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Papers relating to music, produced between 1731 and 1888, including instructions from a printed manual on technique and music for playing on the harpsichord; notes, programmes and other items associated with concerts and musical scores; and a paper relating to art, consisting of remarks on a famous equine portrait.

A play (Watermarks 1811-1812) and various drama papers, intended for amateur performances, including a prologue and epilogues [1684], [c. 1800], notes for a proposed play (Watermark 1805), and the script of a dramatic and musical entertainment by a member of the Gore family (Watermark 1806).

Notebooks containing copies of published poems, ballads, songs and prose works in English, French and Italian, translations from classical and continental authors, and original compositions, compiled mainly by Frances Morres Gore in her own hand, with some contributions by others and a small number of printed items, 1809-1832. The authors most commonly represented here are Lord Byron, Mme de Stael, Thomas ('Anacreon') Moore, Mary Robinson, Robert Southey and Edward Young. Others include Robert Burns, Thomas Campbell, William Cowper, Richard Cumberland, Thomas Dibdin, Mme de Genlis, Oliver Goldsmith, Reginald Heber, Horace, Leigh Hunt, John Langhorne, C[harles] L[loyd]?, John Milton, Mary Russell Mitford, James Montgomery, Cornelius Neale, Sydney Owenson, Petrarch, Alexander Pope, Charles Phillips, Sir Walter Scott, Percy Shelley, James Smith, Mary Tighe, Voltaire and Richard West, as well as Frances Morres Gore and her son William Gore. The content of the volumes is similar throughout, with the exception of the last. Many of the works relate to themes of romance, friendship, women, mortality, moralistic and philosophical platitudes, mythology, the natural world and the Irish landscape. Other compositions concern historical figures, the foibles of contemporary society, antipathy to the Georgian monarchy, Hanoverian government policies, and the Napoleonic Wars. Mrs Gore 's interest in the theatre is evidenced by a significant number of items referring to actors and playwrights, George Colman, William Conway, Robert Elliston, David Garrick, the Kemble family, Henrietta O'Neill, Alexander Fisher Palmer, Shakespeare, R.B. Sheridan and Sarah Siddons in performances at various English and Irish theatres between 1808 and 1824.

Original compositions, copies and extracts of works both published and unpublished, the majority written in English, with some in French, Welsh and Latin, 1624-1868. They consist of poems, songs, riddles, letters and stories, often satirical in nature, together with press cuttings and printed notices, relating to the British constitution, politics of the Stuart and Hanoverian periods, patriotism, moral and romantic themes, historical events, and figures of national and local significance, including members of the Owen and Ormsby-Gore families. Poetry by members of the Gore family can be seen in the files dating from 1785 onwards. Most of the works are contained in bound volumes or scrap books, but a proportion of them are on loose sheets.

Pedigrees, transcripts and extracts from original and published sources, copies of monumental inscriptions, notes and relevant correspondence relating to the intermarried families of Gore, Gorges and Ormsby, 1794x[1904] and numerous peripheral families such as Bertie, earls of Lindsey, Willoughby of Eresby, (Watermarks 1814-1830), Gordon of Huntly, 1887-[c. 1906], Hyde of Castle Hyde, [1832x1855], Smyth of Long Ashton, [1822x1857], and miscellaneous other families, [1812x1864]. Several of the files contain material relating to the connections of the Gore family in Ireland. Much of the material appears to have been compiled in the nineteenth century by William and Mary Jane Ormsby-Gore, and the sources they used are cited in the majority of cases.

Miscellaneous personal papers of William George Arthur Ormsby-Gore, comprising invitation cards for celebratory dinners, 1904-1918, school and university papers belonging to him and his son, John, 1907, 1938, a celebratory statement of his election victory [c. 1910], a congratulatory address from the town of Oswestry, 1913, and official instructions and permits connected with his work overseas, 1918-1943.

Two large files and several other individual drafts, copies and published versions of speeches, broadcasts, essays and lectures given by William George Arthur Ormsby-Gore to various colonial and international organisations, scientific bodies, educational and cultural institutions, and conferences between 1925 and 1944. The subject matter reflects both his work in colonial administration and politics, and his personal interest in fine art, galleries and museums.

Notebooks containing very detailed descriptions as well as shorter notes and sketches of church architecture in Shrewsbury, Cheshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Northamptonshire, 1903; European religious paintings and church decoration, mainly Italian and Austrian, 1904; and architecture and art seen on a visit to in Spain, with further notes on Italian art and the contents of British galleries, 1927.

Travel diaries of Margaret Ethel Ormsby-Gore, third Lady Harlech, dated between 1914 and 1937, covering visits to France, Italy, Norway and Scotland, describing the landscape, architecture, culture, people, food and travelling conditions throughout. Her personal interests in plants, birds, animals and game fishing are evident.

Personal papers of George Ralph Charles Ormsby-Gore, comprising two diaries from his days at school and in the Coldstream Guards, 1873, 1883, and a small number of army certificates, 1874, 1878.

Journals and diaries of Emily Charlotte Seymour (married name Ormsby-Gore), dated between 1844 and 1890. The first seven volumes contain accounts of the family's voyages with her father, Admiral Sir George Francis Seymour, to Chile, Peru and the Falkland Islands, and overland journeys from Valparaiso to Santiago and elsewhere in Chile, 1844-1847, followed by visits to Juan Fernandes and Rio [de Janeiro] in 1848, describing throughout the travelling conditions, climate, landscape, animals, native inhabitants, immigrant settlers, entertainments and systems of government. The contents of some of the volumes are repeated. The later volume of 1890 is mostly concerned with family and domestic matters at Brogyntyn and in London; it also reflects Emily 's interests in music, high society, the Victorian court, parliamentary news, conservative politics and the Primrose League, and her involvement with the Oswestry and Ellesmere Cottage Hospital, Pantglas School and general parish affairs in Selatyn, Oswestry and Llanfihangel-y-Traethau. There is also a diary of her mother, Georgiana Mary Seymour, containing brief entries relating to family and friends, 1869-1870.

Papers relating to the career and interest of William Richard Ormsby-Gore, comprising army certificates, 1836-1854, official passes, 1837-1839, 1870-1875, MP 's papers, [c. 1852]-1859, and freemasonry papers, 1852-1894.

Diaries of William Richard Ormsby-Gore, comprising two early journals describing journeys through Greece and Turkey, 1837, Tyrol and the Rhine, and London to Corfu, 1839, and three later personal diaries, 1866, 1892-1893, recording family events including the death of his wife, Emily, in Jan. 1892; daily weather conditions; management of the Shropshire, Glyn, Tetworth and Irish estates; game shooting; debates in the House of Commons, mainly concerning reforms in Ireland; attendance as a magistrate and charity board member in Ireland; involvement in parish affairs, local events and institutions of Shropshire and North Wales, particularly the administration of Oswestry and Deuddwr schools; his political concerns and presidency of Oswestry Conservative Club; his presidency of agricultural societies in Oswestry and Merionethshire; connections with the freemasons of North Wales; sojourns in London, France and northern Italy; attendance at the House of Lords; his chairmanship of the London Joint Stock Bank and interest as a shareholder of the Oswestry Bank. Several entries from 1892-1893 refer to the Brogyntyn manuscripts and their interest to academic researchers. An additional diary of W.R. Orsmby Gore was purchased in March 2017, describing the voyage of his regiment, 13th Light Dragoons, to the Dardanelles during the Crimean War and life in the army camp, 1854.

Personal papers associated with the career and interests of William Ormsby-Gore, specifically political papers deriving from his membership of Parliament, 1822-1857, his presidency of the Genealogical Society, 1853, and a tribute by the London Stock Bank immediately following his death, 1860.

A small number of miscellaneous personal papers of the Owen and Ormsby-Gore families, comprising a theatre ticket, 1672; lists of gentry names, [pre-1678], [1767x1777]; minutes of club meetings, 1678-1681; army papers, 1702, 1805; personal journals, 1721, 1780; school and university papers, 1761-1764; books of personal heights and weights, 1816-1855, 1893-[1900]; a petition to an MP (Watermark 1860); and locks of hair from various family members and friends, [c. 1732]-1854.

Several small printed almanacks and gentleman 's pocket books, dated between 1676 and 1765, containing occasional memoranda by members of the Owen family. The first two almanacks, from 1676 and 1689, are interesting for the inclusion of astrological, astronomical and meteorological phenomena.

Letters of various individuals connected to the families of Maurice, Owen, Ormsby-Gore and Godolphin through marriage, friendship or business and a small number of items where neither the author nor the recipient can be identified, 1582-1933.
They comprise letters to, from or about the Wynn family of Glyn, 1596-1690 (whose correspondents include Hugh Pennant, [c. 1663]), Anne Jones of Clenennau, 1679-1695, Rowlands of Nant, [1680s], Glynne of Eleirnion, [1680s]-1703, Humphrey Humphreys, 1700, Waller [of Castletown], 1706-1710, James Brynker, 1724, John Egerton, 1756, Edward Lloyd of Llanforda, 1680, the Seymour family, 1831-1868, Frank Weston, 1914, and others, 1582-1933. Topics include threats of invasions by the Spanish 1596, and the French, 1743; genealogies of Glynne of Glynllifon, [1605] and Gore, 1912; collection of the ship mise in Merionethshire, 1618; Sir Robert Owen 's dispute with Col. William Price of Rhiwlas over land in Gest, 1679-[c. 1694]; estate business of Margaret Lloyd of Cesail Gyfarch, 1729; claims on the estates of Richard Clayton, 1735, and of Robert Godolphin Owen, 1793; church administration in Llanyblodwel and elsewhere, [1730s?], 1756, 1868, 1914; parliamentary elections in Montgomeryshire, 1774 and Leitrim, 1874; the compulsory purchase of Oswestry Corporation property for improving access to London Bridge, 1831; complaints about the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway, 1854; the Crimean War, 1855; First World War action against the Turks, 1918; and other items of national and international news. - - - The Stuart correspondence (mainly copies) includes James I to Sir George Calvert on the priveleges of the House of Commons, 1621; the Covenanters to the Earl of Essex, 1639; Sir William Temple to the Countess of Essex on the death of her daughter, [pre-1699]; and others, on the Oath of Allegiance, [1606], the rebellion and conquest of Ireland, 1649-1652, and the character of Sir George Jeffreys, 1680.

Letters to Margaret ('Peggy') Godolphin, [c. 1698]-1764, mainly of a personal nature, from Godolphin family members, 1703-1764, other relatives and friends, and official correspondence from solicitors and agents. General topics not previously mentioned in detail include the practical problems of administering the Abertanat estate with inefficient agents, financial shortages, poaching activities and litigation with neighbouring landowners; Margaret Godolphin 's purchases of Maesgwyn, 1756, and Moreton Hall, 1760-1764; the inheritance of Broniarth manor and the rest of the Abertanat estate; a church preferment in Shropshire, 1760; and problems incurred by the turnpikes near Oswestry, 1756. Of particular interest are the family letters from Ellen and Francis Godolphin on the upbringing of the Owen children, fashion, high society gossip and the Hanoverian court, including the accession of George II, 1727.

Letters exchanged between Susanna Godolphin, 1698-1722, Sydney Godolphin, 1699-1731, Ellen Godolphin, 1719-1746, Mary Godolphin, 1722-1739, Francis and Ann Godolphin, 1740-1763, and other family members such as the Hoblyns and Pendarves, together with a small quantity of outgoing correspondence and several miscellaneous or unidentified items.

Letters to William George Arthur Ormsby-Gore, fourth Baron Harlech, from relatives, military and government colleagues, and fellow board members of national cultural institutions, 1894-1950. Recurring general topics are the disendowment of the Church in Wales, 1914; political, military and social matters during the two World Wars; Gore 's involvement with the Arab Bureau, the War Cabinet and Palestinian affairs, 1917-1942; British foreign policy and the system of colonial administration; the government, economy and culture of South Africa during Gore 's appointment as High Commissioner, 1941-1943; civil defence organisation in Yorkshire, 1941-1942; committee business of the National Gallery and other cultural institutions; preservation of London architecture, 1931-1933; and items of historical interest, including the grave of Owen Arthur Ormsby-Gore.