ABSTRACT
The invention of the 'Lambeth Power Rope' by Thomas Hart, R. E. Hart's father, transformed their business, Thomas Hart Rope Works, from a comfortable family concern to a multi-national company that produced immense profits. The span of his life coincided with the apex and decline of the fortunes of the industrialists of the northwest. Hart's ability to spend was matched by his inclination to do so, most particularly on his collector's passion for rare books and coins. The chapter focuses on Hart's collection of books and coins which were bequeathed to the Blackburn Public Library upon his death. It argues that Hart's gift to the town was unusual in its bibliographical significance, but it was also part of a philanthropic movement which was particularly pronounced in these regional centres. The Hart collection of manuscripts, rare books and coins is certainly one of the most important in the United Kingdom with regard to the quality and variety of its contents.
