Bristol Industrial Archaeological Society (BIAS)

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Research in Industrial Archaeology: Approaches, Sources and Opportunities

Mike Bone and Maggie Shapland

Approaches

Four questions

• what type of project?
• is it worth doing?
• how does it relate to current knowledge?
• what is the easiest way to approach it?

Possible Sources

Your choice of project will influence sources to be consulted.

• fieldwork;
• published works - bibliographies and guides to sites and industries p
• maps and plans - OS maps, tithe maps, insurance plans, estate plans;
• printed sources - directories, guides, travel diaries, newspapers, trade encyclopaedias and technical literature-
• pictorial sources - prints, photographs, drawings and archive film;
• documents/manuscript souroes - business records, letters, work of record societies and recent IT projects;
• oral history - interviews and recollections

Opportunities for research in Bristol

• port and related activity;
• transport - railways roads, aviation-
• processing imports - sugar, tobacco cocoa, wines and spirits;
• processing local produce leather, corn, brewing;
• mining and quarrying;
• manufacturing -textiles, engineering, clothing and shoes, transport equipment;
• chemicals, glass and pottery;
• paper, pnntsng and packaging;
• construction - the industry and its products;
• infrastructure - utilities and amenities.

Suggested Reading

Industrial Archaeology in General

• Industrial Archaeology an Introduction Hudson, K (1963). The pioneering book, reissued in subsequent editions
• Industrial Archaeology in BritainBuchanan, RA., (1973). Comprehensive general study, reissued in subsequent editions .
• The BP Book of lndustrial Archaeology Cossons, N..(1975). Comprehensive general study, reissued in subsequent editions .
• The Archaeology ofthe Industrial Revolution Bracegirdle, B. (1973) provides a superb visual introduction to the subject.
• English Heritage Book of Industrial England Stratton, M. and Trinder, B. (1996). Recently-published book provides a current view
• Twentieth Century Industrial Archaeology (2000) Recently-published book provides a current view,
• Industrial Archaeology Principles and Practice Palmer, M. and Neaverson, P. (1998). Recently-published book provides a current view, has a full bibliogmphy.
• The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Industrial Archaeology Trinder, B. (ed.) (1992). Substantial reference book
• Dictionary ofindustrial Archaeology and Jones, W. (1996). Substantial reference book
• Perspectives on Industrial Archaeology Cossons, N. (ed.) (2000) is an interesting collection of essays which takes stock of the progress of the subject to date.

The Bristol Area

• The Bristol Dock Company 1803 to 1848 by Peter Malpass published by AVON LOCAL HISTORY and ARCHAEOLOGY July 2010
  Volume 5 of our well respected series of books is just about to be published
  The Bristol Dock Company was set up in 1803 to finance, carry out and operate the improved harbour which had long been urged. But the Company structure and capital reflected the local politics and tension which had delayed actions hitherto, and which continued to handicap its operations over its 45 year life. It was never popular (see the front cover illustration, rejoicing at its demise) and was much criticised in its lifetime and subsequently, but this detailed and fully documented account sets out to show that most if not all its weaknesses arose from the compromises and constraints built into its very foundations.
  Order (using the form below) and send it, together with a cheque for £3.50 (made payable to “Avon Local History and Archaeology”) to:
  Mike Leigh, Business Manager ALHA Books, 43 Long Eaton Drive, Whitchurch Park, Bristol. BS14 9AW
  Your Name:....................................................................................................................................
  Your Address:................................................................................................................................ And who wrote it? Peter Malpass. Peter Malpass is professor of housing and urban studies at the University of the West of England. He has written extensively on housing and housing policy, and organised an exhibition in 2005 marking 100 years of council housing in Bristol. He is now working on a long term study of the urban history of Bristol, which has already led to the book ‘Bristol’s Floating Harbour: the first 200 years’ (with Andy King, published by Redcliffe Press in 2009) So, to be sure to receive your copy, complete this form and send it, together with a cheque for £3.50 (made payable to “Avon Local History and Archaeology”) to: Mike Leigh, Business Manager ALHA Books, 43 Long Eaton Drive, Whitchurch Park, Bristol. BS14 9AW Your Name:.................................................................................................................................... Your Address:................................................................................................................................ .....................................................................................................................................
• Bristol's Floating Harbour: The first 200 years. Peter Malpass and Andy King. Redcliffe Press May 2009. £14.99. 160 pages, profusely illustrated.
  A superb comprehensive history with lots of photographs. Much has been written about the history of Bristol and refer to the Floating Harbour especially upto the end of the nineteenth century. This book was written in time to celebrate the harbour's 200th birthday. It brings the story up to date, and also offers a different interpretation which questions and challenges aspects of the course of events during its history. It is structured around four transformation and covers the planning and building of the harbour; the arrival of Brunel and development in response to economic and technological changes from 1860; in war and peace and the end as a commercial port; and regeneration including the controversial Councils planning history from 1969.
• Frog Lane Colliery: sixty years on. South Gloucester shire Mines Research Group and Yate and District Heritage Centre. SGMRG May 2009. £12.00. 104 pages, profusely illustrated with photographs from Burrows, Dorothy Hewitt and English Heritage.
  This book was put together to commemorate the closure of Frog Lane Colliery- the last deep pit in the Bristol Coalfield. Frog Lane (Coal Pit Heath) has been briefly covered in other books, but this book not only covers the colliery details, but oral history of the surviving miners and their families. The colliery started to be sunk round about 1853, was taken over by NCB in 1947 and finally closed in 1949 due to limited reserves in the two workable seams coupled with increased pumping load following the closure of Parkfield in 1936. Again a very readable book and puts everything into context.
• The Knife and Fork Man (The life and work of Charles Benjamin Redrup) Bill Fairney (2007)
• The Industrial Archaeology ofthe Bristol Region Buchanan, R. A. and Cossons, N. (1969). The pioneering book
• The Batsford Guide to the I.A. of Central Southern England Buchanan, C. A. and Buchanan, R. A. (1980). Lists of sites are provided
• Guide to the Industrial Heritage of Avon Day, J. A. (1987). Lists of sites are provided
• The Making of Modern Bristol Dresser, M. and Ollerenshaw, P. (1996). Useful book on related economic and business development
• Bristol & Co: the story of Bristol's long-running businesses 1710 to the present day Reid, H. (1987). Useful book on related economic and business development
• Somerset IAS has re-issued “Men and Mining on the Quantocks” by John Hamilton.
  The book, originally published in the 1970’s has been unavailable for many years. It describes the somewhat ill-fated attempts to mine copper in the late eighteenth/ early nineteenth centuries in the region of Dodington near Nether Stowey. The original author has continued to research the subject and the new edition is much enlarged, and includes other mining ventures in the region.
  The book will be available at BIAS meetings from Geoff Fitton at £10. It can be ordered from Geoff at Giles Cottage, Hill Lane, Brent Knoll TA9 4DF with a cheque to SIAS for £12.50 to cover postage
• Kingswood Coal - new book
  10 April 2008: 40 pages of information about coalfields in Bristol and South Gloucestershire produced by South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group. http://www.sgmrg.co.uk/kingswoodcoal for more details, Kingswood Coal flyer to order
• "The History of the Somerset Coalfield" by C. G. Down and A. J. Warrington. Originally published in 1971, this book is considered by many to be the definitive history of coal mining in Somerset. Containing many photographs, maps and diagrams, this 288 page hardback book costs £25 plus £2.75 for delivery. Reprinted by the Bristol Industrial Museum
• "My life as a Somerset Miner" by A. J. Parfitt.(Price £4.50), while "Somerset Mining Memories" is available on DVD or video at £15.99. Reprinted by the Bristol Industrial Museum
• The annual issues of BIAS Journal contain reports on local research and reviews of most IA books published in recent years.
• Avon Local History Handbook Moore, J. S. (ed.) (1979) includes guidance to sources on transport, industry and other features of modern urban life, as do references in articles in BIAS Journal.
• The Industrial Archaeology and Industrial History of South Western England a Bibliography Greenwood, J. (1999) provides a comprehensive list of publications on all aspects of IA in the region.
• The Newcomen Society http://www.newcomen.com/. world's oldest learned society devoted to the study of the history of engineering and technology. Concerned with all branches of engineering: civil, mechanical, electrical, structural, aeronautical, marine, chemical and manufacturing.Transactions form an extensive archive with a strong academic foundation. This archive is now available on line

Useful websites:

• BBC
• University of Bristol library catalogue
• Bristol City Council Record Officein a former bonded warehouse in Cumberland Basin, has searchable computerised archives (open Monday to Thursday)
• LibrariesWest is a partnership between Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset and South Gloucestershire public library services. Search the catalogue and reserve online.
• The Central Reference Library in College Green (open every day) has all its archives in card trays still. It has a complete set of Matthews Guides to Bristol, electoral rolls, as well as newspapers on microfilm.
• National Archives of the United Kingdom
• Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society. Access to the General Index (1876-1993), the Contents Pages (1876-2002) and the full contents of eleven volumes (Vols. 95-105).
• http://www.old-maps.co.uk gives access to old OS maps of end of 19th century
• New website to promote cultural delights of English heritage cities. Click on Bristol
• History of Clifton Rocks Railway" includes pictures of the tunnel today
• Clifton Suspension Bridge website
• Pigot's Directory for 1830 With Clifton, Bedminster, Ashton, Brislington, Pill, Stapleton, etc. This transcription contains 6,501 names, occupations and addresses of the residents of Bristol England that have been extracted from the micro-fiche of Pigot's Directory of Gloucestershire for 1830. It is divided into four sections. Useful for genealogists.
• Newcomen Society. The Society, thanks to a generous bequest, has developed an on-line archive of its Transactions dating back to 1920. These are now available on line in Acrobat (PDF) format, to search, browse through, download and print out.

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