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Original schedules of deeds and documents belonging to the Gogerddan estates, compiled in volumes and on loose sheets, 1739-1868; and modern schedules and research material [20th cent.], included here for convenience.

Title deeds of the Gogerddan estate, 1332-1930, mainly relating to properties in the north Cardiganshire parishes of Aberystwyth, Llanbadarn Fawr, Llanfihangel Genau’r-glyn and Llangynfelyn, and the townships of those parishes. The group contains a small number of deeds for properties in Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire, 1584-1862; and miscellaneous deeds of the Gogerddan estate and elsewhere in Cardiganshire, for which the provenance is more doubtful, 1476-1881. Some sixteenth century documents concern the lands once belonging to Gruffith ap Lle'n Vayne and Rice ap Griffith, attainted for high treason.
The deeds provide an overall view of the early acquisition of lands by John Pryse and Sir Richard Pryse from the sixteenth to early seventeenth centuries, and by Margaret Pryse of Woodstock, Oxfordshire, in the late eighteenth century. By the late nineteenth century the deeds record the sale by Sir Pryse Pryse and his trustees of portions of the settled estates, which by that date were heavily mortgaged. There is much scope for researching the land ownership of north Cardiganshire by the Crown and by prominent families, notably Pryse, Clement, Phellippe (Phillips) of Aberystwyth, Vaughan, Glais, Davies of Crigie, Pugh of Cwmsymlog, and Johnes of Abermarlais. Early deeds show the layout and development of Aberystwyth town, naming some local landmarks which still exist. The effects of the Genau’r-glyn enclosure acts are shown in the deeds for Llanfihangel Genau’r-glyn and Llangynfelyn from the first half of the nineteenth century.

Papers deriving from the routine daily work of the Gogerddan agents and from the system of tenancy used on the estate. The documents include agents’ notebooks and work papers, 1810-1925; notifications to tenants, landlord and bailiff, 1851-1918; and registers and schedules of leases, (Watermark 1853)-1913.

Tenancy agreements and leases (including memoranda and drafts), 1739-1924, for houses and lands situated in the parishes and townships of Eglwys-fach (Ysgubor-y-coed), Llanbadarn Fawr, Llanfihangel Genau’r-glyn, Llangorwen (from 1864), and Llangynfelyn in north Cardiganshire, and Machynlleth in Montgomeryshire. The years 1861 and 1864 each include additional files of arbitration agreements and valuations, and other related documents found with them. There are also numerous notices to quit, both to and by tenants of the estate.

Accounts of the Gogerddan estate in thirteen series, comprising miscellaneous estate accounts books and loose accounts, 1753-1920, accounts current, 1859-1880, weekly accounts, 1851-1855, garden accounts, 1835-1919, cash books, 1820-1922, estate receipts and expenditure, 1870-1876, receipt ledgers, 1880-1913, disbursement ledgers, 1816-1913, requsitions books, 1891-1920, voucher books, 1880-1915, receipt books, 1905-1926, loose bills and receipts (vouchers), 1474-1927, and solicitors’ bills, 1841-1913. The majority date from the mid-nineteenth to early twentieth century

Building specifications and estimates for new buildings and repairs to maintain existing properties belonging to the Gogerddan estate, 1766-1921, and numerous bills, receipts and rough accounts, 1766-1896. There is evidence of building or renovation work at Gogerddan mansion, Cwmcynfelyn and Lodge Park, as well as in Glanclettwr and many other local farm houses. This section is a rich source of local information from the mid to late nineteenth century, providing the names of Aberystwyth and Machynlleth tradesmen who supplied the building materials, the increasing use of rail freight to transport them, the names of the workmen, and the nature of the structural repairs. Much of the Gogerddan building work in the late nineteenth century was done in accordance with the Improvement of Land Act, under the conditions stipulated by the land loan companies.

Records of tithes, 1749-1929, taxation, 1803-1929, and poor rates, 1899-1922, due on the Gogerddan estate in the parishes and townships in the Aberystwyth area. The tithe records comprise mainly extracts from the tithe apportionments, lists or schedules of the tithe rent charges, valuations, accounts and routine coorespondence. The other records in this section comprise mainly assessments and demand notices for both taxes and the poor rate, tax returns and objections to the poor rate valuation.

Papers relating to employment and wages on the Gogerddan estate, 1873-1950. They comprise wages accounts, 1873-1950; wage sheets, 1891-1923; wages books, 1903-1919, wage receipts, 1919-1923, and employee insurance documents and letters, 1919-1922.

Forestry and timber production records of the Gogerddan estate, 1816-1923. They comprise accounts, both in volumes and on loose sheets; timber harvesting books; and timber valuations, particulars, agreements and letters concerning timber.

Agricultural production records of the Gogerddan etate and official papers issued by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries and other organisations, 1796-1922. They consist of miscellaneous Gogerddan farm accounts, 1813-1919; regular series of farmer’s weekly account books, 1814-1921, and dairy acounts, 1881-1919; cultivation and livestock husbandry papers, 1796-1920; stud books and horse-breeding papers, 1875-1922; and official agricultural returns, valuations and printed tracts, 1835-1918

Papers relating to the enclosure of common lands in the lordship of Genau’r-glyn where the Pryse family of Gogerddan held ancient manorial rights, The first series comprises miscellaneous bundles of acts, papers and letters about the enclosure and drainage of Cors Fochno (Borth Bog), 1743-1899. The second series comprises agreements, enclosure awards, valuer’s reports, etc. for the upland areas of the manor of Genau’r-Glyn, including Braich Garw, 1860-1897. The third series is miscellaneous, relating to enclosure and fences in Cardiganshire, Montgomeryshire, Hampshire and Sussex, 1856-1890.

Papers deriving from applications by the owners of the Gogerddan estate to the Land Loan and Enfranchisement Company and the Lands Improvement Company for loans to fund various improvements to Gogerddan mansion and other estate poperties, 1872-1921. There were at least five separate applications, identified by contract numbers noted in the two series below. The papers comprise mainly schedules of Gogerddan properties charged with the outlay, particulars and estimates, absolute orders of the enclosure commissioners and the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and routine correspondence from the loan companies.

Printed sale catalogues for portions of the Gogerddan estate and for other Cardiganshire estates in which Gogerddan may have had an interest, 1858-1923; and sale agreements, notices, schedules of property for sale, etc, 1813-1921. The properties were situated mainly in the parishes of Aberystwyth, Llanbadarn Fawr, Llanfihangel Genau’r-Glyn and Llangynfelyn.

Papers relating mainly to the Gogerddan hunt but also to a small number of other hunts in Wales and England. The Gogerddan group comprises personal hunting journals or diaries of several members of the Pryse family, 1836-1923, Gogerddan Hounds pedigree books, 1834-1899, and Gogerddan Hunt hound pack lists, accounts, etc., 1840-1935. The non-Gogerddan group, relates to other hunts in west Wales and the Cotwolds, and to various hunting associations, and comprises mainly hound pack lists, reports and year books, 1848-1910

Shooting and game records of the Gogerddan estate, comprising game books and lists, 1804-1920s; and miscellaneous papers relating to gamekeeping and sporting rights, notably the control of poaching and vermin, sporting leases and agreements, and appointments of gamekeepers, 1814-1924.

Two series of Gogerddan estate records comprising fire, life and livestock insurance policies, 1847-1929; and miscellaneous, pre-boxed estate papers which include documents relating to fire insurance and other matters, (Watermark 1801)-[early 20th cent]

Household administration papers, mainly from the Gogerddan estate but also occasionally naming London residences occupied by the Pryse family, 1668-1928. They include household accounts, bills and receipts, 1668-1925; household inventories from Gogerddan and London, 1744-1917; recipes, [18th cent.]-1844; and miscellaneous household papers comprising advertisements, medical prescriptions and a visitor book, 1848-1928.

Letters mainly to the Pryse and Loveden family or their representatives, from their agents, solicitors, banks, other landowners, local authorities, commercial businesses, and social acquaintances, 1586-1949. They cover mainly the routine administration of the Gogerddan estate, and occasionally Mathafarn, Rug, Abernantbychan, Woodstock and Buscot Park. There is much detailed information on the local Cardiganshire houses and their occupants, relations between the estate and tenants, the exploitation of the estate resources such as timber, minerals and peat, investment in the railways and other commercial ventures (from 1860s), the development of housing in Aberystwyth and the surrounding villages (mainly 19th cent), estate improvements and technical advances in agriculture (19th-20th cent.), the effects of increased official legislation by county councils, rural district councils and the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. (early 20th cent.), sales of Gogerddan property, the maintenance of flood defences around Borth and Tal-y-bont; the establishment of local agricultural shows (late 19th –early 20th cent.), the Gogerddan mortgages, improved communications via the telegraph and telephone (early 20th cent.), problems of implementing the Pryse family settlements and the eventual financial decline of the Gogerddan estate (early 20th cent.). The eighteenth and nineteenth century letters frequently discuss the involvement of the Pryse family in Cardiganshire politics and parliamentary affairs.

Letters mainly to the Pryse and Loveden family of Gogerddan, Buscot Park and Woodstock or their representatives, from specific correspondents, namely Charles Deare of the Inner Temple, 1803-1843, James Morse of Carmarthen and others involved in his case, 1831-1855,, and Boys and Tweedie, solicitors, of Ely Place and Lincolns Inn Fields, 1845-1924, whose files have also preserved the outgoing letters originally sent to them by the Pryses. The solicitors’ letters concern mainly the Pryse family settlements and trusts, provision for the family widows and younger children, estate purchases and sales, mortgages, and the financial management of the Buscot Park, Woodstock and Gogerddan estates. The letters and papers of James Morse discuss his case as a defaulter to the Crown but they also provide insights into his career and his involvement in Cardiganshire politics in the mid-nineteenth century. There is also a single file of letters to Charles Hayes, Deputy Governor of the Royal African Company, 1733-1748.

Papers of the Gogerddan agent, James Morice of Wallog, and Anne, his wife (nee Anne Watkin of Moelcerney), comprising letters, 1810-1847, accounts, bills and receipts, 1820-1842, probate records, 1813-1877, and notebooks, 1810-1831.