Thomas Bell & Sons (of Dundee) Ltd, Jute Spinners and Manufacturers, Dundee

This material is held atUniversity of Dundee Archive Services

Scope and Content

Minutes 1890-1933; letter books 1914-1923; ledgers 1917-1921; shareholding records 1890-1928; miscellaneous loose papers 1887-1936; tradesmen's time books 1939-1942; balance sheets 1910-1932.

Administrative / Biographical History

In 1780 Thomas Bell and Alexander Balfour formed the company Bell & Balfour. In 1833 this firm was dissolved and Thomas Bell was joined by his sons Thomas and William in Thomas Bell & Sons, who erected Belmont Works. Another son, James, joined the firm when it became a limited company in 1863, the first Dundee firm to do so. Heathfield Works was added in 1889. In 1920 it amalgamated with other jute firms to form Jute Industries Ltd. Products included hessians, jute, tarpaulines, flax and jute, roofing canvas and "scenic" canvas. It went into voluntary liquidation in 1933.

Arrangement

Records are arranged within series.

Access Information

Open for consultation subject to preservation requirements. Access must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act (2018), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, 2018) and any other relevant legislation or restrictions. Clinical information is closed for 100 years.

Acquisition Information

The records were deposited by Sidlaw Group PLC in 1980, 1993 and 1994 (AccM/112, AccM/131, AccM/295, AccM/310).

Note

In 1780 Thomas Bell and Alexander Balfour formed the company Bell & Balfour. In 1833 this firm was dissolved and Thomas Bell was joined by his sons Thomas and William in Thomas Bell & Sons, who erected Belmont Works. Another son, James, joined the firm when it became a limited company in 1863, the first Dundee firm to do so. Heathfield Works was added in 1889. In 1920 it amalgamated with other jute firms to form Jute Industries Ltd. Products included hessians, jute, tarpaulines, flax and jute, roofing canvas and "scenic" canvas. It went into voluntary liquidation in 1933.

Other Finding Aids

Descriptive list. Subject source lists and databases are also available.

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

Paper

Archivist's Note

Fonds level description compiled by Sarah Chubb, Archives Hub Project Archivist, December 2001.

Conditions Governing Use

Reproduction is available subject to preservation requirements. Charges may be made for this service, and copyright and other restrictions may apply; please check with the Duty Archivist.

Accruals

Not expected

Additional Information

Published