Neuadd Estate, James Family of Brynamman, Records

Records of the James family, 1734-1978, including deeds relating to properties in Llangiwg, Swansea, Llanwonno and Cilybebyll, Glamorgan, and Llandeilo Fawr, Llangadog, Bettws and Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, 1734-1962; leases, mineral leases, wayleaves, assignments and rent papers relating to the above parishes, 1808-1951; sale, lease and tenancy agreements, 1825-1948; wills, settlements and trust deeds, 1816-1972; records relating to a court case concerning the trustees of the estate of John Williams James, 1874-1922; miscellaneous legal papers, 1909-1977; surveys and valuations, 1911-1956; James Estate accounts, 1861-1973; Inland Revenue correspondence, 1877-1976; stocks and shares, 1887-1951; solicitor's bills, 1874-1942; correspondence, relating mainly to trusts and properties, 1844-1978; sales particulars, 1895-1963; records relating to various business interests, 1851-1967, including Amman Anthracite Collieries Ltd, 1930-1934, Amman Iron Company Ltd, 1859-1920, Birch Rock Colliery, 1867-1881, Cwmteg Anthracite Colliery Co. Ltd, 1899-1915, Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries Ltd, 1931-1936, Blaen Cae Gurwen Collieries, 1895, Cwmnantmoel Colliery, 1930, 1949, Henderson's Welsh Anthracite Collieries, 1936, Llwyncelyn, Penthugwint and Port Collieries, 1851-1860, National Coal Board, 1967, and Noyadd Colliery, 1901-1902; printed material, 1895-1957; maps and plans, 1811-1965.

Christopher James (d. [1861]) of Swansea and Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, was a provision merchant. His children included Sir William Milbourne James, Lord Justice (1807-1881), and John Williams James (d. 1877) who became Vice-Chairman of Swansea Harbour Board. J. W. James' children included Christopher James (1846-1910), a barrister at law at Lincoln's Inn, London, and Francis James (d. 1923), a solicitor and Clerk to Swansea Harbour Trust. The family acquired lands in Glamorgan and Carmarthenshire, including Neuadd Farm, Llangiwg, Glamorgan, other properties in nearby Brynamman, Llangadog, Carmarthenshire, and in Swansea. The family also had business interests, mainly in the local coal industry. Francis appears to have lived at Neuadd. In later life he was declared 'a person of unsound mind' and his affairs were administered by Eleanor Adelaide James (d. 1956) of London, presumably his daughter.

Arranged into the following: deeds; wills, settlements and trust deeds; court case concerning the estate of John Williams James; petitions; miscellaneous legal papers; large surveys and valuations; leases, wayleaves, assignments and rent papers; annual accounts and specific accounts of the James Estate; rents and royalties owed to the estate; bank account records; loan from G. H. Strick to Christopher James; Penstack Cottage; transactions on the death of Eleanor A. James; Inland Revenue correspondence; stocks and shares; solicitor's bills; correspondence; valuations and sales particulars; agreements for sale or lease and tenancy agreements; wayleave agreements etc; business records; tithes and manorial incidents; war damage; charity and welfare records; personal papers; printed material; maps and plans; map book and sales particulars.

No restrictions

Deposited by Strick and Bellingham (Solicitors).

Compiled by Rhys Jones for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: West Glamorgan Archive Service, Neuadd Estate, James Family of Brynamman, catalogue; Bayliffe, Dorothy M., and Joan N. Harding, Starling Benson of Swansea (Bridgend, 1996); The Times, 22 December 1910, p.11; Dictionary of Welsh Biography down to 1940 (London, 1959).

Hard copies of the catalogue are available at West Glamorgan Archive Service and the National Register of Archives.

Usual copyright regulations apply.

Information not available

The records were accumulated by Strick and Bellingham (Solicitors) of Swansea, acting as agents to the James family.

Accruals are not expected