Bennett's of Ballinacurra Maltings, and Bennett/West Family Records
TitleBennett's of Ballinacurra Maltings, and Bennett/West Family Records
ReferenceIE 627/B609
Date
1806-2006
CreatorJohn H. Bennett & Co Ltd, West, Trevor
Production date 1806 - 2006
Scope and ContentThe Bennett’s of Ballinacurra collection is comprised primarily of the records of John H Bennett & Co Ltd, a malting firm which for most of its existence acted as a commission house making malt for the brewing firm of Arthur Guinness and Son.
Also present in the collection are many records of the involvement of the firm, and in particular of John H Bennett, in the creation and operation of the Department of Agriculture Cereal Station at Ballinacurra.
In addition, the collection contains personal and estate records of John H Bennett and his family, and of the West family, which came to represent the Bennett interest in the firm.
The collection contains a wealth of information on the malting and brewing industries in Cork and Ireland, barley cultivation and farming in Cork and Munster, and the efforts of the Department of Agriculture, Guinness, and others to improve barley breeding and malting through scientific methods.
The personal papers present shed light on the cultural milieu of John H Bennett, an upper middle class Protestant businessman in east Cork in a period of great social change.
Events such as the Great War (in which his only son, Jack, was killed) and the War of Independence, and their local impact, are reflected in his diaries. Sporting interests, notably sailing, and personal relationships are also documented.
The business and personal papers relating to Dorothy West document the life of a unique figure, reckoned in her time to be the only woman at the head of a large-scale malting firm in Europe.
Also present in the collection are many records of the involvement of the firm, and in particular of John H Bennett, in the creation and operation of the Department of Agriculture Cereal Station at Ballinacurra.
In addition, the collection contains personal and estate records of John H Bennett and his family, and of the West family, which came to represent the Bennett interest in the firm.
The collection contains a wealth of information on the malting and brewing industries in Cork and Ireland, barley cultivation and farming in Cork and Munster, and the efforts of the Department of Agriculture, Guinness, and others to improve barley breeding and malting through scientific methods.
The personal papers present shed light on the cultural milieu of John H Bennett, an upper middle class Protestant businessman in east Cork in a period of great social change.
Events such as the Great War (in which his only son, Jack, was killed) and the War of Independence, and their local impact, are reflected in his diaries. Sporting interests, notably sailing, and personal relationships are also documented.
The business and personal papers relating to Dorothy West document the life of a unique figure, reckoned in her time to be the only woman at the head of a large-scale malting firm in Europe.
Extent227 Boxes, 37 OS Vols, 99 OS Printouts, 5 OS Framed Pictures, 29 OS Rolled Drawings, 3 OS Rolls of Maps
LanguageEnglish
Persons keywordBennett Family of Ballinacurra, Bennett, John H | 1863-1935 | businessman, West, Dorothy | fl 1920-1980 | nee MacNeill | businesswoman
SubjectAgriculture, Industry and Commerce, Brewing Industry, Science, War of Independence (Ireland), Unionism, Sport, Diaries and Journals, Business Records, Personal and family papers
AccessHard copies: Accessible to Readers by appointment. Access restrictions apply to some collections. Digital object/copy: see Download Media and/or Digital Reference
RightsLicensing information available on request by email to archivist@corkcity.ie Copyright Cork City and County Archives, Cork City Council, unless otherwise indicated. All Rights Reserved.
Levelfonds
RepositoryCork City and County Archives
Digital reference
Object categoryPersonal and family papersBusiness Records
Download media