Valuable Manuscripts and Pictures Purchased by the National Library
Written by Sam Thomas on 6 June 2017
In a historic auction in London on 29 March, when the Contents of Glyn Cywarch – The Property of Lord Harlech Sale was sold at Bonhams, London, The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth purchased a number of valuable manuscripts and pictures for the Nation.
Highlights include: Ormbsby Gore’s Journal for 1854, three Game Books, two Catalogues of the contents of the historic Library at Brogyntyn (Porkington) and three watercolours by Moses Griffith.
There was much interest beforehand in a Lot containing 3 volumes of Lord Harlech’s Game Books (1882-1925) and the Library are grateful to a group of interested ornithologists for their support in funding the purchase of these historical items. The game books record shoots at Brogyntyn, and other estates in Wales and Scotland, noting those present such as Lord Harlech, Lord Kenyon, Sir W. Wynn and Mr Gore. They note the game kills at Brogyntyn, ranging from a bumper year in 1911 (2787 pheasants, 303 partridges, 36 hares) to 1918 (354 pheasants, 46 partridges, 4 hares).
The manuscript catalogue of the library at Porkington Library 1709 lists 2000 books with a fine illuminated frontispiece incorporating the arms of Margaret Owen, wife of Owen Ormsby for whom it was made. It appears to be the earliest surviving complete catalogue of the Library. Each page lists up to twenty-five titles, the introduction advising that “The library is easily regulated and as new books are purchased they should be inserted in their proper alphabet according to the author’s name and under the subject”.
Manuscript catalogue of Plays in the collection at Brogyntyn in 1815, the first compiled by William Ormsby Gore (dated February 24, 1815), which have “a double arrangement – the first part has the Plays alphabetically arranged. The second part has the list of authors with the productions of each…”.
The Journal kept by W.R. Ormsby Gore, 2ND LORD HARLECH of the 13th Light Dragoons, 10th May to 1st September 1854, is a detailed daily record of his voyage to the Dardanelles describing places visited on the way and life in camp on arrival. Concluding just weeks before his regiment’s disastrous involvement in the Charge of the Light Brigade, Gore’ journal paints a less than faltering portrait of Lord Raglan and Lord Cardigan.
3 pictures of Harlech, Beddgelert and Llanelltyd by the artist Moses Griffith (1747-1819) were purchase from the sale.
Lona Mason Head of Graphic and Audio Visual material at The National Library of Wales said:
“Although the pictures were in a bad condition we are pleased that they have come to the Library where we will be able to start restoration work on them, and add them to our collection of Welsh landscapes”
Nia Mai Daniel Head of the Archives and Manuscript Section added:
“We are delighted to have acquired these manuscripts which will be of great interest to researchers in many fields such as social history, sport history, the Crimean war, literature, drama and genealogy. There will be an opportunity to see some of these new purchases in an exhibition of New Accessions at the Library from September”
The manuscripts will be added to an already rich collection of Brogyntyn Estate and Family Records which are at the National Library. The records of the Brogyntyn estate, home of the Ormsby-Gore family, Barons Harlech, 1296-1951, include estate papers and deeds, legal papers, financial papers, family papers and county administration papers of the Ormsby-Gore family, their ancestors, the Maurices and the Owens of Clenennau, the Wynns of Glyn and others, such as Anwyl of Park, Clayton of Lea Hall, Godolphin of Abertanat, Lyster of Penrhos, Mostyn of Nant, and Vaughan of Corsygedol. The three main estates represented in the collection are Brogyntyn, Clenennau and Glyn.
Further Information:
Elin-Hâf 019970 632471 or post@llgc.org.uk
