Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1601-1923 / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.693 cubic metres (18 boxes, 1 parcel, 161 volumes)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The first occupant of Plas Machynlleth (or Greenfields) was John Edwards (d. 1789), a Machynlleth solicitor, who purchased the property in the 1750s. He was the third son of Lewis Edwards of Talgarth, Merionethshire. His third wife was Cornelia Owen, daughter and heiress of Richard Owen of Garth, Llanidloes. This marriage bought to the family the Garth estate and the profitable Van lead mines. On the sale of parts of the Peniarth estate he acquired more property along the Dyfi Valley. On the death of his son, Sir John Edwards, in 1850, the estate passed to his daughter, Mary Cornelia.
In 1846 Mary married George Henry Robert Charles Vane-Tempest (d. 1884), second son of Charles William, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry. George succeeded his half brother, Frederick as the 5th Marquess of Londonderry in 1872. In 1873 the Marquess of Londonderry owned an estimated 10,084 acres in Wales (in Montgomeryshire and Merionethshire), with an estimated rental of £6,082. However, although owning estates in Ireland, County Durham and Londonderry House in London, the family made Plas Machynlleth their principal home.
After the death of George, 5th Marquess of Londonderry, Mary continued to reside at Plas Machynlleth until her own death in 1906. Her third son, Herbert Lionel Vane-Tempest, continued to live at Plas Machynlleth until his death in 1921. The estate then passed to Herbert's nephew, Charles Stewart Henry Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 7th Marquess of Londonderry, who did not reside at Plas Machynlleth. This, together with the burden of heavy taxation, forced the sale of most of the estate. In 1948 the 7th Marquess presented Plas Machynlleth and the parkland comprising some 40 acres to the town of Machynlleth. The estate was finally liquidated in 1951.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited by Charles Stewart-Vane-Tempest-Stewart, seventh Marquess of Londonderry in 1940, and by him again, per Mr H.C.C. Wilson, Seaham in July 1952.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Welsh estates of the marquesses of Londonderry, mostly in the Machynlleth area of Montgomeryshire, 1604-1923. The records include deeds, 1603-1849, rentals, 1848-1921, cash books, 1869-1917, and building and improvement ledgers, 1904-1913; records of the Van Mines, 1869-1914, including inspectors' report books, 1882-1914, letter books, 1869-1909, and pay books, 1866-1902; records of the Llanidloes Mining & Machinery Company, 1889-1920, including inspectors' report books, 1889-1916, letter books, 1908-1915, and lead ore weighing books, 1907-1920; records of the Welsh Van Mining Company, 1907-1920; and records of the Nantiago Mines Ltd, 1901-1923.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records deposited at NLW have been retained..
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
The Plas Machynlleth MSS and Documents are arranged by subject; the Londonderry Collection is arranged by bundle according to properties and chronologically within the bundles.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright laws apply.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Hard copies of the catalogues under the former titles, Plas Machynlleth MSS and Documents and Londonderry Collection are available at NLW (www.library.wales)
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title supplied from contents of fonds.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
GEAC system control number
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Plas Machynlleth Estate (Wales) -- Archives (Subject)
- Van Mines -- Records and correspondence (Subject)
- Llanidloes Mining and Machinery Co. Ltd. -- Records and correspondence. (Subject)
- Welsh Van Mining Co. Ltd. -- Records and correspondence. (Subject)
- Nantiago Mine Ltd. -- Records and correspondence. (Subject)
- Van Mines (Subject)
- Llanidloes Mining and Machinery Co. Ltd. (Subject)
- Welsh Van Mining Co. Ltd. (Subject)
- Nantiago Mine Ltd. (Subject)
- Plas Machynlleth Estate (Wales) (Subject)
- Vane-Tempest-Stewart family, Marquesses of Londonderry -- Archives (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
This description follows NLW guidelines based on ISAD(G) Second Edition; AACR2; and LCSH
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
May 2002.
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Barfoot, James, Plas Machynlleth: A Historical Guide, (Norwich, 1997); James, Brian, 'The Great Landowners of Wales in 1873', National Library of Wales Journal, XIV (1965-66).
Archivist's note
Compiled by Mair James.