Tennant Estate Papers

Deeds of the estates of Rhydding and Cadoxton Lodge, Glamorgan, 1751-1913; estate management papers including rentals, 1814-1919; accounts, 1819-1938; tithe records, 1845-1924; correspondence, 1840-1920; records of industrial undertakings including canals, collieries, copper works and quarries, 19-20 cent.; estate notebooks, 1815-1919, including much information on the estate's potential for industrial development; family papers and personal correspondence, including papers of the following: George Tennant (1765-1832); Gertrude Tennant (1820-1918); Jeremiah Richardson (1822-1906); George Pearce Serocold (1828-1912); Sir Henry Morton Stanley (1841-1904), the famous African explorer; Alice Tennant (1848-1930); Charles Coombe-Tennant (1852-1928); Dorothy Tennant (1855-1926); Winifred Coombe-Tennant (1874-1956).

The Tennant connection with South Wales began early in the 19th century with George, third son of John Tennant, a lawyer from Wigan, Lancashire. George had established himself as a lawyer in London, but in 1816 purchased the Rhydding estate from the Earl of Jersey who had recently inherited the Briton Ferry Estate. Shortly afterwards he also bought the Cadoxton Lodge estate. His main interests were not in landowning, however, but in the construction of the Tennant Canal, which ran from Swansea to Aberdulais, and linked the rivers Tawe and Neath. It was opened in May 1824. The estate passed to George's second son Charles (1796-1873), then to his only son Charles (1852-1928), who married Winifred Pearce-Serocold. Charles inherited an estate in Devon from his godfather, and subsequently added Coombe to his name to become Coombe-Tennant. The estate was inherited by his second son Alexander (1909-). Cadoxton Lodge was sold in 1963 and demolished in 1966.

Arranged into the following: deeds and leases; estate management papers; industrial papers and plans; and personal papers

No restrictions

It is the policy of the West Glamorgan Archive Service to withhold the names of depositors.

Compiled by Andrew Dulley of West Glamorgan Archive Service. The following source was used in the compilation of this description: West Glamorgan Archive Service, Schedule of Tennant Estate Papers.

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

Usual copyright regulations apply.

All records deposited at West Glamorgan Archive Service have been retained

Accruals are not expected.