Records of William Peacock Ltd, rope and cord manufacturers, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland

Scope and Content

  • Private ledger, 1894-1940;
  • Private ledger and journal, 1894-1952;
  • Bank books, 1883-1950;
  • Wage records, 1895-1944;
  • Sales and purchase records, 1924-1982;
  • Inventory book, 1898-1915;
  • Adverts, early 20th century;
  • Works inspection report, 1938;
  • Photocopy plan of works, early 20th century;
  • Photocopies of photographs of works and men at works, early 20th century.

Administrative / Biographical History

James Cameron established a rope walk in  1792  on or near the site of the present museum in the High Street in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. David Cameron succeeded James, taking his brother-in-law, John Peacock, into the business. The Peacock family already appeared to have been rope manufacturers in Paisley. On Cameron's death in the  1840s  Peacock bought over his partner's share of the business and continued the business as a family concern, eventually being run by William Peacock under his own name. In  1890  a new rope walk was built in Chain Road, Paisley, and for some time operated in conjunction with premises in Paisley. The company was incorporated as a limited liability company,  William Peacock Ltd, in 1920 and continued in its business of producing and selling cordage to the building trade and domestic market. Products included cordage for venetian blinds, picture hanging as well a stronger materials intended for the building trade. In July 1986, the company entered into receivership and was finally liquidated in July 1990.

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

Open, except for wages book UGD244/3/4 which has restricted access for data protection.

Acquisition Information

Mr W A Peacock : 1987

Other Finding Aids

Digital file level list available in searchroom.

Manual file level list available at the National Registers of Archives in Edinburgh (NRA(S)2524) and London (NRA25891)

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

Appraisal Information

This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 0248 procedures

Custodial History

Received directly from creator

Accruals

None expected

Related Material

Original photographs are probably held by the Peacock family.

Location of Originals

This material is mostly original, except for photocopies of photographs and adverts

Bibliography

No known publications using this material

Additional Information

Fonds level description compiled by Hannah Westall, Archives Assistant, 20 March 2000. Lower level descriptions compiled by Glasgow University Archive Services staff and updated by Alma Topen, Senior Assistant Archivist (Cataloguing), Feb 2011. EAD fonds level finding aid created by Andrew Semple, Administration Assistant, 26 November 2002 . Lower levels converted to EAD by Glasgow University Archive staff in 2012. Catalogue edited by Michelle Kaye, Archives Assistant, 19 July 2012.

Geographical Names