Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1674-1919 (mainly 1752-1919) (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.229 cubic metres (8 boxes, 7 volumes)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Fronfraith estate, Llanbadarn Fawr, Cardiganshire, was purchased by Sir Thomas Bonsall (1730-1808) in 1784. He was the son of George and Mary Bonsall of Ecton, Staffordshire, who came to the Ysbyty Ystwyth area to work the Cwmystwyth mines as a manager, and later as lessee. He is estimated to have made a profit of £40,000 mining in north Cardiganshire. The family acquired the Galltyllan estate in Montgomeryshire through the marriage of John George William Bonsall (1817-1900) with Frances, daughter of Joseph Davies of Galltyllan in May 1853. His son, John Joseph Bonsall of Fronfraith and Galltyllan, married Emily Hughes of Glanrheidol. In 1873 the Fronfraith estate comprised 1,658 acres, yielding an annual rental of £1818.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
MSS and items 1-110; Mrs Hugh Bonsall; Donation; November 1932
Items 111-124; Mrs Janet Joel-Edwards; Y Ferwig; Donation; November 1991; A1991/159.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of the Bonsall family of Fronfraith, 1674-1919, comprising manuscripts, 1785-1891; deeds, plans, and particulars of sale relating to the Galltyllan estate in the parishes of Machynlleth, Penegoes and Darowen, Montgomeryshire, 1674-1919; a much smaller number of deeds relating to the Fronfraith estate in Cardiganshire, 1790-[early 1900s]; and precedent books, [early 19 cent.].
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records donated to NLW have been retained..
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged at NLW as follows: manuscripts; deeds, documents, maps and plans.
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 are available at NLW; the 1991 donation is described in NLW, Minor Lists and Summaries, 1992, pp. 4-6; the manuscript volumes are listed in the Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales, Volume I (Aberystwyth, 1943). The catalogues are available online.
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
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Fronfraith Estate (Wales) -- Archives. (Subject)
- Galltyllan Estate (Wales) (Subject)
- Fronfraith Estate (Wales) (Subject)
- Bonsall family, of Fronfraith -- 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
April 2001.
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Compiled by Mair James. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Thomas Nicholas, Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales, 2 vols (London, 1872); Francis Jones, Historic Cardiganshire Homes and their Families (Newport, 2000);