Highmead Estate Records,

Family papers and estate records of the Evans and Davies-Evans families of Highmead, Cardiganshire. -- The estate records includes rentals and inventories of the estates of Highmead, 1800-1890, Penylan in the parish of Llanfynydd, Carmarthenshire, 1817-1850, Dolgadfan and Trefeglwys in Montgomeryshire, 1850-1859, and Pantglas in Carmarthenshire, 1879-1897, and of the estate of James Evan Bayly in the parish of Llanwenog, Cardigan, 1822-1840; account books of the Highmead estate, 1757-1899; records of various estates and farms in Carmarthenshire, and Breconshire; and deeds of estates in Breconshire, Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, Glamorgan, Pembrokeshire and Radnorshire, 1549-c. 1880. -- The family and personal papers include the diaries of Anne Evans, John Jones of Blaenos, the Rev. D. H. T. G. Williams, Herbert Davies-Evans, and his son H. Davies-Evans, 1790-1891; pedigrees of, and biographical notes on, the Davies-Evans family and the Llwynhelig family and other genealogical records, family and business letters, late 18th-20th centuries; legal precedents, agricultural memoranda, press cuttings, school exercise books, drawings and sketches, a large body of letters received by Major Herbert Davies-Evans, and miscellaneous papers relating to his service in the militia and in the South African War, 1891-1903 and a group of letters addressed to Anne Evans, 1786-1802. -- Other papers include election papers for Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire, 1802-1841; returns and orders of the Carmarthenshire Yeoman Cavalry, 1804-1809; accounts of overseers of the poor and vestry minutes for Llanwenog, 1805-1817; court leet records of the manors of Mabedrid and Mabelview, Carmarthen, 1811-1836; Carmarthenshire turnpike records, 1822-1830; and the log books of four ships, kept by H. D. Evans, 1856-1858.

Highmead mansion was built in 1777 by Herbert Evans (c.1744-1787) on the estate of his mother Elizabeth Lloyd, the last of the Llanfechan branch of the Lloyds of Castell Howell. Her father, David Lloyd, left Llanfechan and settled at Cardigan, but Elizabeth had several farms, on one of which Highmead was built. Herbert Evans was succeeded by his sons John who died without issue in 1799 and by another Herbert who also died without issue in 1848. The estate passed eventually to Mary Anne Evans, the daughter of Watkin Evans (d. 1816), a younger brother of John and Herbert, who had married Elizabeth Griffiths, the heiress of Dolgadfan, Montgomeryshire. She married Delme Seymour Davies (d. 1869), the son of William Griffith Davies (1762-1814) of Penylan. Herbert Davies (b. 1842), their son, assumed the surname Davies-Evans in 1884 in order to succeed to the estates of his great-uncle Herbert Evans (dsp 1848) of Highmead.
Major Herbert Davies-Evans (1842-1928) was a descendent of the Davies family of Penylan who appear to have owned the Penylan estate since the 1640s at least. Penylan was sold by Delme Seymour Davies (1807-1869) to David Jones of Pantglas, but Major Herbert Davies-Evans's secnd son, Delme William Campbell Davies-Evans (1873-1953), bought back Penylan when it came on the market.
According to the 1873 return of owners of land the Highmead estate measured 6,307 acres in Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire and carried an annual rental of #3915. In 1956 Highmead became a school for the disabled but closed down sometime after 1975.

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

Deposited by the trustees of the estate of the late Major Herbert Davies-Evans of Highmead in 1941 and November 1942.

Highmead mansion was built in 1777 by Herbert Evans (c.1744-1787) on the estate of his mother Elizabeth Lloyd, the last of the Llanfechan branch of the Lloyds of Castell Howell. Her father, David Lloyd, left Llanfechan and settled at Cardigan, but Elizabeth had several farms, on one of which Highmead was built. Herbert Evans was succeeded by his sons John who died without issue in 1799 and by another Herbert who also died without issue in 1848. The estate passed eventually to Mary Anne Evans, the daughter of Watkin Evans (d. 1816), a younger brother of John and Herbert, who had married Elizabeth Griffiths, the heiress of Dolgadfan, Montgomeryshire. She married Delme Seymour Davies (d. 1869), the son of William Griffith Davies (1762-1814) of Penylan. Herbert Davies (b. 1842), their son, assumed the surname Davies-Evans in 1884 in order to succeed to the estates of his great-uncle Herbert Evans (dsp 1848) of Highmead.
Major Herbert Davies-Evans (1842-1928) was a descendent of the Davies family of Penylan who appear to have owned the Penylan estate since the 1640s at least. Penylan was sold by Delme Seymour Davies (1807-1869) to David Jones of Pantglas, but Major Herbert Davies-Evans's secnd son, Delme William Campbell Davies-Evans (1873-1953), bought back Penylan when it came on the market.
According to the 1873 return of owners of land the Highmead estate measured 6,307 acres in Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire and carried an annual rental of #3915. In 1956 Highmead became a school for the disabled but closed down sometime after 1975.

Title supplied from contents of fonds

A draft item level description is available for part of the archive.

May 2001.

Compiled by Stephen Benham.

The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Nicholas, Thomas, Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales (London, 2 vols, 1872), vol.1; Jones, Francis, Historic Cardiganshire Homes and their families (Newport, 2000); Burke's Landed Gentry (London, 18th ed., 1965-1972), vol.3;

Usual copyright laws apply

Action: All records deposited at NLW have been retained..

Accruals are not expected.

Further Highmead estate records are Carmarthenshire Archive Service, Davies-Evans Collection.

Published