Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1366-1954 (predominately 1600-1930) / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.4 cubic metres (15 boxes, 2 volumes)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Lewes family was descended from the Lewes family of Abernantbychan, Cardiganshire. John Lewes (1680-1742) of Carmarthen married Hester Beynon of Castell Gorfod and purchased the Llanllyr estate in Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire in 1720 from Henry Sumner. John and Hestor's son, John Lewes (1711-1783) of Llanllyr married Rebecca Price of Dyffryn, Carmarthenshire. He inherited Llysnewydd in the parish of Llangeler, Carmarthenshire, on the death of a cousin. Llysnewydd itself had been in the possession of the Lewes family since 1610 when John Lewes, third son of David Lewes of Gernos, Cardiganshire, purchased the property.
John and Rebecca's son and heir was William Lewes (1746-1828) of Llysnewydd and Llanllyr, who also inherited the Dyffryn estate after 1805 from his relative William Jones. The Dyffryn estate remained in the family until 1882 . It was in the possession of a Colonel W.N. Jones in about 1920.
The Llysnewydd and Llanllyr estates were split up after the death of William Lewes (1746-1828). His eldest son, William Lewes (1789-1848) inherited Llysnewydd. His family still occupied Llysnewydd in 1984. The Llanllyr estate was inherited by William's third son, Captain John Lewes (1793-1860) who was given Llanllyr on his marriage to Mary Anne (1802-42), daughter of John Vaughan Lloyd of Brynog, Cardiganshire, and resided at Brynog. His son, John Lewes (1829-1900) married Mary Jane Griffiths of Llwyndyrys, daughter of the Rev. C. Griffith in 1858. Following his marriage, John Lewes bought his father out of the Llanllyr estate. Llanllyr house was demolished and rebuilt under Colonel John Lewes. He was succeeded by his son John Lewes (1860-1931), who married Louisa Hext from Cornwall in 1890.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The first group was deposited by Mr. J.G. Protheroe-Beynon, Laugharne, and Mrs Gladys M. Fraser, Llanfair, Llandysul, in 1958. The second group was donated by Mr. David Birch per Mr. Duncan Cameron, Aberaeron, in 1991, and the third group was donated by Mr. David S. Downey, Aberaeron, in 1992.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Deeds relating to the Llysnewydd estate in Carmarthenshire, 1429-1954, Pembrokeshire, England and Ireland, [early 14 cent].-1906; deeds, letters, accounts, etc., relating to industrial development, mainly coal mining, in the Gwendraeth valley, Carmarthenshire, 1645-1760, 1859-1913; deeds of the Gwastod Gwrda estate in the parish of Llanddewibrefi, Cardiganshire, 1731-1892; correspondence, 1704-1919; accounts, 1618-1899, 1945-1946; legal papers, 1707-1880; and maps and plans, 1801-1907.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records deposited at NLW have been retained..
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged by bundles into the following sections: Carmarthenshire deeds; wills, etc.; Pembroke, England and Ireland; Carmarthenshire industrial deeds; Cardiganshire deeds, letters, rentals and accounts; legal papers; maps and plans; printed material, additional documents and diaries of T.P. Lewes. Very few of these bundles can be described as original bundles, most of them have been formed in the course of sorting and arranging the collection in NLW. The two additional groups which have been donated are arranged chronologically.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions set out in information provided when applying for their Readers' Tickets, whereby the reader shall become responsible for compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 in relation to any processing by them of personal data obtained from modern records held at the Library.
The diaries of Captain Thomas Powell Lewes, 106-124, are currently on external loan: Reference 2023/CASG/DARCH/BAC/LT 1. February 2023.
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 catalogue are available at NLW and HMC.
Generated finding aid
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
Place access points
Name access points
- Llysnewydd Estate (Wales) -- Archives. (Subject)
- Dyffryn Estate (Llandybie, Carmarthenshire, Wales) (Subject)
- Gwastod Gwrda Estate (Wales) (Subject)
- Llysnewydd Estate (Wales) (Subject)
- Lewes family, of Llysnewydd and Dyffryn -- Archives (Subject)
- Lewes family, of Llanllyr -- Archives (Subject)
- Lewes family, of Llysnewydd and Llanllyr -- Archives (Subject)
- Lewes family, of Llysnewydd and Llanllyr (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; ACCR2; 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.
Archivist's note
The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Jones, Francis, Historic Carmarthenshire Homes and their families, (Newport, 1997); Nicholas, Thomas, Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales, (London, 2 vols 1872), vol. I;