Davies (Gregynog) Collection and Deeds,

Collection of deeds and other papers, [1310]-[1958], of Gwendoline Elizabeth Davies and Margaret Davies, including printed books, 1478-1844, papers concerning the Gregynog Press, 1922-1960, copies of books, 1923-1940, ephemera, 1927-1962, designs and drawings, n.d.; and deeds relating to properties in Montgomeryshire, 1597-1832.

The Misses Davies of Gregynog were Gwendoline Elizabeth Davies (1882-1951) and Margaret Davies (1884-1963) of Gregynog who were art collectors and benefactresses. They were the granddaughters of David Davies of Llandinam, Montgomeryshire, whose fortune was derived from contracting, coal, railways and docks. The sisters had a Calvinist background, and acquired Gregynog mansion near Newtown, Montgomeryshire, after the First World War. Their original intention was to build an art centre there. They established the Gregynog Press which became one of the foremost private presses of the inter-war era, producing fine examples of book craft, containing excellent illustrations. From 1908, the Davies sisters began to collect the work of the French Impressionists, and bought paintings by Cezanne ('Still life with teapot'), van Gogh ('Rain at Auvers'), Monet, Renoir and others, as well as Rodin, JMW Turner and Augustus John (many can be seen at the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff). The sisters funded the National Council of Music for Wales. At Gregynog, they hosted conferences about contemporary issues.

Arranged in chronolgical order.

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

The Davies deeds were deposited by the Misses Davies, Gregynog, in 1947, and the Gregynog Collection was donated to the NLW in 1962.

The Misses Davies of Gregynog were Gwendoline Elizabeth Davies (1882-1951) and Margaret Davies (1884-1963) of Gregynog who were art collectors and benefactresses. They were the granddaughters of David Davies of Llandinam, Montgomeryshire, whose fortune was derived from contracting, coal, railways and docks. The sisters had a Calvinist background, and acquired Gregynog mansion near Newtown, Montgomeryshire, after the First World War. Their original intention was to build an art centre there. They established the Gregynog Press which became one of the foremost private presses of the inter-war era, producing fine examples of book craft, containing excellent illustrations. From 1908, the Davies sisters began to collect the work of the French Impressionists, and bought paintings by Cezanne ('Still life with teapot'), van Gogh ('Rain at Auvers'), Monet, Renoir and others, as well as Rodin, JMW Turner and Augustus John (many can be seen at the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff). The sisters funded the National Council of Music for Wales. At Gregynog, they hosted conferences about contemporary issues.

Title supplied from contents of fonds. The dates of the papers in the collection and the dates of the deeds pre-date the lives of Gwendoline Elisabeth Davies and Margaret Davies.

A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the the National Library of Wales.

January 2003

Compiled by Annette Strauch for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: NLW, Schedule of Davies (Gregynog) Collection of Deeds; Dictionary of Welsh biography, 1941-1970 (2001), John: Hanes Cymru (1990).

Usual copyright regulations apply.

Action: All records have been retained.

Accruals are not expected.

Maps relating to docks, railways etc. acquired by the family are NLW, Davies (Gregynog) Collection of Maps, held in the NLW Map Collection. NLW, Special Collections holds publications of the Gregynog Press and photographs.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales