Harold Lloyd Beadle (1909 – 1997) was associated with the mining, quarrying and transport industries of Teesdale throughout his working life. He acquired an extensive knowledge of the geology of the area and in later life conducted wide ranging research into the history of lead mining and quarrying in Teesdale. He was a regular contributor to journals on industrial archaeology and mining history, and lectured widely on his interests concerning the North Pennine region. All Beadle’s ancestors were either lead or barytes miners, including his father, Philip Beadle, who became quarry manager for Messrs. George Hodsman (1928) Limited, before forming the road haulage business, Philip Beadle and Son, at Forest-in-Teesdale, in April 1930. This business was incorporated as the Teesdale Transport Company Limited on 6 January 1955, and was run by Harold Beadle until the mid 1960s. Beadle then concentrated on quarrying activities until his retirement. Beadle’s mother’s ancestors migrated to Teesdale from Derbyshire in 1758, and worked in the Langdon lead mines for the Earl of Darlington. Harold Beadle was actively associated with the Road Haulage Association at national and area levels. He was also a prominent member of the Barnard Castle and Teesdale Methodist Circuit, having served as circuit auditor and secretary of the former Teesdale Methodist Circuit, and as trustee of the Forest-in-Teesdale chapel. The collection is complete, with the exception of a few duplicate maps which have not been retained, and Beadle’s copies of the Durham County Local History Society Bulletins, Nos. 1 – 45, 1964 – 1990; Documentary Series Nos. 1 – 5, 1979 – 1981; and occasional papers; published between 1966 and 1981; all of which are available in the Durham Record Office library. For records in this catalogue check the section below.