Fonds GB 0210 ABENNY - Marquess of Abergavenny's Papers,

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0210 ABENNY

Title

Marquess of Abergavenny's Papers,

Date(s)

  • 1395, 1525-1915 / (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

0.87 cubic metres (19 boxes, 11 volumes)

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The lords of Abergavenny traced their descent from Walter, earl of Herefordshire and constable of England, the brother-in-law of Hamelyn (dsp. 1090), the Norman conqueror of Over Gwent and first feudal lord of Abergavenny. The estate remained in the hands of the Nevill family until its disposal in the 20th century.

Their Monmouthshire estates were a relatively minor part of their landed possessions. According to the 1873 return of owners of land, the Earl of Abergavenny owned some 15,000 acres in Sussex, 6,000 acres in Kent, and 7,000 acres in Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Monmouthshire and Herefordshire, besides 11 acres in Norfolk (the manor of Sculton Burdeleys). Their principal residence was at Eridge, Kent, where the 2nd earl built a castle in the early 19th century on the pre-existing Eridge Park hunting lodge. The castle was demolished just before the Second World War, and a modern house built, when the name reverted to Eridge Park.

Archival history

The Marquess's Monmouthshire estates were administered from Abergavenny until about 1910 when the office was closed and transferred to Sussex, the family residing for most of the year at Eridge. Many of the earlier records were destroyed once their legal and administrative usefulness had ceased.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Deposited by the Marquess of Abergavenny, Eridge Castle, Tunbridge Wells in 1933.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Rentals, 1586-1627, and court books, 1767-1867, of the lordship of Abergavenny; and deeds, 1395, 1525-1915, relating to the lordship of Abergavenny in Monmouthshire and to other estates of the Nevill family, marquesses of Abergavenny, in Herefordshire.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Action: All records deposited at NLW have been retained.

Accruals

Accruals are not expected.

System of arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.

Conditions governing reproduction

Usual copyright laws apply.

Language of material

  • English
  • Latin

Script of material

Language and script notes

English, Latin.

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Further details relating to manorial records within the archive can be accessed on-line from The National Archives Manorial Documents Register.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Further family papers are Gwent Record Office, D7, D. 1538, D. 591, D. 2073, D. 3383 as are various manorial documents relating to the Lordship of Bergavenny, MAN/A/2. The principal collections of family papers are in East Sussex Record Office and the Centre for Kentish Studies. A number of legal case papers are at Northumberland Record Office as part of the Westmorland (Apethorpe) collection.

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Virtua system control number

vtls004250392

GEAC system control number

(WlAbNL)0000250392

Access points

Place 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; AACR2; and LCSH.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

April 2002.

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

Sources

Archivist's note

Compiled by Mair James and Stephen Benham.

Archivist's note

The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Complete Peerage (London, 8 vols, 1887-98), vol. 1, ; Bradney, Sir Joseph, A History of Monmouthshire (London, 1991 facsimile ed.), vol. 1, part 1; Gwent Record Office, Catalogue of the records of Lord Abergavenny's estates;

Accession area