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Records of the Abernantbychan estate in south Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire, 1416-1918, [1918x1946] which also incorporated the Llangoedmor estate., lying mainly in the parishes of Penbryn, Betws Ifan, Bron-gwyn, Blaen-porth, Troed-yr-aur, Llangrannog, Llangynllo, Llandyfriog, Llangoedmor, Cardigan, Llechryd and Tre-main in Cardiganshire, and in Amroth, Crunwear, St Issells, Begeli, Tenby and Hodgeston. The estate also included the lordships or manors of Cilgerran, East and West Pembroke, and Emlyn Iscych. The records comprise title deeds, 1416-1894, estate administration papers, 1613-1918, [1918x1946], legal papers, 1672-1891, and Pembrokeshire colliery papers, 1745-1866.

Rentals, [c. 1722]- 1887,and receiving rentals, 1815-1816, and additional rentals, 1778-1881

The history of agricultural societies in Cardiganshire goes back to 1784, when the Cardiganshire Agricultural Society was founded by Thomas Johnes of Hafod. There was a Northern Division, of which Capt. Pryse was vice-president in 1856, and two shows for the north of the county were established at Aberystwyth. As early as 1858, the Society had proposed the establishment of a royal agricultural society in Wales. Eventually the Welsh National Agricultural Society was founded in 1904; Sir Lewes Thomas Loveden Pryse of Gogerddan was its first secretary and general manager. The annual show was held in Aberystwyth, then at Llanelli in 1910. Subequently it was held at various venues until 1963, when a permanent location was found for the Royal Welsh Show at Builth Wells. The North Cardiganshire Agricultural Society was founded in 1874 and the first show was held at Aberystwyth. Support for the shows declined towards the end of the nineteenth century. However, the success of of trotting matches at Tal-y-bont encouraged Sir Pryse Pryse and his son, Pryse Pryse Pryse, to instigate the North Cardiganshire Agricultural Society and Tal-y-bont Show in 1896. From 1861, the Gogerddan estate had also held its own farm and horticultural competitions,which ended c. 1904.
The papers relate to the various agricultural societies and shows with which the Pryse family of Gogerddan were involved or in which they had an interest, 1815-1924. Of particular significance are the papers from the foundation and early years of the Welsh National Agricultural Society, 1904-1910. The main groups relate to the Cardiganshire Agricultural Society, Gogerddan Show, North Cardiganshire Agricultural Society, Talybont and North Cardiganshire Agricultural Society and the Welsh National Agricultural Society, followed by smaller local societies and miscellaneous others. The majority of the papers comprise small paperback volumes containing printed reports, show schedules, livestock catalogues, lists of subscribers and prizes. Several of the reports and schedules are marked with manuscript amendments or annotations in the margins. This group also includes rules, subscription lists, show entry forms, balance sheets and letters.

Estate papers and title deeds of the Breconshire estates belonging successively to the Lewes (Lewis) family of Borden, Hurst and Abernantbychan, Walter Pryse of Painswick, Lewis Pryse of Woodstock and Gogerddan, and Edward Loveden Loveden of Buscot Park (on behalf of his eldest son by Margaret Pryse). The title deeds relate to properties mainly in the parishes of Llan-gors, Llanfihangel Nant Bran and Llanfihangel Tal-y-Llyn, 1488-1774. The estate administation section includes accounts, rentals and vouchers, letters, and miscellaneous other papers, 1680-1826, some of which relate to the sale of the estate between 1805 and 1807.

Deeds and other documents found with the Gogerddan estate records, relating to two other prominent Cardiganshire estates., Peterwell and Nanteos. The bulk of this section is concerned with the proposed purchase by Edward Loveden Loveden oof the Peterwell estate ultimately confined to the acquisition of a single crown property and the profits issuing from the lordship of Iscoed Gwynionydd, 1607, 1748-1811. There is also a small number of papers in this section which relate to Nanteos, 1695, 1808-1812.

Papers deriving from official administrative procedures at a local level in Cardiganshire, 1523-1929, and in Montgomeryshire, Merioneth, Breconshire, Pembrokeshire and miscellaneous Welsh counties, 1580-1929, which reflect the prominent role of the families of Pryse, Pughe, Salesbury and Lewis in the public life of those counties. They typically include appointments of sheriffs, deputy lieutenants and other county officials, town corporation records, JPs’ papers, crown revenue records and a small number of county council papers.

Title deeds and other documents found with the Gogerddan estate records, relating to properties in various English counties, 1600-1845, and a single file of deeds relaring to a plantation in Montserrat in the West Indies, 1695-1698. The Gloucestershire deed has an obvious connection with Gogerddan through Walter Pryse [of Painswick]. The provenance of the remaining items in the series has not been established; neither has origin of the file relating to the property in Montserrat.

A large quantity of correspondence between the successive owners of the Gogerddan estate, their agents, solicitors and other parties. The main group comprises incoming letters from miscellaneous correspondents, 1586-1949. The next group contains letters of specific correspondents, 1753-1924, namely the London solicitors, Charles Deare, and Boys and Tweedie, and the stamp distributor, James Morse. The third group consists of numerous letter books containing copies of outgoing correspondence, 1851-1925. The final group comprises the letters and papers of Thomas Pryse and his trustee, mainly 1660-1790. The main subject throughout the correspondence is the routine management of Gogerddan esate business. Other prominent themes include lead mining, quarrying and timber production; commercial ventures such as shipping (mid-18th cent.); the railways (1860s); the development of housing in Aberystwyth and the surrounding villages (mainly 19th cent), manorial rights in the manors of Genau’r-glyn, Perfedd and Cyfoethybrenin, agricultural improvements; the establishment of local shows (late 19th –early 20th cent.), patronage of local schools and charities, and the financial decline of the Gogerddan estate (early 20th cent.) Many of the letters from other landowners reveal the social scene and political interests of the Cardiganshire gentry in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. They demonstrate clearly the exercise of personal influence to obtain positions for their own families and acquaintances. The solicitors’ letters concentrate on the family settlements, trusts and financial issues affecting the Gogerddan estate. Some letters and documents relate to other estates as well as Gogerddan.. For example, the papers of Thomas Pryse (d. 1745) cover the administration of the Mathafarn and Rug estates; and the letters to Pryse Pryse (d. 1849) refer to the Buscot Park and Woodstock estates.

Gogerddan estate and household administration papers, 1471-1950. They comprise surveys and valuations, 1766-1919; agency and tenancy papers, 1810-1925; main tenancy agreements and leases, 1739-1924; accounts, bills and receipts, 1474-1927 (mainly 1850s-1926); building specifications and estimates, 1766-1921; tithe, taxation and poor rate records, 1749-1929; employment and wages records, 1873-1950; timber and forestry records, 1816-1923; agricultural production records, 1796-1922; estate enclosure papers, 1743-1899; applications to land improvement loan companies, 1872-1921; sale catalogues and papers relating to sales, 1813-1923; fishing records, 1870-1943; hunting records, 1834-1935; shooting and game records, 1804-1924; insurance policies, 1847-1929; miscellaneous estate papers, (Watermark 1801)-1917; and household administration, 1668-1928, which include papers from the Loveden house in Bridge Street, Aberystwyth..
The papers strongly reflect the functions of Gogerddan as an agricultural and forestry estate, particularly from the mid-nineteenth century, when the recording of labour, production and accounts became more systematic. There is evidence of considerable outlay on improvements to buildings and land, particularly the enclosure and drainage of Cors Fochno (Borth Bog). The family’s interest in hunting, shooting and fishing is represented amply by the records they kept.

Rentals, 1747-1931, receiving/collecting rentals, 1820-1920, rent arrears, 1745-1817, rent audit books, 1891-1918, tithe rent charges, 1891-1916 ; and additional rentals, 1719-1931.

Financial papers of the Pryse family of Gogerddan, comprising mortgages to private individuals and to the Crown Life Assurance Company, of parts of the Gogerddan estate and of various financial assets, 1617-1910; bonds and other documents relating to financial loans and the repayment of debts, 1577-1912; bank books, 1786-1926; and company prospectuses and a shares book, 1865-1909.

Papers deriving from lawsuits and other legal business involving the Pryse/Loveden family of Gogerddan and Buscot Park and others associated with them, 1574-[post-1908]; and arbitration awards, 1441-1894. Most of the disputes are concerned with the Gogerddan inheritance, titles to property or boundary disputes in Cardiganshire.

Records of various manors which were held by the Gogerddan estate and records of manors belonging to the Crown or other landowners, in which the Pryse/Loveden family had an interest, 1610-1919. The largest group derives from the manor of Genau’r-glyn, Cardiganshire, and it includes good series of chief rentals, court leet presentments and perambulations, 1622-1919. Other manors represented here are Emlyn Iscych and Dyffryn Breuan in Pembrokeshire, 1646-1919; East and West Pembroke, 1736-1756 and [late 18th cent]; the manor of Cyfeiliog in Montgomeryshire, [c. 1674]-1920; Anhuniog, Creuddyn, Cyfoethybrenin and other miscellaneous manors in Cardiganshire, 1610-1906.

Records of the Gogerddan estate deriving from the industrial exploitation of minerals and quarry stone on the estate. The majority relate to the mines and quarries in north Cardiganshire, 1656-1924, covering mostly the area between Aberystwyth and Machynlleth but also including Grogwynion at Llanafan. The group also contains a substantial quantity of letters and papers arising from the development of the Plynlimon and Hafan Tramway 1875-1919; and a small number of leases, letters and accounts relating to mining and quarrying in Merioneth, 1699-1913, Montgomeryshire, 1864-1881, and Flintshire, 1740. The papers record almost every aspect of lead, silver and copper mining in Cardiganshire, describing the initial surveys, the processing and extraction of ore, the equipment required, the output of the mines, the impact on the Cardiganshire landscape, the shipping of ores to Swansea, the investment and commercial aspects, and relations between the Gogerddan estate and the mining companies. It is interesting to note the involvement of investors and prospectors from Flintshire, Derbyshire, Cornwall, Scotland and London. This section is also a rich source of personal names, both of the mining contractors and their work-force. For the names of the mines and further details, see the sections below.

Papers within the Gogerddan estate records relating to Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway, Cambrian Railways and other rail companies in Wales and Shropshire, 1852-1900; and papers relating to roads and bridges in Cardiganshire, 1776-[late 19th x early 20th cent.]

Political papers belonging to members of the Pryse family of Gogerddan, several of whom were Members of Parliament for the Cardigan Boroughs or for the County of Cardigan at different times, [1690]-1880.. This group contains parliamentary papers accumulated by the Pryses, 1708-1880; and papers relating to elections in Cardiganshire, [1690]-1871, which include which include poll books and lists of freeholders from the early eighteenth to mid-ninetenth centuries.

This section comprises one group of original schedules created by the Gogerddan estate, 1739-1868, and modern schedules which were created by NLW staff and researchers [20th cent.]; several groups of title deeds 1332-1930; and one series of detached seals, fragments, labels and wrappers, [16th cent]-1960. The title deeds, 1332-1930, concern properties mainly in Aberystwyth, Llanbadarn Fawr, Llanfihangel Genau’r-glyn and Llangynfelyn in Cardiganshire, and they also include a small number for Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire. The original estate schedules and modern finding aids have also been included with the deeds.

Family papers of the Lewes and Pryse families of Abernantbychan, Coedmor and Woodstock, comprising probate records, settlements, evidence of title, and executor’s trusts, 1599-1770; and personal memoranda and journals of Walter Pryse, Lewis Pryse and George Lewis Langton, 1702-1778.

Records of two other estates linked with Abernantbychan and Gogerddan, comprising lands in Llangathen, Carmarthenshire, and other nearby parishes, 1428-1660, and the Priory estate, Cardigan, [c. 1560x1774].. Llangathen appears to have had connections with the Lewes family of Abernantbychan, and the Priory was purchased directly by Gogerddan in 1705. The Llangathen group comsists mostly of early title deeds, and it also includes a conveyance of the rectory of Pencarreg, 1608. The records from Cardigan Priory include letters, deeds, rentals, a survey and accounts, [c. 1560x1774].

Title deeds of houses and lands belonging to the Pughe family of the Mathafarn estate situated in Llanwrin and several adjacent parishes in Montgomeryshire, 1403-1736, and in several parishes in Merioneth, mainly around Mallwyd, 1544-1704; and a series of miscellanous deeds and bonds, 1562-1754.