'Founder of Steam Trawling': the collection of Richard Irvin & Sons Limited

We have recently been cataloguing the business collection of Richard Irvin & Sons Limited, a company of trawler owners and fish sellers founded in North Shields with business sites across the North East of Scotland, including Aberdeen (at Albert Quay) and Peterhead. In this post we’ll take a closer look at the founder of the company and his family, and some of the records included in the collection.

The business's illustrated letter from DD2865/3/1/5

The company was founded by Richard Irvin (1853-1920) of North Shields. Richard was born on 23 February 1853 and married Ann Driver (1851-1934) on 7 August 1873 at the parish church of Tynemouth, Northumberland.

Item in file reference DD2865/3/1/1

A year earlier, Richard had bought his first sailing smack the "Zenith". By 1877, Richard had found a gap in the fishing market for steam trawling, and thus the company was founded. He also began supplying trawl gear to other Tyne tugs on a share basis, growing the services he provided. Included in the collection are several newspaper articles and draft texts for publications on Richard Irvin, including for his entry into the Dictionary of Business Biography. Richard's significance to the sector is such that a pamphlet describes him as the ‘Founder of the Trawler Industry’ (DD2865/3/1/1).

In 1907, the company became a Limited Company operating under the name Richard Irvin & Sons Limited. In one of the first meetings, Richard Irvin (as Chairman) details a motion of amalgamation of the North British Steam Fishing Co Ltd., the Irvin Steam Fishing Co Ltd., The Castle Trawl and Lime Fishing Co Ltd., The East Coast Drifters Ltd., the African Fishing and Trading Co Ltd., and the whole of the businesses of Messrs R Irvine & Sons (Fish salesmen). It was moved and seconded by Mr Meikle and Mr Young, as Directors of these other companies, to recommend to the shareholders to join the proposed amalgamation under the name of 'Richard Irvin and Sons Limited'. At this stage, Richard's sons were heavily involved, with his eldest son John H. Irvin being Joint Managing Director (joined in 1887), and the secretary recorded as Mr R. Irvin Junior (joined in 1889). The office was to be registered in North Shields. 

DD2865/1/2/3 - Memorandum and Articles of Association, Richard Irvin & Sons Limited 1907

Richard’s career also included work with the North Shields Town Council from 1890, where he served as a Councillor for 13 years, an Alderman for 18 years and was twice Mayor. Richard died on 19 December 1920, aged 67. An article stated that he never recovered from the loss of his son Thomas, who was killed in action during WW1 on 20 May 1916. Thomas was a Lieutenant of the Gordon Highlanders, 5^th (Buchan and Formartine) Battalion (Territorial). There was a commemoration in Peter’s United Free Church, Peterhead, led by Colonel Rev J Halliday.

DD2865/1/1/2 - Minutes showing death of Thomas Irvin, May 1916

Sir John Hannel Irvin (c. 1874-1952), Richard's oldest son, joined the company as an office boy aged just 13 in 1887. At 21, he went to Aberdeen to set up and lead the business there. John spent 45 years as a member of the Harbour Board (26 of which were as Finance Convener). He also proposed the formation of the Aberdeen Steam Fishers Provident Society after the great storm of 1900, and served as the Society's President for 47 years (a catalogue for the Society's collection, which is also held by the archives, can be viewed under reference DD3223). John also spent 20 years as member of the Fishery Board for Scotland. His resume is impressive and he clearly had a strong influence in the fishing industry in Aberdeen and the north east.

1911 Census from Scotland's People - Sir John H Irvin and family are listed at  16 Forest Road, Aberdeen

Within the collection are two newspaper scrapbooks, which include articles about John’s disappearance and capture during WW1. John was a Prisoner of War from 23 Sept 1916 until November 1918. He was captured whilst on board the Dutch mail steamer Prins Hendrik when she left Rotterdam. A record of this is also included in the minutes for the company:

DD2865/1/1/2 Minutes 1914 - 1920

Above is a pamphlet handed to Prisoners of War on leaving Camp, 22 Nov 1918 (DD2865/3/1/2). We also have some POW records in our collections, which we cross referenced for further information about John Irvin. The following letter was sent to the Secretary of the Central Prisoners of War Committee in London and relates to John's time as a POW:

ADPWB/7 - Aberdeen & District Prisoners of War Bureau: Copy Out-Letter Book 1916-1917

John was honoured for war work with a KBE by King George V, announced on 25 August 1917. John also made a contribution during WW2 - in 1936 he was appointed Chairman of the Aberdeen Port Emergency Committee to oversee machinery at Aberdeen Harbour. He died in 1952.

Item in file DD2865/3/1/2, originally from the Press & Journal 1952

Additional records about Sir John H Irvin be viewed in our Aberdeen Harbour Board Collection: AHB/1/1/195 - Aberdeen Harbour Board: Sir John Irvin, 1940-1952 - Correspondence to and from Sir John Irvin covering various topics including cattle, war, salaries, harbour reconstruction and his illness; also includes his obituary.

DD2865/3/2/7 - Photograph of passengers aboard the SS John H Irvin

George Irvin (b. 1882), one of John’s younger brothers, took a slightly different employment route. George joined the company after becoming an engineer. He worked in Aberdeen for a short period with John, before travelling to South Africa in 1903 to form the African Fishing and Trading Company. This amalgamated with the company Mr C. O. Johnson to become Irvin & Johnson South Africa. This example shows how far reaching the company was.

The records in this collection include very detailed minute books and other governance records for the company (memorandums and articles of association); financial records including ledgers, journals, balance sheets, share certificates and personnel wages; records of subsidiary or related companies; photographs; newspaper cutting scrapbooks; and a box of negatives showing work of the company.

Cash Books and Ledgers on shelf

DD2865/2/5/1 Staff Book 1915 – 1916

We particularly liked some of the more nuanced entries in the ships’ crew lists, which date from the 1970s (reference DD2865/2/5/6, restricted access due to the Data Protection Act). Alongside lists of the ship, crew members and their role, address, dates of start and discharge, are additional notes, such as ‘no icecream’. We wonder why these fishermen couldn’t have such a specific snack?

DD2865/2/5/6 - Ships Crew Ledger

DD2865/3/2/1 - Photograph of Trawlers at Aberdeen Harbour

Richard Irvin & Sons bought and constructed many of their vessels from local shipbuilders like Hall Russell and John Lewis, of which we also have records. By the 1970s and 1980s, the firm had begun moving in a different direction - mechanical and electrical installation and maintenance. The box of negatives and some of the printed images include many examples of this type of work. The company went into administration in December 2018.

A catalogue for this collection is available here: https://archives.aberdeencity.gov.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=DD2865. Records can be viewed in person at our Old Aberdeen House site during our usual opening opening hours (Mon-Wed 9.30-12.30 and 1.30-4.30pm).

Kimberley Smith, Archivist