Records of Sierra Leone Development Co Ltd, iron masters, Glasgow, Scotland and Sierra Leone
- Reference:GB 248 UGD 164/4
- Dates of Creation:1911-1974
- Name of Creator:
- Physical Description:0.6 metresThere are no physical characteristics that affect the use of this material.
Scope and Content
- Correspondence 1930-1954
- Inventories and correspondence 1956-1974
- Plans 1911-1963
Administrative / Biographical History
In 1929 , William Baird & Co Ltd , coal and iron masters, Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, became interested in Sierra Leone following the publication of a 1927 geological survey. Responsibility for investigated this scheme was handed to Robert Angus (1882-1949), director of William Baird & Co Ltd, and lead to the incorporation of the Sierra Leone Development Co Ltd in 1930 . William Baird & Co Ltd owned 47.5 percent of this company, as did the Northern Mercantile & Investment Co Ltd, with the remaining 5 percent belonging to the United Africa Co Ltd. Officials from Spain were transferred to Africa to open up this virgin field and construct extensive railway and harbour facilities. By 1938 , open cast mines were producing 862,000 tons of iron ore valued at £647,000 for export to Britain and Europe and plans were in hand to extend the railway to large deposits further inland. The company appears to have ceased trading in the 1970s .
Source: A Slaven and S Checkland, , vol 1Dictionary of Scottish Business Biography 1860-1960 ( Aberdeen , 1986 )
Arrangement
This material is arranged into series, which consist of numbers of items related by format and/or function. Within series, the items are generally arranged chronologically.
Access Information
No access for legal, business or commercial purposes without the written permission of William Baird plc. Apply in the first instance to Glasgow University Archive Services.
Acquisition Information
Loan : William Baird & Co Ltd : London: 1982 : ACCN 0036
Other Finding Aids
Digital file level list available in searchroom
File level list available in searchroom and at the National Registers of Archives in Edinburgh (NRA(S)2473) and London (NRA15635)
Alternative Form Available
No known copies
Conditions Governing Use
Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the University Archivist
Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use & condition of documents
Any work based on the use of this material, which is intended for publication must be submitted to William Baird plc for approval prior to that publication and a copy of the final version lodged with them
Appraisal Information
This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 248 procedures
Custodial History
Held by William Baird & Co Ltd
Accruals
None expected
Related Material
GB 248 UGD 164/1 Records of William Baird & Co Ltd
Material in other repositories: no material associated by provenance
Bibliography
No known publications using this material
Additional Information
This material is original
No alterations made to date
Subjects
Corporate Names
Geographical Names
Glasgow, Scotland