Catalogue description Special Collections: F P Cockshott Collection

Francis Pickersgill Cockshott was born in Darlington on 14th April 1824 and before his 17th birthday was apprenticed to J. Pease Junr. of Stockton and Darlington Railway. He was apprenticed to Shildon Works Company on 22nd October 1845, afterwards he went to Edinburgh Perth and Dundee Railway and became Goods Manager and later Passenger Superintendent.

In 1851 he was appointed Traffic Superintendent to South Devon Railway Company and whilst retaining this post he was also made Traffic Superintendent of Cornwall Railway Company in 1858.

Mr. Cockshott left South Devon Railway Company in 1865 when he became Superintendent of Line of Great Northern Railway on 4th April of that year, which position he held until he retired at end of December 1895. He died in February 1896.

F.P. Cockshott Collection of Records &c.

A collection of personal letters, forms of apprenticeship, appreciations of his work, and also letters of condolence sent to his family upon his death. The collection includes a cash book of his testimonial fund when he left South Devon Railway in 1858, many letters congratulating him upon his work, and an illuminated address from Railway Clearing House Superintendents' Conference, signed by over one hundred signatories, given to him upon his retirement from Great Northern Railway in 1895.

The collection was received from the grand-daughters of Mr. F.P. Cockshott, the Misses Cockshott of Hove, in February 1961. (See G. 77D ex BRB/BTHR Admin. File).

1878 Fragments of the early history of the Tees, the 40 years' operation of the Tees Navigation Co., and the 26 years' work of the Tees Conservancy Commissioners (with plans etc.,) by W. Fallows. is filed as LIB 3/76 (BR/BTHR Library Ref.)