Riddle family archive

170 letters and documents relating to the Riddle family. Kept and written by Edward Riddle (1788-1854), John Riddle (1816-1862) and Edward Riddle (1845-1907). Most of the letters within this collection relate to Edward Riddle (1845-1907).
There are 145 letters sent to Charlotte Jane (Charley) Lucas, his wife from 1873 onwards, during numerous cable laying expeditions for which he was often the engineer in charge, 1870-1891. They provide details of life on board ship and ashore in various places overseas, his professional responsibilities and family events back home. There are first-hand accounts of cable laying operations, in locations including Singapore, Shanghai, Lisbon, Venice, Suez, Manila and Malta.

There are six letters from his colleague and brother-in-law Francis (Frank) Robert Lucas, discussing technical issues, 1879-1888. Additional letters include orders from the London offices of the Telegraph Construction & Maintenance Co. Ltd. and a letter from another colleague, Henry Clifford, expressing sympathy following the death from whooping cough of Riddle’s infant son while he away supervising the laying of the Hong Kong to Manila cable in 1880. There is also an Eastern Telegraph Co. Ltd. diary for 1896, listing notable cable laying anniversaries, with the initials ‘E.R.’ added alongside in pencil to indicate his involvement.

Papers from his father John Riddle (1816-1862) provide an insight into the support he gave to his son’s brief naval career and his interactions with colleagues and astronomers including Sir George Biddell Airy and Reverend George Fisher.