Drane Family papers letters and correspondence relating to various drane family members, 1843-1914;
Photographs and drawings, 1900-c1980.
Drane Family, Papers
This material is held atGlamorgan Archives / Archifau Morgannwg
- Reference
- GB 214 D147
- Dates of Creation
- 1843-c1980
- Name of Creator
- Language of Material
- English
- Physical Description
- 1 box
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
Robert Drane senior was an independent minister of the Church of Christ. He was born in 1799 and moved to Guestwick, Norfolk in 1824. He married Frances Anna Rudkin, also born in 1799. They had seven children, four of whom survived to adulthood: the eldest of these was Robert Drane junior.
Robert Drane junior was born on August 21 1833 in Norfolk. He trained as a chemist, and eventually took up a post in Cardiff, before opening his own shop in Bute Street in 1858. The business moved to Queen Street in 1868, and he lived above the shop.
Robert Drane junior was, as well as a chemist, a naturalist and antiquarian. He founded the Cardiff Naturalist Society, published a well-known paper entitled The Hare in Captivity, and is credited with discovering the Skomer Vole. His antiquarian interests led to an important collection of old Worcester pottery, and a role as honorary curator of the Cardiff Museum.
Robert Drane junior died in 1914 and a plaque was placed on the wall of his shop in Queen Street.
Little is known about the other three surviving Drane children. The next eldest, Anna Maria, was born October 14 1837. She married Henry H Skepper and they lived in Paris. They had at least one child, a girl named Emilie. Emily Drane (known to her family as Nem) was born June 29 1839 and remained a spinster, living with their father in Guestwick.
Robert senior and Emily moved to Cardiff to live with Robert junior in the 1870s, and both died there: Robert senior in 1877 and Emily in 1884. William Drane was born June 12 1841 and is known to have outlived his brother.
The collection includes two letters from Bernard Bolingbroke Woodward (1816-1869), librarian in ordinary to Queen Victoria at Windsor from 1860 until his death.
Arrangement
Drane Family papers arranged chronologically by record series
Access Information
No Restrictions
Acquisition Information
Deposited by a private individual, 2003
Other Finding Aids
Handlist available at the Glamorgan Record Office
Archivist's Note
Compiled by Annabel Wickham for the ANW Project; Sources used: Glamorgan Record Office finding aids
Conditions Governing Use
Normal Glamorgan Record Office conditions apply
Appraisal Information
All records offered have been accepted and listed
Custodial History
Unknown.
Accruals
Accruals are possible