Papers of the Castle Hotel, Abergele

The collection seems to comprise the records of four individuals: William Hughes, his son William Hughes Junior, Joseph Jones and Hugh Williams. There may have been family connection between the Hughes, Jones and Williams families, which would account for the papers of all three being found together in the Castle Hotel. Alternatively all three families may have undertaken clerical duties for pa. Abergele or the St Asaph Union, thus accounting for the high proportion of Poor Rate, Tithe Rent-charge and taxation records occurring. Certainly William Hughes [the elder] is described as Parish Clerk in the 1841 census although, as will be seen, he had many other business interests too. Joseph Jones of the Castle Inn served as a local Tax Collector, in addition to his work as publican and stonemason.

Although fragmentary, the collection provides an insight into 19th century Abergele as a place of great commercial significance, as well as providing much information about social issues through the Poor Law records. It is also a useful source for genealogists through the many lists of names of Abergele inhabitants, compiled for various purposes.

This collection is open for research. Access to some documents may be restricted due to Data Protection legislation, Conwy Archives will advise where this is the case. For details and opening hours see http://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Resident/Libraries-Museums-and-Archives/Archives/Archives.aspx.

This collection was rescued from the attic of the Castle Hotel, where it had been discovered by the new owner in the course of renovation work. It appears to have originally been held in wicker baskets, which had gradually disintegrated and had released their contents over the floor, where they lay beneath a covering of soot and other debris. Due to the poor storage conditions, many of the papers were unsalvageable; what follows is therefore possibly only 50% of the whole. Some of the documents were retained by the owner of the Castle Hotel out of local interest; the remainder are likely to have been disposed of as disintegrating and illegible. The proportion that was salvaged required intensive preservation and cleaning.