Vivian, Gilbertson and Thomas Estate Papers

Papers relating to the acquisition, administration and disposal of estates in the parishes of Bishopston, Pennard and Oystermouth by the Thomas, Gilbertson and Vivian families, 1785-2004; papers relating to members of the Thomas family of Hill House and Glanmor, Swansea, 1848-1948; papers relating to the Gilbertson family of Pontardawe, 1872-1964; personal correspondence, 1945-1946 (with no connection to the Vivian, Gilbertson and Thomas families); estate papers, 1846-1967; family records, c.1800-2003

The core of the estate was in South West of Bishopston, consisting of lands purchased in 1848 from the executors of John Griffith Hancorne by Iltid Thomas (1812-1889) of Hill House, Sketty (later of Glanmor). After his death, his estates passed to his son Iltid Edward Thomas (1874-1949). In 1896 his daughter, Isabel Frances de Winton Thomas (1868-1955), married Francis William Gilbertson (1873-1929) at Sketty Church. Frank and Isabel Gilbertson built a house near Bishopston called Paradise Meadow (now Ocean Meadows), and Chantry Acre, built nearby by their daughter Mary DucibelFrances (1898-1975) and her husband Hugh Vivian (1884-1956), to whom the estate passed on the death of Isabel. Hugh Vivian was the son of William Vivian of Bishopston. He was an eminent metallurgist becoming a director of Vivian & Sons Ltd. with Admiral Algernon Walker-Heneage-Vivian. After his death in 1956 and Mary's death in 1975, the estate was inherited by their son, Michael Hugh Vivian (1919-2007), Deputy Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority. The land was gradually sold from the 1950s to the 1990s

The estate records have been maintained in their original bundles; other records have been arranged thematically and then by date.

No restrictions.

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

Catalogue prepared by Andrew Dulley, West Glamorgan Archive Service, 2002 and 2004. ANW version created by Seri Crawley for the ANW Project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: West Glamorgan Archive Service, Catalogue of the Vivian, Gilbertson and Thomas 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 transferred to the West Glamorgan Archive Service have been retained.

Accruals are not expected.

See the Gilbertson Family Papers, D/D Gil 2.