Catalogue description Papers of R E Pannett

The papers in this collection fall into three main groups: business papers, papers concerning Pannett's art collections and a miscellaneous papers. This collection comprises

Business Papers

Papers arising from the Franklin Trust which was established by Joseph Frankland, farmer of Danby, in favour of his daughter Mary Agar Frankland 1838-1885, including voluntary settlement concerning members of the Frankland family 1838; appointments of Thomas Broderick Simpson and Robert Elliott Pannett as trustees 1863; receipt for duty paid to the Inland Revenue 1876; trustees' account 1885.

Papers relating to the Stewart trust which was established under the will of Thomas Stewart, tailor of Whitby 1876-1880, including receipt for duty paid to the Inland Revenue 1876; release mentioning Jane Stewart and Thomas Tinley both of Whitby 1879; circular announcing that John Tinley Stewart has become the sole and beneficial proprietor of the tailor's and woollen draper's business at 14 Flowergate, Whitby 1880.

Art Collections

Papers relating to Pannett's purchase of three drawings by Frederick, Lord Leighton, of the transfiguration, studies for a scheme for the decoration of St Paul's Cathedral 1897, including catalogue of a collection of studies by the late Lord Leighton, exhibited by the Fine Art Society, Bond Street, with accompanying letter from the Fine Art Society to Pannett 1897; letter from F C Penrose to Pannett following Pannett's visit to St Paul's Cathedral 1897; unsigned note outlining the history of the commissioning of drawings from Lord Leighton of a scheme for the decoration of St Paul nd; catalogue of reproductions of Lord Leighton's pictures published by the Fine Art Society nd.

Papers relating to Pannett's purchase of drawings by George du Maurier 1875-1898, including notes and correspondence relating to the purchase from the Fine Art Society by Pannett of drawings by George du Maurier 1896; two catalogues of drawings by George du Maurier exhibited at the Fine Art Society, Bond Street 1897; pages from Punch and other magazines containing drawings by George du Maurier 1875-1898.

Papers relating to Pannett's purchase from Morris and Company of tapestries of "Panona" and "Flora" designed by Edward Burne-Jones 1900, including two labels of Morris and Company for two arras tapestries, one of "Panona" and the other of "Flora" 1900; twelve letters between Morris and Company and Pannett concerning the purchase of the tapestries 1900; telegram confirming Pannett's purchase of the tapestries from Morris and Company; bill and receipt for tapestries and fittings 1900.

Papers relating to Pannett's attempts to acquire a copy of the official commemorative medal marking the Investiture of Edward, Prince of Wales 1913, including letter from the J Matthews, Royal Mint to Mr Heaton referring Heaton to dealers if he wishes to obtain an Investiture Medal - the Mint has no further supplies of them 1913; postcard from Spinks and Son to Pannett regretting that they have no Investiture Medals 1913; postcard from J W Taylor of Cardiff to Pannett agreeing to make enquiries regarding Investiture Medals 1913; letter from Heaton to Pannett about various things including the discomfort of Yorkshire railways and ammonites 1913; letter from J W Taylor of Cardiff to Pannett saying he has obtained an official Prince of Wales' Investiture Medal 1913; letter from Pannett to J W Taylor acknowledging receipt of the medal with thanks 1913; postcard from Ralph Heaton to Pannett stating Pannett's medal is wrong - a piece of "Brummagen rubbish", he is sending the real thing which Pannett will please return 1913; postcard from Ralph Heaton to Pannett advising Pannett that the letter and medal arrived safely 1913.

Miscellaneous Papers

Pocket account book embossed on cover with advertisement for Pannett's Grocery and Italian Warehouse, est 1824, St Georges House, Brighton nd; copy of an inscription on the coffin plate of Colonel James Wilson c1830; business card for C H Pannett c19th century; advertisement for Charles Bartindale of Whitby c19th century; Mrs J B Simpson's recipe for ginger bread c19th century.

Pannett, Robert Elliott, 1834-1920, justice of the peace of Whitby, North Riding of Yorkshire

• Whitby, North Riding of Yorkshire
• Art collections

Robert Elliott Pannett was born in Whitby on the 7th February 1834, the younger child and only son of William Pannett, a manservant and hairdresser who had moved to the town from Littlehampton, Sussex. Pannett was apprenticed to Thomas Broderick Simpson, solicitor of Baxtergate, at the age of twelve, later serving his articles with him. On Simpson's retirement, Pannett was assigned to Bell, Broderick and Gray in Flowergate, qualified at Lincoln's Inn and was admitted solicitor in November 1858. He entered into partnership with Matthew Grey in 1859, later being in partnership with Matthew's son William Seaton Grey. He retired from legal practice in 1896. In 1863, at the age of 29, Pannett was elected one of the Town Improvement Commissioners, becoming clerk to that body three years later. When the Commissioners were succeeded by the District Local Board in 1872 he became clerk to the Board, which he held until 1894 when Whitby became an Urban District. On the establishment of the North Riding County Council in 1888, Pannett was elected County Councillor for Whitby West, which he held until appointed a County Alderman 1908. While on the council he was Chairman of the Education Committee and served on many others. He became a Justice of the Peace in 1903. He was an active member of the Brunswick Methodist Church establishing a Sunday school and library of over 3000 volumes. He was also a vice-president of the Whitby Fanciers' Society, life governor of the Whitby Cottage Hospital, and concerned in the running of the Public Dispensary, the Trust for the Blind, the Union Benefit Society, the Charity Organisation Society, the Whitby Institute and the Choral Society. He joined the Whitby Literary and Philosophical Society in 1861 and served on its Committee from 1862 to 1920. Over the years Pannett made many benefactions to the town, notably land on Church Street opposite the Seaman's Hospital and near the Wesleyan Chapel, lighting on the West Pier and gifts to local schools. His main benefactions were Brunswick Rooms and Pannett Park. The latter was created on land on the Chubb Hill estate formerly market gardens and bought by Pannett to prevent speculative building. In his will he directed his trustees that it was to "become a public park...and if deemed expedient...a site for the erection of a public museum...for the reception and preservation of my water colour drawings, works of art, objects of natural history and other things." The Pannett Art Gallery was opened in 1928. Robert Elliott Pannett died on the 22nd July 1920.

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