Fonds GB 0210 BETELD - Bettisfield Estate Records,

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0210 BETELD

Title

Bettisfield Estate Records,

Date(s)

  • [c. 1240]-1951 / (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

0.733 cubic metres (23 boxes, 12 rols, 1 volume)

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Hanmers claimed descent from Sir Thomas de Macclesfield, an officer of Edward I, who settled in Flintshire. The estate was forfeited to the Crown following the family's support for Owain Glyn Dwr's rebellion (Owain had married Margaret, daughter of Sir David Hanmer, who was a justice of the King's Bench). John Hanmer was pardoned for his role in the rebellion in 1411 and he subsequently divided the estate between his four sons. His eldest son was awarded Hanmer and the others received Halton, Fens in Norfolk, and Bettisfield respectively. The male line of the Halton Hanmers ended with Sir Edward Hanmer in the early 16 cent.; the Bettisfield Hanmers ended in 1623. Both estates reverted to the senior line. Sir Thomas Hanmer of Hanmer acquired the manorial rights of Maelor Saesneg in 1651. All of the Hanmer estates were settled in 1746 in the Fens branch of the Hanmer family. The family continued until at least the eighth baronet who was alive in 1977. Various members of the family served as MPs for Flintshire or Flintshire boroughs; Sir Thomas Hanmer (1677-1746) was elected speaker of the House of Commons in 1713.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Deposited by Sir Edward Hanmer, 7th baronet, in December 1938 and September 1962, and by the British Records Association in 1949 and August 1994.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

The archive consists almost entirely of deeds relating to the Bettisfield estate in Flintshire, [c.1240]-1951, and estate and family letters, 1588-1889. The remainder of the archive includes two medieval French vellum rolls, one containing a metrical version of the life of St Melor, written about the end of the thirteenth century, and the other a short religious poem, [15th cent.]; draft sheets of Sir Thomas Hanmer's 'Garden Book' [17th cent.]; pedigree rolls; rolls of proceedings at sheriffs' tourns and manorial courts of the lordship of Maelor Saesneg, 1413 and 1444; court rolls of the manor of Overton, 1618, and of the manor of Overton and hundred of Maelor Saesneg, 1672-1720; letters and warrants relating to the Civil War, 1642-1650; letters relating to Richard Steele, Puritan minister at Hanmer, 1660, and papers relating to the Bagillt, Kelsterton, Flint Mill, Boars Head, Flint Marsh, Englefield, Soughton Mountain, Dee Bank and Lletty collieries, Flintshire, 1794-1846.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Action: All records deposited at NLW have been retained.

Accruals

Accruals are not expected.

System of arrangement

Arranged into three sections: manuscript volumes, autograph letters, and deeds and documents.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.

Conditions governing reproduction

Usual copyright laws apply.

Language of material

  • English
  • Latin
  • French

Script of material

Language and script notes

English, Latin, French.

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Further details relating to manorial records within the archive can be accessed online from The National Archives Manorial Documents Register.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Further papers relating to the Hanmer family and the Bettisfield estate are among the Plas Yolyn MSS (NLW MSS 11462-640). Further, miscellaneous family, personal and estate papers, are Suffolk Record Office, Bury St Edmunds Branch, E18/600 and Lancashire Record Office, DDX/665. Twenty maps and plans, 1740-1870, including mining and railway plans, are in NLW, Map Collections.

Related descriptions

Publication note

Jenkins, David, 'Deposited Collections 16. Hanmer of Bettisfield ', National Library of Wales Journal, V (1947-1948), p.57; Hanmer, John, Lord, A memorial of the parish and family of Hanmer in Flintshire out of the thirteenth into the nineteenth century (London, 1876).

Notes area

Note

Title supplied from contents of fonds.

Alternative identifier(s)

Virtua system control number

vtls004250352

GEAC system control number

(WlAbNL)0000250352

Access points

Place access points

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

April 2001.

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

Sources

Archivist's note

Compiled by Stephen Benham.

Archivist's note

The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Griffith, John Edwards, Pedigrees of Anglesey and Carnarvonshire Families (Wrexham, 1998 reprint), Kelly's Handbook (London, 1977, Dictionary of Welsh Biography down to 1940 (London, 1959);

Accession area