Anwyl Family Papers

The archive includes papers and letters of members of the Anwyl family of Chester, 1848-1983, including letters to Sir Edward Anwyl, Welsh scholar.

The Anwyls of Chester and Pontypridd can be traced to the Anwyls of Caerwys who still resided in Caerwys in 1816 when Edward Anwyl was born. Like his father John, he was a weaver. In 1841 Edward had a son John 'Ioan Anwyl' (1841-1921), born at Chester. When Edward died the whole family moved to Chester. John married Ellen in 1863 and had five children. He was a deacon at his local church, and also served as Church secretary. He also preached at local Welsh churches, and was the Chairman of the Flint and Denbigh 'Undeb' in 1904. In 1906, they moved to Pontypridd, so that they could assist John Anwyl who lived there.
The first son, Edward, was educated at Oriel and Mansfield College, Oxford. In 1892, he was appointed Professor of Welsh at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. He played a leading role in many of the College's activities, and also acted as a member of the Central Welsh Board of Secondary Education in Wales. He was knighted in 1911. The second son, Hugh W. Anwyl, became Headmaster of the Council School, Corwen, where he married Winifred Jones in 1897. He died in 1916. The third son, William Anwyl (1870-1952), was an engineer in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. He married in 1899 and had a daughter, Ellen Catherine Anwyl (b. 1902). The only daughter of John and Ellen, Catherine Miriam (1871-1953) cared for her mother, and also her blind brother. She worked for the British Women's Temperance Association in Chester and Pontypridd.
The Rev. John Bodfan Anwyl (1875-1949) became a Congregational minister, receiving his first appointment at Elim chapel, Carmarthen in 1899. However, following an illness he became deaf and later took on the post of Superintendent of the Deaf and Dumb Mission at Pontypridd in 1904. He edited many editions of Spurrell's Welsh-English Dictionary.

Arranged by papers of individual family members followed by miscellaneous family papers and memorabilia.

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

Donated by Ellen Catherine Anwyl of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, July 1986.

The Anwyls of Chester and Pontypridd can be traced to the Anwyls of Caerwys who still resided in Caerwys in 1816 when Edward Anwyl was born. Like his father John, he was a weaver. In 1841 Edward had a son John 'Ioan Anwyl' (1841-1921), born at Chester. When Edward died the whole family moved to Chester. John married Ellen in 1863 and had five children. He was a deacon at his local church, and also served as Church secretary. He also preached at local Welsh churches, and was the Chairman of the Flint and Denbigh 'Undeb' in 1904. In 1906, they moved to Pontypridd, so that they could assist John Anwyl who lived there.
The first son, Edward, was educated at Oriel and Mansfield College, Oxford. In 1892, he was appointed Professor of Welsh at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. He played a leading role in many of the College's activities, and also acted as a member of the Central Welsh Board of Secondary Education in Wales. He was knighted in 1911. The second son, Hugh W. Anwyl, became Headmaster of the Council School, Corwen, where he married Winifred Jones in 1897. He died in 1916. The third son, William Anwyl (1870-1952), was an engineer in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. He married in 1899 and had a daughter, Ellen Catherine Anwyl (b. 1902). The only daughter of John and Ellen, Catherine Miriam (1871-1953) cared for her mother, and also her blind brother. She worked for the British Women's Temperance Association in Chester and Pontypridd.
The Rev. John Bodfan Anwyl (1875-1949) became a Congregational minister, receiving his first appointment at Elim chapel, Carmarthen in 1899. However, following an illness he became deaf and later took on the post of Superintendent of the Deaf and Dumb Mission at Pontypridd in 1904. He edited many editions of Spurrell's Welsh-English Dictionary.

Title supplied from content of fonds.

A hard copy of the schedule is in NLW Minor Lists & Summaries, 1987, pp. 3-9, available at NLW and HMC.

April 2001

Compiled by Mair James.

The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Griffith, John Edwards, Pedigrees of Anglesey & Carnarvonshire Families, (Horncstle,1914); Anwyl, Ellen Catherine, 'History of the Anwyl Family of Chester and Pontypridd' (NLW Facs 615).

Usual copyright laws apply.

Action: All records donated to NLW have been retained.

Accruals are not expected

Family photographs are National Library of Wales, Special Collections, PE 4977. A photocopy of Ellen Catherine Anwyl's typescript history of the Anwyl family and of her recollections of her life over eighty years is NLW Facs 615, 622, and a copy of Lawson, Anwyl & Anwyl-Davies, The Anwyl families, vol. I is NLW ex 486. The bulk of John Bodfan Anwyl's papers are Bodfan Anwyl Papers at the National Library of Wales.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales