Fonds GB 0210 GOGERDDAN - Gogerddan Estate Records

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0210 GOGERDDAN

Title

Gogerddan Estate Records

Date(s)

  • 1238-1987 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

5.403 cubic metres (359 boxed rentals, 348 boxed vols., 127 archive boxes, 7 other outsize boxes (which include 8 boxed rolls))

Context area

Name of creator

(1500-1948)

Biographical history

The Pryses of Gogerddan traced their lineage back to Gwaethfod, Lord of Cardigan (c. 1057). They settled at Gogerddan in the first half of the fourteenth century. The mansion was originally built in the latter half of the fifteenth century. The first member of the family to live there was probably Rhys ap Dafydd. His son Rhisiart was apparently the first to use the surname Pryse.. John Pryse was the first member of the Gogerddan family to become a Member of .Parliament (1553-1555). Richard Pryse (d. 1623), eldest son and heir of John, married Gwenllian, daughter and heiress of Thomas ap Rhys ap Morris ap Owen of Aberbechan, Montgomeryshire. He was succeeded by his son, Sir John Pryse (d. 1621), referred to as ‘of Aberbechan’, Montgomeryshire. His son, Richard Pryse (d. 1651), succeeded to the estates and bought himself a baronetcy in 1641. Richard's eldest son, Sir Richard Pryse, 2nd Bart., was a supporter of Cromwell and held various offices during his administration. Sir Richard died without issue in 1675 and was succeeded by his brother, Sir Thomas Pryse, 3rd Bart. who died unmarried in 1682. Sir Carbery Pryse, 4th Bart., a nephew, then succeeded to Gogerddan and became M.P. for Cardigan 1690-1694. In 1690 lead was discovered on the estate at Bwlch yr Esgair Hir and Sir Carbery formed a company to mine these deposits. When he died unmarried in 1694 the baronetcy expired. The estates passed to Edward Pryse who sold his interest in the mines to Sir Humphrey Mackworth for £16,000. After Edward Pryse’e death in 1699, the estate passed to Lewis Pryse, who became M.P. for Cardiganshire in 1701, when only 18 years old. Lewis married Ann, daughter and heiress of John Lloyd, of Aberllefenni, Merionethshire. Lewis Pryse died without male issue in 1720 and the estate devolved to his cousin, Thomas. Thomas Pryse married Maria, daughter and heiress of Rowland Pughe of Mathafarn, Montgomeryshire [c. 1738]. Their son, John Pugh Pryse died unmarried in 1774 and the estate passed to his cousin, Lewis Pryse (1716-1779). Lewis married Margaret, heiress of Edward Ryves of New Woodstock, Oxfordshire. In addition to Gogerddan, he also inherited the estates which his father, Walter Pryse of Painswick, had gained by his marriage to Elizabeth Lewes, comprising Llan-gors, Breconshire, lands in Pembrokeshire once belonging to Nicholas Lewes of Hean Castle and the Abernantbychan estate in South Cardiganshire..His son, also called, Lewis, pre-deceased himr and died unmarried in 1776., leaving his daughter Margaret as sole heiress. Margaret had married Edward Loveden Loveden of Buscot Park, Berkshire in 1773 and her husband took an active interest in the management of the Welsh estates. By this period the estate comprised some 30,000 acres in Cardiganshire alone, with other land in Pembrokeshire, Merionethshire and Breconshire. It was Edward and Margaret's son, Pryse Loveden (1774-1849) who inherited Gogerddan and Buscot. He took the surname Pryse by royal licence in 1798. Pryse was M.P. for Cardigan Borough 1818-1835, 1837-1849. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Pryse Pryse (d. 1855) who reverted to the surname and arms of Loveden. His son and heir, Pryse (1838-1906) took the Loveden surname by royal licence in 1855. He then re-took the surname and arms of Pryse in 1863. and became Sir Pryse Pryse, 1st Baronet of the second creation in 1866. Sir Pryse Pryse sold the Buscot estate of 3,548 acres in 1860. According to the return of owners of land, he owned an estimated 32,359 acres in Wales (in Cardiganshire, Montgomeryshire and Pembrokeshire) with an estimated rental of £11,325. However, he was forced to sell parts of the estate, begining in 1875, when management of the estate passed to his son, Pryse Pryse Pryse, who pre-deceased his father in 1900, and land to the value of £186,552 was sold up to 1895. The estate was inherited by Sir Pryse Pryse's second son, Sir Edward John Webley-Parry-Pryse, 2nd Bart. In 1892 he had taken on the additional surname and arms of Webley-Parry by royal licence following his marriage to Nina Catherine Angharad, only daughter of David Kedgwin William Henry Webley-Parry of Noyadd Trefawr. Sir Edward died without issue in 1918 and was succeeded by his brothers, Sir Lewes Thomas Loveden Pryse (1864-1946), 3rd Bart., and George Rice-Pryse-Saunders (1870-1948), 4th Bart. The latter had taken on the additional surname of Saunders when his wife, Geraldine Mabel Saunders (b. 1872), inherited the Glanrhydw estate. in Carmarthenshire. George's son, Sir Pryse Loveden Pryse-Saunders-Pryse (d. 1962) of Glanrhydw became the 5th and last baronet. Gogerddan had been the home of the Pryse family for 600 years before it was eventually sold Over 7,000 acres were sold in 1930 to the Forestry Commission. The remaining 3.700 acres were sold, and the mansion and home farm were acquired by the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, between 1948 and 1950..

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Most of the papers were deposited by Sir Pryse Loveden Saunders-Pryse, Bart., Gogerddan, Cardiganshire, and Glanrhydw, Carmarthenshire, in November 1948, and subsequently purchased by NLW in August 1949. Further acquisitions since 1949 include a donation of mining records by Mrs M. Williams, Goginan, 1950, deposits by Messrs Farrer & Co., per the British Records Association in 1971 and Bridges, Sawtell & Adams, London, per the British Records Association in 1983, as well as a number of donations or deposits of single items between 1955 and 1973. The personal papers of Lady Marjorie Pryse were donated by Mr Hugh P. Richards of Penegoes, Machynlleth, Powys, in May 1997

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the Gogerddan estate, Cardiganshire, and the Pryse family, including branches of the family at Glanfred, Ynysgreigiog and Glanmerin,1238-1987. There are also records of various other families linked to Gogerddan by marriage: Loveden of Buscot Park, Berkshire, Lewes (or Lewis) of Llan-gors, Breconshire, and of Abernantbychan and Coedmor in Cardiganshire, Hean Castle in Pembrokeshire and Hurst in Berkshire and Wiltshire, Pughe of Mathafarn, Montgomeryshire, and via the Pughe family, Salesbury of Rug. Merionethshire. The main group of Gogerddan estate papers comprises rentals, 1719-1931; valuations, 1805-[early 20th cent.]; title deeds, 1332-1930; estate administration records which include agency and tenancy papers, 1810-1925, estate accounts, 1474-1926 (mainly 1850s-1926), building records, 1766-1921, agricultural records, 1796-1922, forestry and timber records, 1816-1923, papers relating to enclosures on Cors Fochno and elsewhere, 1743-1899, hunting, shooting and fishing records, 1804-1943, and household administration records, 1668-1928; estate and general correspondencec, 1586-1924; papers of various agricultural societies, 1815-1924; Cardiganshire lead mining records, 1656-1924; manorial records mainly from Genau’r-glyn, Cardiganshire, and Emlyn Iscych, Pembrokeshire, and a few from Lampeter, 1610-1919; legal papers, 1441-[post-1908]; mortgages and other financial papers, 1577-1926; papers relating to the Cardigan Borough elections and other political papers, [1690]-1880[; county administration papers from Cardiganshire and other counties, 1523-1929; records of institutions such as churches and chapels, schools and charities, 1620-1945; papers relating to roads and railways, 1776-1900; the Pryse family probate records and family settlements, 1549-1950; and personal papers of the family, including Lady Marjorie Pryse, 1641-1987. There are several sub-groups of records from the other estates. The first of these is Abernantbychan, 1416-1918, which includes rentals, 1722-1887and valuations, 1790-[c. 1881]. The other estates comprise Mathafarn, 1403-1754, Aberbechan and Main, 1238-1684, Rug, 1529-1744, and miscellaneous estates which include Peterwell and Nanteos, Cardiganshire, Llanboidy in Carmarthenshire and Montserrat, West Indies, 1562-[c.1887],The BRA deposit consisted of papers mainly from the offices of solicitors, Atwood and Hughes of Aberystwyth, and Boys and Tweedie of London. It included original Gogerddan deeds, together with maps, correspondence, papers relating to enclosures in the manor of Genau’r-glyn, sales and purchases of land, mining and court cases, and papers amassed during administration of the estate after the death of Pryse Loveden in 1855. The material in the BRA Deposit has been amalgamated with the main Gogerddan catalogue, albeit as discrete files for retrieval purposes.Overall, the collection reflects the historical importance of Gogerddan and the Pryse family within Cardiganshire. Several major themes emerge from the estate records: the history of property ownership and building development in the Aberystwyth area, estate work such as land drainage, building improvements, agriculture, forestry, mining, gamekeeping and foxhunting, county politics, and participation in large-scale commercial enterprises such as the railways. The personal papers illustrate the family’s interests and their deep concern over financial issues during the final decline of the Gogerddan estate.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

All records acquired by NLW have been retained apart from those scheduled for destruction, and the records relating to the Buscot Park estate, which have been transferred to Berkshire Record Office. Duplicate blank forms, blank wrappers and duplicate pre-printed business envelopes have been destroyed. (Authority to destroy given by NLW form no. HP/2018/2). Details are given in the relevant file descriptions.

Accruals

Accruals are not expected.

System of arrangement

Arranged as eight groups, the first two comprising estate rentals and valuations of Gogerddan and Abernantbychan (transferred from a previous catalogue, with additions). The other six groups comprise records of the estates of Gogerddan, Llan-gors (Breconshire), Abernantbychan, Cardigan Priory and Llangathen; Mathafarn; Aberbechan and Main; Rug; and miscellaneous estates. These groups incorporate 348 volumes (Gogerddan Vols) which had been previously numbered and boxed at NLW. They also incorporate the BRA Deposit. Both the Gogerddan Vols and the BRA Deposit have been integrated into the main catalogue description in the appropriate sections..

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions set out in information provided when applying for their Readers' Tickets, whereby the reader shall become responsible for compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 in relation to any processing by them of personal data obtained from modern records held at the Library. = Disgwylir i ddarllenwyr sydd am ddefnyddio papurau modern yn Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru gydymffurfio â Deddf Warchod Data 2018 a Rheoliadau Diogelu Data Cyffredinol 2018 yng nghyd-destun unrhyw brosesu ganddynt o ddata personol a gasglwyd o gofnodion modern sydd ar gadw yn y Llyfrgell. Nodir y manylion yn yr wybodaeth a roddir wrth wneud cais am Docyn Darllen

Conditions governing reproduction

Usual copyright laws apply.

Language of material

  • English
  • Latin

Script of material

Language and script notes

English, Latin.

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Further details relating to manorial records within the archive can be accessed online from The National Archives Manorial Documents Register.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Gogerddan estate papers relating to Buscot Park, Woodstock and other English estates of the Loveden family, and the estate of the Darker family in Northamptonshire, have been transferred to Berkshire Record Office, ref. D/ELV and D/ECH. Gogerddan maps and plans have been transferred to NLW Maps Collection. Pictures, portraits and photographs have been transferred to NLW Special Collections. Other papers at NLW relating to the Gogerddan estate are NLW Roll 227, NLW Manuscripts (refs given at file level), T.G.G. Herbert papers (Minor lists 1990), Wyndham Powell Records, and Cwmcynfelyn estate records (GB 0210 CWMLYN); Roberts and Evans Aberystwyth (Solicitors) records include papers relating to the Cwmcynfelyn estate, CM5. Further estate papers from Gogerddan are at Ceredigion Archives, refs, ADX, AMC, BRA, Mus/106, Shipping Records and other scattered references.

Related descriptions

Publication note

Richard J. Colyer,'The Pryse Family of Gogerddan and the decline of a great estate, 1800-1960', in Welsh History Review, 9.4 (1979)

Publication note

Daniel Huws, 'The Lewes family of Abernantbychan', Ceredigion, 6.2 (1969)

Publication note

Dafydd Jenkins, 'The Pryse Family of Gogerddan', National Library of Wales Journal, 8 (1953-1954), pp. 81, 176, 353

Publication note

Radio broadcast talk 'Gogerddan and the Pryses' by George Eyre Evans in NLW, ref. BBC Scripts 26/04/61

Notes area

Note

Title based on contents of fonds. Titles throughout the catalogue are usually based on content but where original titles are used this is noted.

Note

Many items had been numbered at NLW prior to the current catalogue. The reference numbers for the rentals, valuations and Gogerddan Vols have been retained. Other numbers have been changed to fit the new catalogue structure. Original numbers allocated by the estate have been appended in the notes for each file. Others refer to the William Jones schedule, or the Gogerddan Old Schedule. Previous numbers allocated by NLW are denoted by NLW Gogerddan. Part of the archive comprises deeds and papers received from the British Records Association (BRA Deposit C1983/12, in two batches numbered 2093 and 2098) and those numbers have also been noted..

Note

The family name has been spelt Pryse throughout for consistency, even when alternative spellings appear in the original documents.

Alternative identifier(s)

Virtua system control number

vtls004250275

GEAC system control number

(WlAbNL)0000250275

ALMA

99206350102419

Access points

Place access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales

Rules and/or conventions used

Description follows NLW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.; AACR2; and LCSH

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

April 2002, September 2018, May 2024.

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

Sources

The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: James, Brian, 'The Great Landowners of Wales in 1873', National Library of Wales Journal, XIV (1965-66); Jones, Francis, Historic Cardiganshire Homes and their families (Newport, 2000); Edkins, Jennifer, Gogerddan Mansion and Estate (Aberystwyth, 1989); Colyer, Richard J., 'The Pryse family of Gogerddan and the decline of a great estate, 1800-1960', The Welsh History Review, vol. 9, no. 4 (Cardiff, 1979); Huws, Daniel, 'The Lewes family of Abernantbychan', Ceredigion, vol. VI, no. 2 (1969); Jenkins, Dafydd, 'The Pryse family of Gogerddan', National Library of Wales Journal, vol. VIII (1953-54);

Archivist's note

Compiled by Mair James and revised by Hilary Peters

Archivist's note

Revised by Lucie Hobson, May 2024.

Accession area