Manor of Monmouth Records,

Scope and Content

Records mainly of the manor of Monmouth, 1549-1919, including a survey of the manor, 1612; entry books of surrenders of customary properties, 1673-1919; transcripts of papers relating to heriots and alienations, 1606-1628; conveyances, 1610-1774, of the manors of Monmouth, Ebboth and Longstocke, and the lordships of Kidwelly, Carnwyllion and Iscennen; and transcripts of documents relating to the borough and corporation of Monmouth, 1549-1716.

Administrative / Biographical History

The manor of Monmouth was part of the estates owned by the Somerset family in Wales. Charles Somerset (?1460-1526), 1st Earl of Worcester, acquired the stewardship of the lordship of Monmouth in 1503. Charles, and his son, Henry (c.1480-1548), were granted further stewardships and constableships of lands and castles in Wales. However, the Somerset family had little involvement in the business of the estates. Following the Acts of Union 1536-1543, the family held parliamentary seats for Monmouthshire from 1542-1642. Henry, the 3rd Marquis of Worcester (1629-1700), became the first Duke of Beaufort in 1682. In the early eighteenth century, the manor of Monmouth was held by Lord and Lady Granville; Lady Rebecca Granville was the widow of the eldest son of the first Duke, who had remarried Lord Granville of Portheridge. The 9th Duke of Beaufort Henry Adalbert Wellington Fitzroy Somerset (1847-1924) sold his estates in Monmouthshire in 1901 and 1902.

Arrangement

Arranged into the following: manuscript volumes; and deeds and documents.

Access Information

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.

Acquisition Information

Deposited by Ronald Whiston Arnott, Monmouth, 1936, 1937.

Note

The manor of Monmouth was part of the estates owned by the Somerset family in Wales. Charles Somerset (?1460-1526), 1st Earl of Worcester, acquired the stewardship of the lordship of Monmouth in 1503. Charles, and his son, Henry (c.1480-1548), were granted further stewardships and constableships of lands and castles in Wales. However, the Somerset family had little involvement in the business of the estates. Following the Acts of Union 1536-1543, the family held parliamentary seats for Monmouthshire from 1542-1642. Henry, the 3rd Marquis of Worcester (1629-1700), became the first Duke of Beaufort in 1682. In the early eighteenth century, the manor of Monmouth was held by Lord and Lady Granville; Lady Rebecca Granville was the widow of the eldest son of the first Duke, who had remarried Lord Granville of Portheridge. The 9th Duke of Beaufort Henry Adalbert Wellington Fitzroy Somerset (1847-1924) sold his estates in Monmouthshire in 1901 and 1902.

Title supplied from contents of fonds

Other Finding Aids

A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales and through the Manorial Documents Register.

Archivist's Note

March 2003

Compiled by Richard Burman for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: National Library of Wales, Manor of Monmouth Schedule; Sleigh, Dr John, Monmouth and the Somersets (Monmouth, 1987); Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage (London, 104th ed. 1967); The Dictionary of Welsh Biography down to 1940 (London, 1959)

Conditions Governing Use

Usual copyright regulations apply.

Appraisal Information

Action: All records deposited at the National Library of Wales have been retained..

Accruals

Accruals are not expected.

Additional Information

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales