John Francis Collection

Collection of John Francis, 1741-1969, comprising plans of estates and parishes in Carmarthenshire, 1777-1961, including industrial maps and plans, many relating to collieries, 1772-[mid 20th century]; records of Carmarthenshire Chamber of Agriculture, 1909-1969; deeds relating to Pembrokeshire (A. L. Perkins Muniments), 1741-1950; records relating to the Carmarthenshire Hunt Club, 1876-[1954]; property sales, estate valuations, reports, catalogues, schedules, plans, maps, arbitration awards, tenant rights' claims, probate inventories, timber contracts, tithe apportionments, leases, rentals in Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, and Pembrokeshire, and a few items pertaining to Glamorgan, Brecknockshire, Radnorshire and Montgomeryshire, 1797-1948.

John Francis and Sons is the largest independent Wales-based estate agency, with offices covering West Wales and Swansea, Glamorgan; one office is in Carmarthen. In the course of its business, it accumulated the papers of A. L. Perkins, who collected deeds relating to Pembrokeshire and to Carmarthenshire, and other material relating to hunting, hunt balls, rabbit trapping and the Carmarthenshire Chamber of Agriculture agricultural show from 1896.

Arranged into the following: maps and plans; industrial maps and plans; records of Carmarthenshire Chamber of Agriculture; A. L. Perkins Muniments; Carmarthenshire Hunt Club; and John Francis: additional collection.

No restrictions

Deposited between 1976 and 1983 on behalf of John Francis by Mr A. L. Perkins and by Mr E. Perkins.

Compiled by Annette Strauch for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Carmarthenshire Archives Service, Catalogue of John Francis Collection; website John Francis Estate Agency Network (www.johnfrancis.co.uk/), viewed 22 September 2003; Richards, Melville, Welsh Administrative and Territorial Units (Cardiff 1969); Nicholas, Thomas, Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County families of Wales (Baltimore, 1991 (fascimile of 1875 ed.); Jones, Francis, Historic Houses of Pembrokeshire and their Families (Newport, Pembrokeshire, 1996); Jones, Francis, The Francis Jones Treasury of Historic Carmarthenshire (Pembrokeshire, 2002); Carmarthen Record Office Survey of Archival Holdings; BBC webpage (www.bbc.co.uk), viewed 9 October 2003.

A hard copy of the catalogue is available at Carmarthenshire Archives Service. Further material is uncatalogued.

Usual copyright regulations apply.

All records have been retained

The records were kept by John Francis and Son, Queen Street, Carmarthen.

Accruals are not expected