Correspondence and papers

This subgroup contains all the surviving outgoing and incoming correspondence of Owen Owens and Son. It was their practice to copy all outgoing letters into large letter books, which survive from 1821 onwards. They appear to have kept incoming correspondence only for a number of years, however, as there are no incoming letters or papers dated earlier than 1838. For the period after 1838, the existence of both sides of their correspondence means that the archive is particularly rich in information about the company's activities. The letter books are also an invaluable supplement to the financial records which survive from the earlier period, allowing some insight into the motives which prompted policy changes and movement into new markets and spheres of activity.