The Heatons of Plas Heaton were a branch of the Hetons of Heton, Lancashire, and first came to Wales as soldiers in the late 13th century when they were given lands at Lleweni Green by Edward I. They married into several important local families, including the Myddeltons of Gwaenynog, the Griffiths of Garn, the Wynnes of Voelas and the Lloyds of Foxhall, thus acquiring further estates in Denbighshire. In the 18th century the Heatons became lords of the Manor of Wareham, Norfolk, following the marriage of John Heaton (1696-1779) with Martha, only daughter of Christopher Adamson of Wareham Hall, but they continued to reside in the Denbigh area. John Heaton (1787-1855) moved from Plas Heaton near Denbigh to Plas Newydd in the parish of Henllan, and renamed the house Plas Heaton. He was chairman of the Committee of Visitors of the North Wales Lunatic Asylum. His successor was his eldest son, John Richard Heaton (1816-1885), who died without issue, the estate passing to his brother, Hugh Edward Heaton (1821-1891). The estate then descended in the male line until Wilfred John Heaton, who died without issue in 1965.
Scope and content: includes papers related to the Plas Heaton Estate, the Heaton family, military service by members of the family, material about Denbigh and rural industries in the Vale of Clwyd and a large collection of other miscellaneous material.