Series ADT 5 - Christmas entertainments and miscellaneous papers

Sir Charles Morgan established the tradition of large Christmas parties at Tredegar in the winter of 1809-10, and they were continued until his death in 1846. The early parties consisted of 60-80 persons, including many of the gentry of the surrounding counties. In later years the parties staying at the house rarely exceeded 30, exclusive of his grandchildren. The family party usually assembled in the first week of November and stayed until the first week of February, with 'stranger' guests visiting the house for varying periods. In the middle of December the annual cattle show, established in 1819, attracted many guests to the house. Christmas festivities lasted from Christmas Eve until Twelfth Day, during which time the band of the Glamorgan militia was resident in the house and played for dinner and dancing every evening.