Leonard Owen Papers

This collection contains documents relating to Anglesey, Caernarfonshire, Denbighshire, Merionethshire and Montgomeryshire which were transcribed by Leonard Owen from originals held in the Public Record Office, the National Library of Wales and the British Museum and presented to the library of the University College of North Wales (now the University of Wales, Bangor).

It includes transcripts of subsidy rolls, hearth tax returns and other fiscal documents for north and mid Wales over the Tudor and Stewart periods. Also contains transcripts of the Anglesey, Caernarfonshire, Merionethshire, Denbighshire and Flintshire sections of The books of the Mustoors and a transcript copy of an autobiographical work by Leonard Owen entitled Memoirs of a District Officer in India.

Coloured strip cartoons of parliamentary personalities, 19th - early 20th century.

Also, a Koran manuscript written by Sayyid Muhammad Al-Rahmi, probably in Istanbul, dating from the late 18th century to the early 19th century. Illuminated title pages with borders in various colours and gold.

Leonard Owen (1890-1965) was educated at Friars School and the University College of North Wales, Bangor. After graduation, he joined the Indian Civil Service in which he had a distinguished career and held among others the posts of District Magistrate at Benares and Cawnpore and Deputy Commissioner of the Kumaon Division. After retirement he worked in the Ministry of Supply and the Board of Trade. In 1944 he was made a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire and was a prominent member of Council of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, acting as Treasurer until he resigned in 1964. As the material in this collection shows he had a great interest and commitment to the history of north Wales, particularly Anglesey where his family originated and was the author of many articles relating to his forebears and the area.

Material has been arranged according to type, then chronologically and incorporated into the General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts .

Open to all users

Description compiled by Anne Lenaghan, September 2001 and modified October 2002 and March 2004.

Item level word-processed list is available at the Department of Manuscripts at the University of Wales, Bangor. Reference numbers: General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts: 12052, 13491-13495, 13531-13532, 13969-13975, 14906, 15413, 25612

Originals of these transcripts are held at the Public Record Office, The British Library and the National Library of Wales.

Usual copyright conditions apply. Reprographics are made at the discretion of the Archivist.