Cilymaenllwyd Estate Records,

Papers of the Stepney family of Prendergast, Pembrokeshire, and Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, mainly deeds relating to their estates in those counties, 1541-1787, including deeds concerning the working of coal in the Llanelli area of Carmarthenshire in the 17th-18th centuries; and family and business letters, 1706-1829, of the Stepney family including letters relating to the trading enterprises of Sir Thomas Stepney, seventh baronet, 1749-1767, which include letters from the masters of his ships, from other business firms, and from his agents in the main seaports of Wales and England as well as at continental centres of trade, such as Brest and Lisbon. Despite its title, there are no papers relating to the Cilymaenllwyd estate.

Cilymaenllwyd mansion was at one time owned by the Mansells of Mudlescwm, Carmarthenshire. The mansion changed hands several times before it passed into the hands of the Howard-stepney family of Llanelly House, Carmarthenshire, early in the twentieth century and from them to the Murray-Threiplands. In 1985 Cilymaenllwyd mansion became a private nursing home.
The Stepney family was established at Prendergast, Pembrokeshire, from early in the second half of the sixteenth century until at least 1670. However, the house was in ruins by 1767, as the family had moved to Llanelli House, Carmarthenshire, rebuilt by Sir Thomas Stepney, the fifth baronet (d. 1744), and the Pembrokeshire estate was sold in 1772.
The family failed with the death of Sir Thomas Stepney (d. 1825), the ninth baronet. The family property passed to descendants on the female side who had married into the Gulston family of Derwydd, Carmarthenshire. They took the name of Stepney-Gulston, and later Cowall-Stepney. The estate eventually passed to Katherine Meriel Cowell Stepney, who married Sir E. Stafford Howard (d. 1916).

Arranged into two sections: deeds and papers, and letters.

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

Deposited by Lady Howard Stepney in 1948.

Cilymaenllwyd mansion was at one time owned by the Mansells of Mudlescwm, Carmarthenshire. The mansion changed hands several times before it passed into the hands of the Howard-stepney family of Llanelly House, Carmarthenshire, early in the twentieth century and from them to the Murray-Threiplands. In 1985 Cilymaenllwyd mansion became a private nursing home.
The Stepney family was established at Prendergast, Pembrokeshire, from early in the second half of the sixteenth century until at least 1670. However, the house was in ruins by 1767, as the family had moved to Llanelli House, Carmarthenshire, rebuilt by Sir Thomas Stepney, the fifth baronet (d. 1744), and the Pembrokeshire estate was sold in 1772.
The family failed with the death of Sir Thomas Stepney (d. 1825), the ninth baronet. The family property passed to descendants on the female side who had married into the Gulston family of Derwydd, Carmarthenshire. They took the name of Stepney-Gulston, and later Cowall-Stepney. The estate eventually passed to Katherine Meriel Cowell Stepney, who married Sir E. Stafford Howard (d. 1916).

Title supplied from contents of fonds.

A hard copy of the catalogue is available at NLW.

May 2001.

Compiled by Stephen Benham.

The following source was used in the compilation of this description: Jones, Francis, Historic Carmarthenshire Homes and their families (Newport, 1997);

Usual copyright laws apply.

Action: All records deposited at NLW have been retained.

Accruals are not expected.

Published