| Description | Letters from William Creighton from 1796, and from 1800 to 1805, and 1815. Creighton was one of Boulton Watt & Co.’s longest-serving engineers; prior to his taking over as head of the Drawing Office on the death of John Southern in 1815, he was a travelling engine erector and agent. During the period of this correspondence, he was based in Manchester, but made extended journies to Scotland. He also attended engines in other towns within travelling distance from Manchester, such as Preston, Hull, Halifax, Macclesfield, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Chester.
The letters are docketed by James Watt Jr. and Matthew Robinson Boulton, and a few are docketed by Gregory Watt. The letters from 1800 to 1805 to were originally kept in separate yearly bundles, and when they were amalgamated is not known. The first item, a letter from 1796, and the final items from 1815 and 1829 were added to the bundle later.
The letters are dated as follows:
No. 1. 1796
Nos. 2-18. 1800
Nos. 19-49. 1801
Nos. 50-64. 1802
Nos. 65-87. 1803
Nos. 88-96. 1804
Nos. 97-98. 1805
No. 99. 1815
No. 100. 1829 |