Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1701-1910 / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.83 cubic metres (27 boxes, 2 folders, 6 volumes)
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
Charles Nevill, a Worcestershire copperworks owner and sometime mayor of Birmingham, established a copper works at Swansea, Glamorgan, in 1794. This was followed by another at Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, in 1804, in conjunction with the companies of Savill (of London), Daniell (of Cornwall) and Guest (of Birmingham). His son, Richard Janion Nevill, inherited his father's interests, and also took over part of the colliery workings of Roderick and Bowen on Sir John Stepney's Carmarthenshire lands in 1804. He later purchased all of the Carmarthenshire collieries of General Ward, in 1829, and became involved in numerous business partnerships. The Nevills were pioneers in the South Wales copper smelting and coal mining industries, providing housing, education and healthcare for their workers, and their chief business interests came to be known as Nevill, Druce and Company. Richard Nevill's son, Charles William Nevill, became both Member of Parliament for Carmarthenshire and High Sheriff of the county, and the family businesses continued in operation into the twentieth century.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated by Messrs Nevill, Druce and Co., Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, per Lieutenant-Colonel R. A. Nevill, 1936.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records, 1701-1910, of the business concerns of Charles Nevill, his son, Richard Janion Nevill and Nevill, Druce and Co., notably the Swansea Copper Works and the Llanelli Copper Works and collieries in Carmarthenshire, 1797-1910, including: a diary of Charles Nevill containing entries relating to the Swansea Copper Works and to analyses of copper ore, 1797-1802; copies of letters written from Llanelli, 1812-1813, and diary entries relating to lead works, 1811-1813, and to roadmaking at Llangennech, 1812-1813; letter books, 1804-1832; colliery accounts and reports, 1803-1836; bye-laws of the Llanelli Copper Works, 1805-1834; accounts of the sale of copper, rough copper books, etc., 1807-1874; ticketings of lead mainly from mines in Cornwall, Cardiganshire and the Isle of Man, 1852-1853; entry books of offers of lead ore, 1851-1876; registers of purchases, 1860-1875; lead ore produce books, 1862-1872; an account book of the steamer Harriet, 1838-1840; shipbuilding specifications, 1865-1872; and a large number of deeds and documents, 1701-1910, including industrial leases in Llanelli. Papers of Charles William Nevill are not included.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records donated to the National Library of Wales have been retained..
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged into manuscript volumes, 1630-1880, and deeds and documents, 1701-1910.
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 regulations apply.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales. The catalogue is also available online.
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
Project identifier
Access points
Subject access points
- Copper industry and trade -- Wales -- Llanelli -- Records and correspondence.
- Copper industry and trade -- Wales -- Swansea -- Records and correspondence.
- Coal mines and mining -- Wales -- Llanelli.
- Lead industry and trade -- Isle of Man.
- Lead industry and trade -- Wales -- Ceredigion.
- Lead industry and trade -- Wales -- Llanelli
- Lead industry and trade -- England -- Cornwall
- Swansea (Wales)
- Llanelli (Wales)
Place access points
Name access points
- Llanelli Copper Works. (Subject)
- Swansea Copper Works. (Subject)
- Nevill family, of Llanelli. (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Description follows ANW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.; AACR2; and LCSH
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
March 2003.
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
The following source was consulted in the compilation of this description: NLW, Schedule of Nevill Records.
Archivist's note
Compiled by David Moore for the ANW project.