Teesside Archives

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Teesside Archives Teesside Archives collects & preserves records relating to the history of Teesside Please contact us to find out more about depositing your records.

Teesside Archives is a council run service, jointly funded by the four Teesside Boroughs of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees. The service is based in Middlesbrough but holds records and information relevant to all four Teesside Boroughs. Our main collections include:
- Records of the current Borough Councils and their predecessors
- Records of local churches and religious groups
- Records of Schools, Hospitals, Courts etc
- The British Steel Collection
- Records of the Owners of the Middlesbrough Estate
- Records of the Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Guisborough Workhouses
- Records of the Pennyman Family
- Records of local businesses, societies and organisations

We accept records either on deposit or as a gift from organisations or individuals as long as they are deemed relevant to Teesside and not duplicated within our collections.

01/1928 ICI MagazineA copy of the letter sent. ...
13/10/2026

01/1928 ICI Magazine

A copy of the letter sent.

145 PICCADILLY

W.1.

18th November 1927





It is a pleasure to write a message for the first issue of the “I.C.I. Magazine” for I recall a most interesting and happy visit to one of the constituent companies of Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, which I made in my capacity of President of the Industrial Welfare Society. I am certain that your magazine will prove to be a most valuable link in your great organisation not only by enabling the directors to explain in greater detail the comprehensive policy recently outlined by Sir Alfred Mond, but also in bringing the many scattered units into one harmonious design.

I wish the “I.C.I. Magazine” every success.

(Signed) Albert

(H.R.H. THE Duke of York)

Sourced by Teesside Archives volunteer Paul Boden.

Another wonderful day with our friends at Hartlepool Community Hubs for our roadshow held in partnership with the local ...
09/10/2026

Another wonderful day with our friends at Hartlepool Community Hubs for our roadshow held in partnership with the local and family history centre. Thanks to everyone who dropped in to share so many lovely stories and ask such interesting questions! Our conservator Helen was kept busy demonstrating how she carries out paper repairs and talking about the tools, techniques and materials she uses daily while Chris, our community engagement officer shared some of our maps, records and plans for iconic buildings such as the Shades Hotel and the Grand Hotel. It was great to work alongside library colleagues to help tell the stories of Hartlepool and all that it has achieved, we’re looking forward to the next one!

We‘ve loved finding all the interesting details and buildings this morning, checking out a route for a guided walk we’ll...
07/10/2026

We‘ve loved finding all the interesting details and buildings this morning, checking out a route for a guided walk we’ll be delivering next year in partnership with our friends at the Hartlepool Community Hubs local and family history centre in the beautiful Sir William Gray House. So much has changed including large areas of what was the retail and entertainment heart of West Hartlepool and we’re looking forward to discovering stories to share on the walk through recollections, plans, maps and photos, can’t wait!

The Archives team would like to invite you to the new celebratory exhibition 'Centenary Stories 100 years of ICI' in Dor...
07/10/2026

The Archives team would like to invite you to the new celebratory exhibition 'Centenary Stories 100 years of ICI' in Dorman Museum.
Official opening Thursday 8th October 2pm-3.30pm.
We will have some paintings by Keith Braund who worked for ICI for over 30 years and some original documents from the archives collection on display during the the opening.
But don't worry if you can't make it the exhibition is in the community exhibition space at Dorman museum; they are open Tuesday-Sundays 10am-4pm (last entry 3.30pm).

Come and see us at the lovely Hartlepool Community Hubs Central Hub on York Road this Friday, 9th October, where we'll b...
07/10/2026

Come and see us at the lovely Hartlepool Community Hubs Central Hub on York Road this Friday, 9th October, where we'll be showcasing some of our wonderful Hartlepool records, plans and maps as well as the vital work of our conservator who will be demonstrating paper repairs. You can bring your questions about how to best preserve your own family archives and find out more about the incredible records and stories we hold for the people of Hartlepool. We'll be sharing the space with the great local and family history team too so please drop in between 10am and 2pm, say hello and get ready to talk all things heritage!

04/1936 ICI MagazineNEW TRANSPARENT RESINSBoth “Diakon” and “Perspex” the two forms of the new I.C.I. transparent thermo...
06/10/2026

04/1936 ICI Magazine

NEW TRANSPARENT RESINS

Both “Diakon” and “Perspex” the two forms of the new I.C.I. transparent thermoplastic resin, which were exhibited at the B.I.F. on the Mouldrite stand, proved to be one of the outstanding attractions at Olympia.

“Perspex.” The resin in its cast form, has already reached the limit of production from existing plant on account of the great demands of the aircraft industry. Its exceptional lightness, strength, transparency and good mechanical properties have proved it to be the ideal material for aeroplane windows and windscreens and many manufacturers have adopted it.

Unaffected by petrol, paraffin or lubricating oils, its uses in the world of machinery are obvious. Like “Perspex,” it has already found many uses in the aircraft industry for instrument cases and windows, panels and inspection cover plates. For the electrical trade too, on account of its excellent properties, it holds great promise. Fuse boxes, junction boxes and forms made from it are strong, durable and efficient.

Ornaments, domestic fittings and surgical instruments are among the many other uses to which the material can be applied.

THE CAR WHICH CAPTAIN EYSTON, the racing motorist, has taken to America for his attack on the world’s speed record on land is fitted with a windscreen made of I.C.I.’s transparent synthetic resin, Perspex. Like the aircraft windscreens made of this new plastic material, it is curved, being moulded in one semicircular piece rather more than an eighth of an inch thick, and is tough enough to stand up to the impact of flying grit at tremendous speeds.

Post by Teesside Archives volunteer Paul Boden

The Archives team would like to invite you to the new celebratory exhibition 'Centenary Stories 100 years of ICI' in Dor...
05/10/2026

The Archives team would like to invite you to the new celebratory exhibition 'Centenary Stories 100 years of ICI' in Dorman Museum.

Official opening Thursday 8th October 2pm-3.30pm.

We will have some paintings by Keith Braund who worked for ICI for over 30 years and some original documents from the archives collection on display during the the opening.

But don't worry if you can't make it the exhibition is in the community exhibition space at Dorman museum; they are open Tuesday-Sundays 10am-4pm (last entry 3.30pm).

We're marking this month's ICI centenary post with a couple of wonderful prints discovered by happy accident while looki...
26/09/2026

We're marking this month's ICI centenary post with a couple of wonderful prints discovered by happy accident while looking for something else, the classic archive way! They are part of a small number of prints in a presentation portfolio showing various aspects of the Billingham Works in 1945, including this general view of the site and an image of traditional horse drawn ploughing, perhaps a nod to the fertiliser produced by the Billingham site that helped boost agricultural production.
Another interesting feature is the artist name, Keesey, written in a little box on all the prints. A bit of research has revealed a possible match, Walter Monckton Keesey OBE, born in Surrey in 1887 and who became a distinguished architect, artist and etcher. According to his Wikipedia entry, he occasionally took on industrial commissions of which this lovely collection must have been one. He also exhibited a number of works at the Royal Academy, proving once more that when it came to choosing who to associate with, ICI always chose the best!
Image Ref; ICI/BM/1/18/6

It’s been a busy week for outreach, from World War 2 sessions with the enthusiastic year 6 children at Linthorpe Communi...
24/09/2026

It’s been a busy week for outreach, from World War 2 sessions with the enthusiastic year 6 children at Linthorpe Community Primary School, through a River Tees talk with the Varied Arts Ladies Group to today’s fascinating walk with lovely Donna from the Reference Library looking at the Stockton Workhouse. A big thank you to everyone who came on the walk, as we shared stories and records about the help and support that was available to people who’d fallen on hard times and the tough conditions they had to endure in order to secure that help. A big thank you to our volunteer Janet who supports the walks programme and to all the people who’ve chatted and shared family stories and memories this week.
Stockton-on-Tees Libraries

To help celebrate ICI 100 year birthday Paul Boden or volunteer has been doing some research and found a reference to IC...
15/09/2026

To help celebrate ICI 100 year birthday Paul Boden or volunteer has been doing some research and found a reference to ICI Wilton having a Coat of Arms.
Paul says "you never stop learning"

05/1948 ICI Magazine
Wilton Works may be regarded as I.C.I.’s great experiment in interdivisional co-operation in manufacture on one site—to use a chemical analogy it represents an I.C.I. molecule being synthesised from Divisional atoms. In the chairman’s office at Wilton there hangs the coat of arms designed by Mr. L. H. F. Sanderson which is described overleaf. This epitomises the whole conception of Wilton, for the shield bears devices which represents the activities of the six Divisions actively interested in Wilton. Its motto, Non sibi sed toti (Not for self but for the whole), aptly expresses Wilton’s purpose.

Address

Dorman Museum, Linthorpe Road
Middlesbrough
TS56LA

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