. This archive holds correspondence, photocopies, and his general work concerning Ulster's historical ports. Contents include: photocopies of the Belfast customs book, starting from the year 1683-89; a handwritten letter from Davy Johnston to Robin; a photocopied article from the Belfast Telegraph (1941); a photocopy of Famous Liners of the Past Belfast Built; handwritten notes on inaccuracies in all chapters of Shipbuilders to the World by Sweetnam (1986); a magazine clipping from H&W news; handwritten notes on H&W innovations; document on ‘some notable historic achievements of H&W Limited'; “How it all began- concluding our history of Harland and Wolff Ltd. (Apr. 1979); informational sheet on the ship ‘Steelfield’; photocopies of ship listings from 1859; an photocopied extract from the industry of Ireland 1891; notes on The History of Iron. This archive also contains his lecture slides and notes on operations, growth, and the history of the Port of Belfast. Contents: three wooden boxes of 35mm lecture slides all carefully catalogued for access, all entitled: 'Belfast Harbour: Historical Slides,' two also containing a bag of film with map projection, and two Photax viewers slide storage records; typescript lecture notes on "Contribution to the discussion on the paper "shipbuilding dock at Belfast for Harland and Wolff Ltd. (1972); a typescript paper, "The Re-construction of Queen's Quay, Belfast'' (1954); "The Growth of Belfast Harbour," oral typescript paper read by Sweetnam for Queen's Extra-Mural Studies Department (1966); Engineering aspects of Belfast Harbour Development typescript speech transcript, delivered to The Institute of Civil Engineers N. Ireland in 1965; a typescript of a paper, "Aspects of Water Engineering- Harbour Works," presented to the Institution of Civil Engineers (1970); "The Operation of Belfast Harbour," presented to the same institution in 1967: a typescript of an address to the Rotary Club of Belfast in 1968 on "The Future Development of Belfast Harbour''; a paper draft of an address to The Institute of Transport NI on "The Operation of Belfast Harbour," in 1967; a typescript of an address to the Rotary Club of Belfast in 1969 on "The Future Development of Belfast Harbour''; letters from Robert Sweetnam describing his life and work (2011).
Shipbuilding on the Queen’s Island to July 1874, Dennis Rebbeck 1950, by Sweetnam; photocopy of the Belfast Shipyards presidential address (1947); abstract handwritten notes on shipbuilding; handwritten timelines on shipbuilding entitled ‘resume’; notes on shipbuilding tonnage constructed in Belfast Harbour; a photocopy of Charles Christopher Lundy’s B.A. Thesis (1980s); The Mariner’s Mirror volume 65 (1979); accounts from Coleraine in 1612 (photocopied); old Irish Customs General Accounts (photocopied); handwritten notes on Coleraine ship trading and customs from 1613-15; ware import notes from Coleraine 1999; a handwritten abstract of wares imported into Coleraine from 1614–15, stamped; freewill offering for 1983; unpublished page on Ulster Port customs statistics for 1614–15; handwritten notes; subsequent detailed notes on the same customs period; handwritten, copied tables by Sweetnam; a list of customs officers named during the year 1682–86; notes on tide surveyors; notes on customs in England; a Telegraph clipping ‘300 years of English Excise (Jun. 1983); letter correspondence from Sweetnam to the librarian archivist of H.M. Customs concerning record examinations for trade in Belfast Lough in the 17th century (1983); a subsequent reply answering his enquiries from Graham Smith; ‘Surveyors, Searchers, Waiters, etc., Duties in the 18th century (photocopy of typescript); The Irish Customs and Excise photocopy; notes on ships entering Dublin in 1792; notes on ships entering Dublin from foreign backgrounds in 1793/4; correspondence reply to Sweetnam concerning the dating of documents (1983); photocopies on British chronology; reply letter to Sweetnam again concerning chronology from Bill Maguire of the Ulster Museum (1984); notes on Belfast trade, specifically the import of citrus in the 17th-18th centuries; miscellaneous notes; a Lancaster postcard to Sweetnam about holidays in Britain (1985); a letter reply to Sweetnam from Merseyside County Council concerning port names (1981); photocopies of Belfast vessel lists from a 1793 document; notes on ships entering and ships in Belfast; prints of Belfast trade photocopied documents stuck together dated 1715, 1682; notes on imports and cargo tonnages; notes to Professor Beckett (1981); a letter from the West Yorkshire Archive Service concerning port books for Ulster (1983); Carrickfergus from Mighelmas 1614-15 records; notes on a deed of surrender to Carrick’s privilege; letter to Sweetnam from the Carrickfergus & District Historical Society concerning research (1996); a note to Sweetnam from the Carrickfergus Excavations and Publication Project about slide delivery (1983); notes on Carrickfergus; Lecale, Strangford, and the Bowney records from 1613–14 photocopies; subsequent handwritten notes on the topic and areas; notes on Carrickfergus ships and merchants from 1613–14; Belfast imports document from 1714; notes on weights and measures; maritime records from 1614–15 for Derry/Londonderry (photocopies); subsequent notes on the port of Derry and imports from 1614–15; drawings of early dredgers obtained from the Baggermuseum in Holland; plan of works Belfast Harbour, late 19th & early 20th century.
