Briton Ferry Estate Records,

Title deeds relating to the Briton Ferry estate, 1627-1879, mainly in the parishes of Aberavon, Baglan, Briton Ferry, Llantwit-iuxta-Neath, Llansamlet, Michaelstone, Glamorganshire, together with probate records, marriage settlements, etc.

The Briton Ferry estate formed part of the lands of the Margam Abbey and passed successively to the Mansel, Villiers, and Vernon families (Earls of Jersey). The estate lay in the parishes of Aberavon, Baglan, Briton Ferry, Cadoxton-juxta-Neath, Glyncorrwg, Llangyfelach, Llansamlet, Llantwit-juxta-Neath, Margam, Michaelston-super-Avon, Neath, St John-juxta-Swansea, Swansea, Swansea St Mary, and Swansea St Thomas.
The Briton Ferry estate was owned by the Price family of Briton Ferry until Jane Price, daughter and heiress of William Price of Briton Ferry (will dated 1627), married Arthur, third son of Thomas Mansel of Margam (buried 1611). Arthur Mansel was succeeded by his son, Bussy Mansel, who inherited the Briton Ferry estate. Bussy Mansel was succeeded by his son, Thomas (d. 1684), who was succeeded by his son, another Thomas. He died childless and bequeathed his estate to his godson Bussy, son of Thomas, fourth lord Mansel of Margam. The estate remained in the hands of the Mansell family until the marriage of Louisa Barbara Mansell, sole daughter and heir of Bussy, lord Mansell, by his second wife, Barbara, daughter of William Villiers, 2nd earl of Jersey, with George Venables Vernon, Lord Vernon, in 1757. There was no male issue and after the death of Lady Louisa Barbara Vernon the estate remained in the hands of her husband for life, subject to the terms of her will by which she devised her Britton Ferry estate to her godson George, earl of Jersey.
In 1951 portions of the estate were sold to the Principality Property Co., Estateways Builders, John Oliver Watkins, the City & Provincial Housing Association and Gwalia Land & Property Developments Ltd.

Arranged chronologically.

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

Deposited by George Francis Child-Villiers, Earl of Jersey, August 1951, per Messrs Freshfield, London.

The Briton Ferry estate formed part of the lands of the Margam Abbey and passed successively to the Mansel, Villiers, and Vernon families (Earls of Jersey). The estate lay in the parishes of Aberavon, Baglan, Briton Ferry, Cadoxton-juxta-Neath, Glyncorrwg, Llangyfelach, Llansamlet, Llantwit-juxta-Neath, Margam, Michaelston-super-Avon, Neath, St John-juxta-Swansea, Swansea, Swansea St Mary, and Swansea St Thomas.
The Briton Ferry estate was owned by the Price family of Briton Ferry until Jane Price, daughter and heiress of William Price of Briton Ferry (will dated 1627), married Arthur, third son of Thomas Mansel of Margam (buried 1611). Arthur Mansel was succeeded by his son, Bussy Mansel, who inherited the Briton Ferry estate. Bussy Mansel was succeeded by his son, Thomas (d. 1684), who was succeeded by his son, another Thomas. He died childless and bequeathed his estate to his godson Bussy, son of Thomas, fourth lord Mansel of Margam. The estate remained in the hands of the Mansell family until the marriage of Louisa Barbara Mansell, sole daughter and heir of Bussy, lord Mansell, by his second wife, Barbara, daughter of William Villiers, 2nd earl of Jersey, with George Venables Vernon, Lord Vernon, in 1757. There was no male issue and after the death of Lady Louisa Barbara Vernon the estate remained in the hands of her husband for life, subject to the terms of her will by which she devised her Britton Ferry estate to her godson George, earl of Jersey.
In 1951 portions of the estate were sold to the Principality Property Co., Estateways Builders, John Oliver Watkins, the City & Provincial Housing Association and Gwalia Land & Property Developments Ltd.

Title supplied from contents of fonds.

Hard copies of the catalogue are available at NLW and HMC (now part of TNA).

May 2001.

Compiled by Stephen Benham.

The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Clark, G. T., Limbus patrum Morganiae et Glamorganiae (London, 1886), Complete Peerage, (London, 8 vols, 1887-98), vol. viii;

Usual copyright laws apply.

Action: All records deposited at NLW have been retained..

Some, at least, of these records were removed from the the Briton Ferry estate archive and were retained in the custody of Messrs Freshfield, the estate's London solicitors.

Accruals are not expected.

The main Briton Ferry estate archive, including deeds, estate administration records, and records of local commercial ventures, 1679-1954, are West Glamorgan Archive Service, D/D BF (Briton Ferry Estate), and further deeds, 1738-1856, are West Glamorgan Archive Service D/Gn (Gnoll Estate).

Published