Records mainly of the Glamorgan estate of the marquesses of Bute and of their predecessors, the earls of Pembroke. These include letters, 1588-1855, including letters of the Herbert family of Cogan Pill, 1588-1719, but primarily the personal and estate correspondence of John, second marquis of Bute, 1804-1855, (including letters relating to Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire (Kirtling: Lady Bute's property) and County Durham estates); deeds, [1319]-1937; surveys, 1570-1842; rentals of the Glamorgan estate, 1728-1893, and the Cardiff estate, 1842-1895, estate and manorial accounts, 1573-1873; manorial records and deeds of over seventy manors, mainly in Glamorgan, [?1373]-1847; family settlements, [early 17 cent.]-1902; family probate records, 1612-1900; and legal and case papers, 1642-1921; correspondence of Alice, Lady Windsor, 1757-1776; a substantial number of copies of Acts of Parliament, relating mainly to roads, canals, docks and harbours, railways, public works and utilities, 1771-1928; and miscellaneous records. -- The archive illustrates the history of Glamorgan; the corporate life of the boroughs of Cardiff, Cowbridge and Llantrisant; the urbanization of the South Wales valleys, especially Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare; the Glamorgan Commission of the Peace; the county militia and yeomanry, 1815-1837; the development of the coal and other industries (it includes papers relating to minerals and ironworks 16th-early 20th cent., accounts of coal shipped from Neath, etc. 1626-1682, quarry and lime kiln accounts 19th cent. Cardiff railway, dock and harbour papers and plans, 19th-20th cent.); labour and political unrest, including Chartism, Scotch Cattle, Rebecca riots; early trade unions; and the history of Cardiff castle, 16th-19th cent., including inventories 1581, 1585, estimate of repairs 1590 and plans of grounds.
