Robin Sweetnam

Reference code: HOYFM.ACL2024.27
Level of description: Fonds
Title: Robin Sweetnam
Scope and content: 17-18th Century Port Research Maritime Collection including the History, Growth and Operations of The Port of Belfast. Robert Sweetnam was a historian, ex-Water Appeals Commissioner for Northern Ireland, and Deputy Chief Engineer in Belfast Harbour for many years. This archive shows correspondence, photocopies, and his general work concerning his research into ports in Ulster's 17th and 18th centuries. Contents: many 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 contains his lecture slides and notes on the subject of the operations, growth, and 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 up 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 Museums (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.