Llanstephan Manuscripts

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 210 MSLLANSTEPH
  • Alternative Id.
      (alternative) vtls006070256
  • Dates of Creation
      [early 13 cent.]-[1825x1827]
  • Language of Material
      English Latin Welsh  Welsh, Latin, English, Cornish.
  • Physical Description
      200 volumes.

Scope and Content

Manuscripts once held in the library of Plas Llanstephan, Carmarthenshire. The collection comprises mainly transcripts from medieval Welsh manuscripts such as the Red Book of Hergest, the Black Book of Carmarthen and the Red Book of Talgarth which include poetry, triads, pedigrees, arms, lives of saints, Brut y Brenhinedd, Brut y Tywysogion, the Laws of Hywel Dda, etc.; grammars and vocabularies; translations, mainly from Latin and English sources; proverbs; theological tracts; medical recipes; etc. The earliest of the manuscripts date from the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries. Most of the manuscripts are in the hands of Moses and Samuel Williams, with other scribes including Dr John Davies, Mallwyd, Dr John David Rhys, William Maurice, 'Iaco ab Dewi', Edward Lhuyd and William Owen-Pughe.

Arrangement

Arranged as Llanstephan MSS 1-200.

Access Information

Access to the original manuscripts by authorised permission only. Readers are directed to use surrogate copies.

Note

The following source was used in the compilation of this description: Report on Manuscripts in the Welsh Language, Vol. II Part II (London, 1903)

Formerly Shirburn Manuscripts.

Other Finding Aids

Report on Manuscripts in the Welsh Language, Vol. II Part II (London, 1903).

Alternative Form Available

Available on microfilm at the Library.

Archivist's Note

December 2010.

Description compiled by Bethan Ifan for the retrospective conversion project of NLW MSS.

Conditions Governing Use

Usual copyright laws apply.

Additional Information

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales