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Title deeds of houses and lands belonging to the Pughe family of Mathafarn, mainly in the parishes of Cemais, Darowen Llanbryn-mair, Llanwrin, Machynlleth and Penegoes in Montgomeryshire, 1403-1736. The deeds record the Pughes’ possession, under a crown lease, of the lordships of Arwystli and Cyfeiliog, as well as the names of properties within those lordships, 1568-1673.

Documents relating to trusts involving the Pughe family of Mathafarn, notably the trust for the Vaughans of the Caethle estate near Tywyn, 1505-1726, and other miscellanous trusts, in which members of the Pughe family acted as trustees or as parties to trust deeds, 1566-1718. The papers comprise mainly title deeds, together with other documents such as wills, settlements, mortgages and wardship papers of Vaughan, Pughe and the other families concerned.

Books and papers relating to the borough and county elections in Cardiganshire, in which members of the Pryse family either stood for Parliament themselves or supported another candidate, The series comprise poll books, 1729-1812, [1841x1852.]; freeholders’ books and other electoral registers, 1760-1849; election accounts, [1769]-1871; political and election letters, 1739-1855; and miscellaneous election papers, [1690]-1862. Some of the miscellaneous bundles contain items which elucidate the system of borough administration at Cardigan and Lampeter in addition to the election material,

Poor law records of Penbryn parish, 1786-1787; Aberystwyth Union, 1836-(postmark 1924); and Berriw parish, 1832-1843, and Machynlleth Union, 1921, in Montgomeryshire, found in the Gogerddan estate records

Personal papers of Lady Marjorie Pryse (formerly Howell), comprising her own diaries, 1926-1987, letters from the Polish pianist, Auguste de Radwan, 1926-1957, a small number of other letters and photographs, and other personal papers, 1911-1984. Both the early diaries and the letters reveal much of the glamorous days of Lady Pryse’s youth at the Conservatoire de Paris, her travels around Europe, the relationship with de Radwan (‘Gucio’ or ‘Rad’) and his career as a concert pianist. After 1930, the diaries describe her life based mainly near Aberystwyth at Gogerddan and Ffynon Caradog, her marriage to Sir Lewes Pryse in 1938, and subsequent widowhood after 1946.

Papers deriving from administration of the Breconshire estates held succcessively by Walter Pryse, Lewis Pryse and Edward Loveden Loveden, situated mainly in the parishes of Llan-gors, Llanfihangel Tal-y-llyn and Llanfihangel Nant Bran, comprising estate rentals, accounts and vouchers, 1740-1826; letters, 1680-1821, and miscellaneous estate administration papers which include Llan-gors timber records, a copy of a seventeenth century survey of Llyn Safaddan and sale particulars, 1705-1805. A substantial proportion of the papers concerns the sale of the Breconshire estates by Edward Loveden Loveden between 1805 and 1807.

Records of the manors of Emlyn Iscych (Emlyn Is Cuch) and Dyffryn Breuan in Pembrokeshire, which had descended to the Pryses of Gogerddan by inheritance from the Lewes family of Abernantbychan, comprising chief rentals, 1742, 1793, 1853-1919; court books and court leet presentments, 1832-1918; accounts and receipts, 1646, 1843-1915; and letters, 1876-1895. The court leet was held at Boncath.

Papers of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, 1849-1919., and the Society’s show at Cardiff, 1919.

Letters mainly to the Pryse and Loveden family or their representatives, from their agents, solicitors, banks, other landowners, local authorities, commercial businesses, and social acquaintances, 1586-1949. They cover mainly the routine administration of the Gogerddan estate, and occasionally Mathafarn, Rug, Abernantbychan, Woodstock and Buscot Park. There is much detailed information on the local Cardiganshire houses and their occupants, relations between the estate and tenants, the exploitation of the estate resources such as timber, minerals and peat, investment in the railways and other commercial ventures (from 1860s), the development of housing in Aberystwyth and the surrounding villages (mainly 19th cent), estate improvements and technical advances in agriculture (19th-20th cent.), the effects of increased official legislation by county councils, rural district councils and the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. (early 20th cent.), sales of Gogerddan property, the maintenance of flood defences around Borth and Tal-y-bont; the establishment of local agricultural shows (late 19th –early 20th cent.), the Gogerddan mortgages, improved communications via the telegraph and telephone (early 20th cent.), problems of implementing the Pryse family settlements and the eventual financial decline of the Gogerddan estate (early 20th cent.). The eighteenth and nineteenth century letters frequently discuss the involvement of the Pryse family in Cardiganshire politics and parliamentary affairs.

Gogerddan estate letter books, containing copies of the outgoing correspondence of the Pryse family and their agents, 1851-1925 (some years missing); and postage books, recording letters sent, 1904-1920. The letters concern mainly the routine administration of the Gogerddan estates but also some family and personal matters. They are described in detail at series level.

Original schedules of deeds and documents belonging to the Gogerddan estates, compiled in volumes and on loose sheets, 1739-1868; and modern schedules and research material [20th cent.], included here for convenience.

Records of tithes, 1749-1929, taxation, 1803-1929, and poor rates, 1899-1922, due on the Gogerddan estate in the parishes and townships in the Aberystwyth area. The tithe records comprise mainly extracts from the tithe apportionments, lists or schedules of the tithe rent charges, valuations, accounts and routine coorespondence. The other records in this section comprise mainly assessments and demand notices for both taxes and the poor rate, tax returns and objections to the poor rate valuation.

Papers deriving from the routine daily work of the Gogerddan agents and from the system of tenancy used on the estate. The documents include agents’ notebooks and work papers, 1810-1925; notifications to tenants, landlord and bailiff, 1851-1918; and registers and schedules of leases, (Watermark 1853)-1913.

Papers relating to various charities and schools either founded by or supported by the Pryse family of Gogerddan, 1752-1914. They include two national charities and two of local interest, the Gogerddan charity, 1856-1866, and Lady Pryse’s charity during scarlet fever epidemic, 1873. The school papers comprise mainly letters and accounts concerning Penrhyn-coch, Commins Coch, Clarach and other schools,, together with some additional items concerning local churches, chapels and estate matters, 1752-1910. One file relates to the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1910.

Records of the Gogerddan estate relating to mining and quarrying in Montgomeryshire, 1864-1881, and Flintshire, 1740.

Papers deriving from lawsuits and other legal business involving the Pryse and Loveden family of Gogerddan and Buscot Park, their tenants and others, 1574-[post-1908]. The earliest series comprises small numbers of papers from miscellaneous legal cases relating mainly to Cardiganshire properties of the Pryse family and others, notably Our Lady’s Mill in Aberystwyth, 1574-1682. Subsequent series describe cases involving Sir Richard Pryse and Thomas Pryse, 1657-1679; Dame Dorothy Pryse and Edward Pryse, 1661-1711; Lewis Pryse, [1712x1719]; John Pryse, Thomas Pryse, John Pughe Pryse and Walter Pryse, [1712x1717] -1755, 1860; Lewis Lewis of Doleclettwr, and other miscellaneous cases, 1727-1744; Lewis Pryse, Margaret Pryse and Edward Loveden Loveden, [1753]x1828; miscellaneous cases in Cardiganshire, Merioneth and Montgomeryshire, 1809x[1850]; Pryse Pryse and Pryse Loveden, 1817-1869; and Sir Pryse Pryse, 1826-[post-1908]. Notable among these are the recovery of debts on the estate of Thomas Pryse, 1661-1711; a dispute between Walter Pryse and Lord Lisburne over the boundaries of Grogwynion lead mine, 1741-1751; an action of trespass ibrought by Mathew Davies of Tanybwlch against Pryse Loveden, in the manor of Genau’r-glyn, 1860; and a dispute between the Crown, represented by the Attorney General, and Sir Pryse Pryse, concerning the title to land and minerals in the manor of Perfedd, 1863-1864. The legal papers constitute a rich source of personal names, identifying the parties, attorneys and witnesses, often with their ages given. They may also describe geographical locations, wills and settlements of the Pryse family, and genealogical details which may not appear elsewhere

Papers of the Cardiganshire Agricultural Society, comprising printed reports, 1815 and 1823, and a list of rules, prizes annd subscriptions for the Northern Division,, 1856.

Papers deriving from applications by the owners of the Gogerddan estate to the Land Loan and Enfranchisement Company and the Lands Improvement Company for loans to fund various improvements to Gogerddan mansion and other estate poperties, 1872-1921. There were at least five separate applications, identified by contract numbers noted in the two series below. The papers comprise mainly schedules of Gogerddan properties charged with the outlay, particulars and estimates, absolute orders of the enclosure commissioners and the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and routine correspondence from the loan companies.

Shooting and game records of the Gogerddan estate, comprising game books and lists, 1804-1920s; and miscellaneous papers relating to gamekeeping and sporting rights, notably the control of poaching and vermin, sporting leases and agreements, and appointments of gamekeepers, 1814-1924.

Tenancy agreements and leases (including memoranda and drafts), 1739-1924, for houses and lands situated in the parishes and townships of Eglwys-fach (Ysgubor-y-coed), Llanbadarn Fawr, Llanfihangel Genau’r-glyn, Llangorwen (from 1864), and Llangynfelyn in north Cardiganshire, and Machynlleth in Montgomeryshire. The years 1861 and 1864 each include additional files of arbitration agreements and valuations, and other related documents found with them. There are also numerous notices to quit, both to and by tenants of the estate.