Dillwyn-Llewelyn Collection

Estate and family correspondence, 1838-1915; estate papers, 1825-1900; financial papers, 1862-1909; personal papers of John Dillwyn-Llewelyn, 1838-1879.

John Dillwyn-Llewelyn (1810-1882) was born in January 1810 at The Willows, Swansea, the eldest son of Lewis Weston Dillwyn and Mary Adams. On coming of age he took the surname of his maternal grandfather in accordance with the terms of his grandfather's will which left him the Penllergare (also spelt Penlle'r-gaer) and Ynysygerwyn estates. On 18 June 1833 he married Emma Thomasina Talbot the youngest daughter of Thomas Mansel Talbot of Margam and Penrice. They had 7 children. John Dillwyn-Llewelyn was High Sheriff of Glamorgan in 1835 and acted as a magistrate for Glamorgan. He had considerable scientific interests. He worked with Wheatstone on his work on the electric telegraph. In 1843 John, as a magistrate, saw much of the unrest of the Rebecca Rioters. He also worked with Fox Talbot in making advancements in photography and was involved in the foundation of the Photographic Society of London in 1853 and was a founder member of what later became the Royal Photographic Society. He was also interested in botany. In 1871 John and Emma moved to London leaving their son John Talbot in charge of the family estates in Wales. Emma died in 1881. John died on 24 August 1882 and was buried alongside Emma in the churchyard of their family chapel on the estate.

The collection was originally catalogued at University College Library, Swansea, where an interpretation of the original order was made. This catalogue lists the items chronologically under the headings stated in Scope and content.

No restrictions.

The records were originally held at The Royal Institution of South Wales, Swansea. From 1966 onwards the records were moved to the library in the University College, Swansea in consignments. They were transferred to West Glamorgan Archive Service in the Spring of 2004.

Compiled by Katie Millien for the West Glamorgan Archive Service.

A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the West Glamorgan Archive Service. The catalogue can be accessed online.

Usual copyright restrictions apply.

Usual copyright regulations apply.

All records transferred to the West Glamorgan Archive Service have been retained.

Accruals are not expected.

For further material relating to the DILLWYN family see GB 0217 LAC/26.