Tom Rolt Files

From the Archives: NarrowBoat, Winter 2024

Joseph Boughey

Joseph Boughey shares some insights into L.T.C. Rolt’s private papers

The private papers of an author might seem uninteresting, as one might assume that the best of their material has already appeared in their published work. But when, as with Charles Hadfield and L.T.C. Rolt, authors have been involved in historic events and practical affairs, some of their records can prove to be of considerable interest to historians. Tom Rolt, who died 50 years ago, has been the subject of Victoria Owens' biography, my own book of essays and a conference at Ironbridge. During 2023 a lengthy process of cataloguing all papers and records deposited at Ironbridge was carried out. I viewed one section of the Rolt papers (ROLT 01/5B) while at the Ironbridge conference, and found that even this small sample yielded some insights. Interesting correspondence An intriguing reference came from a letter dated 9th July 1963 from B.C. Cobb of Overbury, Evesham, who claimed to have made the last trip downstream on the Lower Avon from Evesham to Tewkesbury on 13th July 1933. He …