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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.

Letters mainly to the Pryse and Loveden family of Gogerddan, Buscot Park and Woodstock or their representatives, from specific correspondents, namely Charles Deare of the Inner Temple, 1803-1843, James Morse of Carmarthen and others involved in his case, 1831-1855,, and Boys and Tweedie, solicitors, of Ely Place and Lincolns Inn Fields, 1845-1924, whose files have also preserved the outgoing letters originally sent to them by the Pryses. The solicitors’ letters concern mainly the Pryse family settlements and trusts, provision for the family widows and younger children, estate purchases and sales, mortgages, and the financial management of the Buscot Park, Woodstock and Gogerddan estates. The letters and papers of James Morse discuss his case as a defaulter to the Crown but they also provide insights into his career and his involvement in Cardiganshire politics in the mid-nineteenth century. There is also a single file of letters to Charles Hayes, Deputy Governor of the Royal African Company, 1733-1748.

Papers relating to various railways in which the Pryse family of Gogerddan had an actual or speculative interest. There are two series, respectively relating to the Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway which ran through Gogerddan land, 1860-1867, and The Cambrian Railways Company, 1873-1899, followed by a single file of papers relating to miscellaneous railway companies in Wales and Shropshire, 1852-1900. The contents include letters, field books, particulars of the land taken for use of the railway, reports, accounts, official notices, two deeds, Acts of Parliament, maps and a list of employees of the Cambrian Railways Company in 1873.

Papers in the Gogerddan estate records relating to roads in the Aberystwyth area maintained by Aberystwyth District Turnpike Trust, 1776-1844, and by Cardiganshire County Council, [late 19th x early 20th cent.]; and a draft appeal to raise subscriptions for the Llyfnant Bridge [pre-1849]

Printed sale catalogues for portions of the Gogerddan estate and for other Cardiganshire estates in which Gogerddan may have had an interest, 1858-1923; and sale agreements, notices, schedules of property for sale, etc, 1813-1921. The properties were situated mainly in the parishes of Aberystwyth, Llanbadarn Fawr, Llanfihangel Genau’r-Glyn and Llangynfelyn.

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.

Gogerddan show papers, 1890-1910,

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.

Title deeds of the Gogerddan estate, 1332-1930, mainly relating to properties in the north Cardiganshire parishes of Aberystwyth, Llanbadarn Fawr, Llanfihangel Genau’r-glyn and Llangynfelyn, and the townships of those parishes. The group contains a small number of deeds for properties in Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire, 1584-1862; and miscellaneous deeds of the Gogerddan estate and elsewhere in Cardiganshire, for which the provenance is more doubtful, 1476-1881. Some sixteenth century documents concern the lands once belonging to Gruffith ap Lle'n Vayne and Rice ap Griffith, attainted for high treason.
The deeds provide an overall view of the early acquisition of lands by John Pryse and Sir Richard Pryse from the sixteenth to early seventeenth centuries, and by Margaret Pryse of Woodstock, Oxfordshire, in the late eighteenth century. By the late nineteenth century the deeds record the sale by Sir Pryse Pryse and his trustees of portions of the settled estates, which by that date were heavily mortgaged. There is much scope for researching the land ownership of north Cardiganshire by the Crown and by prominent families, notably Pryse, Clement, Phellippe (Phillips) of Aberystwyth, Vaughan, Glais, Davies of Crigie, Pugh of Cwmsymlog, and Johnes of Abermarlais. Early deeds show the layout and development of Aberystwyth town, naming some local landmarks which still exist. The effects of the Genau’r-glyn enclosure acts are shown in the deeds for Llanfihangel Genau’r-glyn and Llangynfelyn from the first half of the nineteenth century.

Papers relating to the planning and construction of the Hafan Tramway, which was a narrow-gauge railway in Cardiganshire, constructed for the transport of lead ore from the mines at Bwlch Glas and stone from Hafan Quarry to the station at Llanfihangel Genau’r-glyn (Llandre). It is referred to consistently in the Gogerddan estate papers as the Hafan Tramway. The principal instigators of the project were Thomas Molyneux, an industrialist of Earlestown, Lancashire, and John Davis. The route initially was to extend to Ynyslas or Clarach to facilitate shipping but this proved impractical. The tramway was completed in 1897 and it also ran a limited passenger service. Molyneux also planned a tunnel under Hafan, extending the line to Bryn yr Afr mine. The tramway enterprise was not economically viable and it only lasted two years. By 1906 proposals were made to reconstruct a mineral line, mainly on Gogerddan land, with the possiblility of converting to standard gauge between Llanfihangel Genau’r-glyn and Tal-y-bont if necessary. It was also proposed to reopen the Hafan quarry if viable.
The papers comprise deeds, surveys, reports, valuations and various other papers, 1875-1913, and numerous letters, 1888-1919, a large proportion of which are from Thomas Molyneux of Earlestown, the principal instigator of the scheme..

Papers relating mainly to the Gogerddan hunt but also to a small number of other hunts in Wales and England. The Gogerddan group comprises personal hunting journals or diaries of several members of the Pryse family, 1836-1923, Gogerddan Hounds pedigree books, 1834-1899, and Gogerddan Hunt hound pack lists, accounts, etc., 1840-1935. The non-Gogerddan group, relates to other hunts in west Wales and the Cotwolds, and to various hunting associations, and comprises mainly hound pack lists, reports and year books, 1848-1910

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 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

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.

Records of the Gogerddan estate relating to mining and quarrying in the county of Merioneth, comprising leases of lead mines at Llanelltud and unspecified locations 1699-1702, 1849; and quarrying letters and accounts, 1861-1913

Title deeds of houses and lands relating to the Mathafarn estate in the county of Merioneth, situated in the several parishes of Dolgellau, Llanelltud, etc., Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, Llanfor, Llangywer, Llanycil and Llanymawddwy, 1544-1704; the parish of Mallwyd, 1571-1701; and the parishes of Pennal and Tal-y-llyn, 1558-1629.

Papers of miscellaneous agricultural societies and shows in Cardiganshire, Merioneth and national associations, 1872-1924.

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

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.

Papers relating to county administration in Montgomeryshire, 1603-1661, 1893-1929, Merioneth, 1580-1740, Breconshire, Herefordshire, Pembrokeshire and miscellaneous Welsh counties, 1607-1859, which reflect the public role of the families of Pryse of Gogerddan, Pughe of Mathafarn, Salesbury of Rug and Lewis [of Llan-gors] within those counties. The section includes a number of seventeenth century documents pertaining to the office of sheriff, deputy lieutenant and other county officials