Records of the Meyrick family and the Bush estate

Papers relating mainly to the management of urban properties in Pembroke Dock, including leases, tenancy agreements and rentals 1766-1969; correspondence and files, 1907-1968; accounts, tax papers, etc., 1874-1970; general estate papers, 1814-1970; maps and plans, 1738-1960. The archive also includes correspondence and papers mainly relating to Sir Thomas Frederick Meyrick, [c. 1900]-1980; family papers, including photocopies, 1595-1963; papers relating to fox hunting, [20th century] and the Boer War, 1899-1901.

The Bush estate, Pembrokeshire, centred on Bush House in the parish of Pembroke, St Mary, included the site of much of the town of Pembroke Dock. The Meyrick family settled in Bush following the marriage of Rowland Meyrick, bishop of Bangor, with Catherine, daughter of Owen Barrett of Gelliswick, Pembrokeshire. Their four sons settled in Pembrokeshire, one being Sir Francis Meyrick (d. 1663), and seven generations of the Meyrick family resided at Bush after him. The line was broken when Jane Sophia (d. 1837), the heiress of Bush, married St John Chiverton Charlton of Aspley Castle, Shropshire, in 1820. Their son was Sir Thomas Charlton (1837-1921), who assumed the surname and arms of Meyrick in 1858 under royal licence, and was created a baronet in 1880. Sir Thomas was M.P. for Pembrokeshire, 1868-1874. After the Bush mansion burnt down in 1866, the family lived at Bangeston, Pembroke, until a new mansion was erected in 1906. Sir Thomas's heir was Brigadier-General Sir Frederick Charlton Meyrick (1862-1932), 2nd Bart, who commanded the 5th Battalion of Imperial Yeomanry 1899-1901, during the Boer War. He was succeeded by his son, Sir Thomas Frederick Meyrick (1899-1983), 3rd Bart, who was master of Pembrokeshire Foxhounds 1919-1946, and he in turn was succeeded by his heir, Sir David John Charlton, 5th Bart. According to the 1873 return of owners of land, the Bush estate measured 4,253 acres, all in Pembrokeshire, and carried an annual rental of £21,737.

Arranged into the following: leases (D/BUSH); tenancy agreements and rentals (D/BUSH/1); correspondence and files (D/BUSH/2); accounts, tax papers etc.(D/BUSH/3); general estate papers (D/BUSH/4); miscellaneous (D/BUSH/5); maps and plans (D/BUSH/6); correspondence and papers principally of Sir Thomas F. Meyrick (D/BUSH/7); family papers (D/BUSH/8); hunting, Boer war and miscellaneous (D/BUSH/9); and miscellaneous documents (D/BUSH/10).

Some files are restricted

Deposited by Sir Thomas Meyrick and the Bush Estate trustees, per Messrs Cooke and Arkwright, Land Agents of Haverfordwest, and, later of Pembroke, in November 1970, January 1971, February 1982, and January 1984; by Sir David Meyrick of Gumfreston in May and November 1984 and by Radcliffes and Company, Solicitors, 10 Little College Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3SJ.

Compiled by Mair James for the HMC/NLW Family and Estates project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: James, Brian, 'The Great Landowners of Wales', National Library of Wales Journal, XIV (1965-66); Jones, Francis, Historic Houses of Pembrokeshire and their Families, (Newport, 1997); Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage (London, 1959).

Hard copies of the catalogue are available at Pembrokeshire Record Office and the National Register of Archives.

Usual copyright regulations apply.

All records deposited at the Pembrokeshire Record Office have been retained.

Accruals are not expected