Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1786-1911 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.915 cubic metres (65 boxes, 18 volumes)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Henry Robertson (1816-1888) from Banff, Alberta, Canada, was a civil engineer, ironmaster, coalmaster as well as company director. He was an MA graduate of Aberdeen University. His early interests revolved around mining engineering, but he later devoted himself mainly to railway engineering and construction. He came to Wales in 1842 (at just 26 yeras of age) to restructure and to revitalise the coal and iron concerns of John Wilkinson - the famous Brymbo ironworks. He is credited with reviatlizing the decaying industrial area of Denbighshire. Realizing that, in order to ensure the success of the iron-works and collieries, a railway to this area was essential, he and his friends promoted the North Wales Mineral Railway - the first of a number of measure which Robertson piloted through parliament. He was the Liberal MP for Shrewsbury between 1862 and 1865, and again between 1874 and 1885 and for Merionethshire between 1885 and 1886. Later he seceded from the Liberal Party on the introduction of Gladstone's Irish Home Rule Bill. He was later to concentrate on railway construction and was responsible for the railway from Chester to Shrewsbury. and other rail links. He also maintained a number of other commercial enterprises. In 1869, he bought the Pale estate, Llandderfel, Merionethshire and he was the founder of the Brymbo steel works in 1884. His nephew John William Dean inherited his money, papers and plans and his son Henry Beyer Robertson the remainder of his estate. Henry Robertson was also one of the trustees of the Wynnstay estates.
Archival history
The papers were accumulated by Henry Robertson during the course of his professional life and career and subsequently retained within his family until after World War Two.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited by Henry Robertson of Pale, Llandderfel, Merionethshire, Henry Robertson's grandson, in 1949.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Henry Robertson, comprising personal and estate papers, 1829-1907; records of a very large number of Welsh railway undertakings, 1786-1911, comprising books of reference, surveryors' notebooks, acts of parlimaent, bills and estimates, conveyances and other title deeds, specifications and tenders, prospectuses and miscellaneous papers; office papers, correspondence and miscellaneous professional papers, 1824-1903; papers relating to several clubs and societies, 1888-1907; and printed books and papers, 1786-[c.late 19th cent.].
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records have been retained.
Item: 1.1 Loose Manuscript Documents (Henry Robertson Papers). Action: Condition reviewed. Action identifier: 3844320. Date: 20060317. Authorization: Selected for conservation. Authorizing institution: NLW. Action agent: J. Thomas. Status: Loose Manuscript Documents (Henry Robertson Papers) : Surface dust and mould spores on all items, brown discolouration and water staining on most items, book and all documents badly mould damaged with pages of notebook stuck together. Institution: WlAbNL.
Item: 1.2 Loose Manuscript Documents (Henry Robertson Papers). Action: Conserved. Action identifier: 3844320. Date: 20061218. Authorizing institution: NLW. Action agent: E. Pugh. Status: Loose Manuscript Documents (Henry Robertson Papers) : Separated pages, repaired and rebound notebook, repaired docuemtns. Institution: WlAbNL.
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged into the following: personal and estate papers; professional papers arranged by alphabetical order of individual railway companies; office records, correspondence and miscellaneous professional papers; unassignable survey books; papers relating to various clubs and societies, printed books and papers.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright regulations apply.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Many of the papers are in poor condition, having been affected by rodents, dirt as well as damp. Some of the papers are brittle. Some of the papers are unfit for production.
Finding aids
A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales. The catalogue can be accessed online.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Text
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title supplied from contents of fonds.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Project identifier
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Pale Estate (Wales). (Subject)
- Wynnstay Estate (Wales). (Subject)
- Robertson, Henry, 1816-1888 -- Archives. (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Description follows ANW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.;AACR2; and LCSH
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
March 2003
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Compiled by Annette Strauch for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: NLW, Schedule of Henry Robertson Papers, 1996, Dictionary of Welsh Biography down to 1940 (London, 1959).