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Personal papers of Lady Marjorie Pryse (formerly Howell), comprising her own diaries, 1926-1987, letters from the Polish pianist, Auguste de Radwan, 1926-1957, a small number of other letters and photographs, and other personal papers, 1911-1984. Both the early diaries and the letters reveal much of the glamorous days of Lady Pryse’s youth at the Conservatoire de Paris, her travels around Europe, the relationship with de Radwan (‘Gucio’ or ‘Rad’) and his career as a concert pianist. After 1930, the diaries describe her life based mainly near Aberystwyth at Gogerddan and Ffynon Caradog, her marriage to Sir Lewes Pryse in 1938, and subsequent widowhood after 1946.

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.

Family and personal papers of various members of the Pryse family of Gogerddan, 1641-1952. They comprise royal appointments to the baronetcy and grants of the name of Pryse or Loveden, 1641-[late 19th cent.], genealogical papers, 1738-1928, sermon books from Cardiganshire and Berkshire parishes, 1747-1853, pocket books of Pryse Pryse, 1760-1803, 1821-1838, manusrctipt poetry and other literature, [1650x1950], printed books and pamphlets, 1714-1912, newspapers and cuttings, 1760-[1925], membership books and papers of various clubs and societies including the freemasons, [post-1804]-1925, Pryse family letters, 1697-1952, and miscellaneous Pryse family papers.1673-1674, 1828-1919. This section reflects the status of the Pryse family, their interests and family relationships. The pocket books of Pryse Pryse supplement the diaries which are listed as NLW Manuscripts (q.v.). The family letters reveal a deep concern over the deteriotating financial position of the estate, leading to a serious decline around the turn of the twentieth century.

Papers deriving from trusts involving members of the Pryse family of Gogerddan, 1587-1950. These comprise trusts administered on behalf of the Pryse famliy and also trusts undertaken by the Pryses on behalf of others. The first series describes trusts involving various members of the Pryse family, 1587-1950, notably Sir Richard Pryse (d. 1623), and Richard Pryse (d. 1675) administrator of the estate of Lady Mary Vandyke in 1653; this series also includes two reports on the settled estates of Sir Pryse Pryse, 1888 and 1896, and later accounts to 1950. The second series concerns exclusively the administration and trust papers of Pryse Loveden who died intestate in 1855.

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.

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.

Papers deriving from the administration of the Abernantbychan estate in south Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire, belonging to the families of Lewes, Pryse and Loveden, comprising general and regular stated accounts, 1613-1918, bonds and share certificates, 1660-`1838, surveys and valuations, 1720-[19th cent, second ½ ], leases, notices to quit and other tenancy papers, 1815-(Postmark 1906), demands and receipts for tax,, tithe rent and poor rate, [1779x1822], 1806-1918, notes, catalogue, schedule, etc. relating to estate sales and purchases,, 1797-1882, [1918x1946] and estate letters, 1699-1910; and a single series of legal papers, 1672-1891.

Records found in the Gogerddan estate papers relating to various parish churches in Cardiganshire and Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire, 1620-1921, with which the Pryse family were involved, and a small number of papers from two nonconformist chapels in Carno and London, 1812, 1945.

Fishing records of the Gogerddan estate, comprising a series of fishing books specifically for recording catches at the Angler’s Retreat, 1870-1943, and other fishing books and permits for the Gogerddan estate in general, 1903-1926.

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

Family deeds and documents of the Pryse family of Gogerddan, Woodstock and Buscot Park, comprising probate records, 1584-[19]16, and family deeds and settlements, 1549-1932. They include records of branches of the Pryse family of Glanfread, Ynysgreigog, Glanmeryn and Aberllefenni, and of Loveden of Buscot Park.

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.

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]

County administration papers from Cardiganshire, reflecting the role of the Pryse family of Gogerddan in the public life of the county, notably Sir Richard Pryse in the seventeenth century, and Pryse Pryse and Edward Lewis Pryse in the nineteenth, . The papers comprise appointments to the offices of Deputy Lieutenant and Keeper of the Rolls of Cardiganshire, 1607-1859; papers of sheriffs, gaolers, bailiffs, JPs and the militia, 1603-1896; crown revenue records, 1523-1651; Cardigan court leet presentments and an account, 1701-1767; miscellaneous Cardiganshire administration papers, [late-17th x early-18th cent.]-1919; and Aberystwyth Corporation and Court Leet papers, 1705-1929

Papers relating to county administration in Montgomeryshire, 1603-1661, 1893-1929, Merioneth, 1580-1740, Breconshire, Herefordshire, Pembrokeshire and miscellaneous Welsh counties, 1607-1859, which reflect the public role of the families of Pryse of Gogerddan, Pughe of Mathafarn, Salesbury of Rug and Lewis [of Llan-gors] within those counties. The section includes a number of seventeenth century documents pertaining to the office of sheriff, deputy lieutenant and other county officials

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.

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

Gogerddan estate letter books, containing copies of the outgoing correspondence of the Pryse family and their agents, 1851-1925 (some years missing); and postage books, recording letters sent, 1904-1920. The letters concern mainly the routine administration of the Gogerddan estates but also some family and personal matters. They are described in detail at series level.

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.

Poor law records of Penbryn parish, 1786-1787; Aberystwyth Union, 1836-(postmark 1924); and Berriw parish, 1832-1843, and Machynlleth Union, 1921, in Montgomeryshire, found in the Gogerddan estate records