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Journey notes and observations, 1766-1787, including notes from visits to London and Birmingham in 1766 concerning the manufacture of pig and bar iron. The notes contain the names and addresses of businessmen and details of their work, and notes on lead imports and exports in London. Also included are notes on forge processes at a foundry in Bristol, 1787, and observations on water wheels.

Papers relating to gun barrel forging, 1766-1786, including comments on the practices of tradesmen at other forges in Birmingham and London; notes on transporting coal by wagon; observations on forging barrels for fine fowling guns; and a list of workmen willing to move to Cefn Cribwr to work.

Papers relating to land management, 1780-1791, including a land security plan, notes on forge shares, land transactions and plans for a new company that were drawn up in the last year of Bedford's life, presumably when his venture at Cefn Cribwr had failed to prove successful. The file also includes a fragment of a letter concerning land issues.

Papers relating to the building of stone arches, 1782-1787, including general notes on the design and construction of arches, measurements, details regarding keystones, and notes on the arches at the furnace in Cefn Cribwr. The papers within this file reflect Bedford's long-standing interest in the field. A builder's estimate for a house in Birmingham is also included.

Correspondence, 1766-1789, mainly comprising draft letters from John Bedford to various correspondents concerning both personal affairs and business matters. It is not clear how many of these letters were sent.

Correspondence, 1779, including draft letters intended for various trading companies and the Board of Ordnance concerning Bedford's work, and a letter regarding the use of charcoal and various coals in the iron-making process.

Correspondence, 1780-1781, including draft letters concerning the principles of iron ores and the science of forging, and Bedford's search for an agent in the South West of England.

Petitions and notes to official institutions, 1769-1786, concerning improvements to iron-forging techniques and the potential uses of the produce for the needs of the institutions. Bedford's long-standing interests in producing iron for naval employment and perfecting white iron are reflected here.

Petitions and notes, 1780-1786, intended for the Admiralty, the Board of Ordnance, and the Crown, including fragments addressed to John Ibbetson Esq., of the Admiralty, concerning Bedford's development of a more durable metal for the production of ship anchors, rudder irons and guns, 1780-1782; a petition addressed to the Board of Longitude noting possible improvements to the quality of iron used to manufacture compass needles, 1780; a petition to the Crown concerning the Steel and Iron Bill and Bedford's endeavours in the iron trade, 1785; and a copy of a petition to the Board of Ordnance, 1786. The file also includes some items bearing annotations and manuscript music by Iolo Morganwg.

Notes by John Bedford, [1775]-1788, on a number of different subjects. They record his thoughts on matters unrelated to the iron trade.

Quarry papers, 1762-1789, comprising notes and observations on Bedford's own quarries, as well as other quarries, 1762-1789, together with notes on quarry produce and business, 1774-1789. Bedford owned quarries at Pantyllwydrew and Park Field and also opened clay-pits for making firebricks, roof tiles and pan tiles. The papers within this group reflect Bedford's long-standing interest in stone-quarrying and they record his plans for selling surplus flagstone and building stone in South West England.

Notes and observations relating to quarries, 1762-1789, including notes on the quality of the stone produced and the uses to which it was put at quarries in Nantyglo, Llantrisant and Aberavon; observations comparing tile manufacture at Birmingham and Yardley with what could be achieved at Cefn Cribwr; and an account of the stone quarry trade in the Forest of Dean. The file also contains papers relating to the proposed lease of one of Bedford's quarries.

Notes on iron-making techniques, 1763-1788, comprising papers relating to pig and bar iron and iron ores, 1763-1787; and papers relating to gun barrel forging and light cannon casting, 1769-1788. The papers are drawn from Bedford's own practice and experimentation at his forge, as well as from journeys through England and visits to other operations. Details of the techniques and employees of other businesses, mainly those in London and Birmingham, are also therefore included. The notes reflect Bedford's continuing interest in these areas of iron manufacture.

Notes on the nature and quality of iron ores in England and Wales and overseas, 1779-1784, including studies of Bedford's own repository of ores; lecture notes on iron ores and smelting; observations on the chemical principles of iron ores; notes on ores in America; notes on how to make steel from English iron ore; and comments on smelting ores in a small blast furnace.

Administrative and general business papers largely relating to Bedford's forge at Cefn Cribwr and his various other business ventures, 1780-1791.

Accounts, 1766-1778, including an account book recording Bedford's receipts and disbursements from 1766 (the time he was based at Trostrey); some fragmentary accounts that have been annotated by Iolo Morganwg; and a workman's account for labour at one of Bedford's collieries in 1778.

Papers relating to building works at Rogerstone and Cefn Cribwr, 1766-1788, comprising notes, sketches and plans for the building of various parts of both forges, and notes on alterations to estate infrastructure at Cefn Cribwr.

Papers relating to the planning and building of a forge at Rogerstone and a blast air furnace at Cefn Cribwr, 1766-1788, including notes on the design and structure of the forge and furnace; records of the dimensions and materials agreed upon with the builders; papers concerning firebricks for the furnace; and notes on settling the forge hammer and on improving the forge bellows at Cefn Cribwr. The file also contains a drawing by John Bedford of furnace blowing cylinders at Ketley Furnace, Shropshire, in 1772.

Correspondence, 1787, relating to Bedford's personal affairs, rent arrears and general business matters.

Correspondence, 1788-1789, including letters concerning papers intended for the Board of Ordnance, a tenement in King's Norton, legal business, and the sale of a 28-acre farm.