Archifdy Ceredigion Archives
PG: Records of the Pigeonsford Estate

Acc1687

Ref: PG

Reference:[GB 0212] PG
Title: Records of the Pigeonsford Estate
Date(s): [c.1650]-1936
Level: Fonds
Extent: 11 boxes (0.152 m3)
Creator: The Pigeonsford Estate

Administrative History: Centred on the Pigeonsford Mansion (Welsh: Rhydycolomennod), in the parish of Llangrannog, the Pigeonsford Estate was made up of large areas of Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire.

The house itself dates partly from the 17th Century and was extensively re-modelled in 1755 in a neoclassical style. Further additions were made c. 1820 and new stables were built in 1831. Substantial alterations were also made to the house and gardens in the 1930s. The house still stands and is now a grade II listed building.
The Pigeonsford Collection comprises estate and family papers deposited at Ceredigion Archives in a metal trunk in 2004. The collection is chiefly made up of documents pertaining to the administration of the estate and the affairs of the Price-Bowen-Jordan families. Additional material relates to the genealogical research and letters of Evelyn Hope, who was largely responsible for the present structure and taxonomy of the collection.

The bulk of the collection relates to the period in which the Pigeonsford estate was occupied by the Price family c. 1700 to 1882. The Price family had an active political and military life in the area: George Price Senior was appointed High Sheriff of Cardigan in 1759. His son, George Junior, was a Captain in the 46th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot, Deputy Lieutenant, Justice of the Peace and Mayor of Cardigan in 1808 and 1812. George Bowen Jordan Jordan later followed in his father's footsteps as Deputy Lieutenant, High Sheriff and Mayor of Cardigan in 1831.

William Price (1682-1752) gained the estate by marriage to Bridget Perry or Parry according to some sources. Their eldest son, George Price, inherited the estate in 1752. He married Dorothy (or Dorothea) Bowen of Llwyngwair in 1762 and embarked upon a programme of rebuilding. Upon the death of George Price in 1786, his son George Price Junior (1768-1829), inherited the estate and in 1805 married Elizabeth Jordan. She bore him a son, George Bowen Jordan Price (1806-1882), who later altered his name to George Bowen Jordan Jordan after inheriting property from his maternal aunt, and inherited the Pigeonsford estate on his father's death in 1829.
George Bowen Jordan Jordan later married Ellen, daughter of Sir John Owen, Baronet of Orielton in Pembrokeshire. Upon George's death in 1882, the estate passed to his grandson, Richard Price Jordan, a minor. The house at Pigeonsford was subsequently let to tenants and in 1907/1908 the entire estate was broken up and sold; the house and grounds were bought by Charles William Webley Hope (d. 1926), grandson of George Bowen Jordan Jordan, and eldest son of Charles Webley (d. 1880) and Ellen Hope (née Price, daughter of Mr Jordan).

Charles and Ellen Hope had five children: Charles, George, Adrian, Herbert and Evelyn. By contrast to the Price Family whose allegiances were largely to the Army, the Hope Family were known for their naval connections, with two of Charles Webley Hope’s sons becoming Vice Admirals.

Charles William Webley Hope married Florence Lewes of Llanllyr in 1916. He resided at Pigeonsford until his death in 1926 after which the estate was sold again, this time to David Owen Evans, Liberal MP for Cardiganshire. The house has recently (1996-2002) been used as the headquarters of a charity.

Archival History: Much about the chain of custody is unknown. It would appear to be the case that upon the death of Charles William Webley Hope in 1926, his sister, Evelyn Hope, took possession of the Pigeonsford papers. According to letters contained within the collection (ref. PG:4/7), in 1929, Evelyn Hope deposited some of the papers at the National Library of Wales. This deposit was only temporary, and the papers were returned to Miss Hope shortly afterwards. Little is known about the custody of the papers during the intervening years between Evelyn Hope’s death in 1939 and the records’ arrival at Ceredigion Archives in 2004, only that their most recent custodian was Mr Peter Heneker, of Cardigan.

Immediate Source of Acquisition: Mr Peter Heneker of Llechryd, Cardigan, deposited the collection on 6 October 2004.

Scope and Content: The collection contains legal documents comprising title deeds (1658-1889), appointments to positions (1759-1872), wills (1674-1833), bonds (1759-1878), court documents (1858-1871), and notices of assignment (1855-1880); financial material comprising accounts (1753-1906), and receipts and Invoices (1700-1917); letters (1745-1906); the papers and correspondence of Evelyn Hope (1861-1936); and some miscellaneous material (1744-1919).

Accruals: Accruals are not expected.

System of Arrangement: No discernible system of arrangement.

Conditions Governing Access: No restrictions.

Conditions Governing Reproduction: Some documents are of a fragile nature and may be unsuitable for copying, final decision rests with the Archivist.

Related Units of Description:
Some material relating to the Pigeonsford estate can be found at the National Library of Wales (NLW) in Aberystwyth. A series of maps, shelfmark: MAP 7862, depicting messuages in the county of Cardigan covers some of the messuages that formed part of the Pigeonsford estate, specifically, Bleanllan, Bonyn, Caerllan, Claymawr, Pantgwyn and Trecregin. Also available at the NLW are sale catalogues from the sale of the estate c.1910, shelfmark: Filing Cabinets Cards. 80 and Filing Cabinets Cards. 247; and an architectural specification with associated building plans from C.W.W. Hope’s alterations and additions to the Manor, 1910, shelfmark: Pigeonsford 3.
Related records can be found amongst the records of the Webley-Parry-Pryse family, predominately of Neuadd Trefawr, but closely related to the Price-Bowen-Jordan and Webley-Hopes of Pigeonsford. See Acc.2860, WPP (uncatalogued)
A few items relating to the Pigeonsford Estate can also be found in the Records of Amphlett, Lewis and Evans, Solicitors of Llandysul, held here at the Ceredigion Archives, see Acc. 454, Ref: D/AL, Records of Amphlett, Lewis and Evans, Solicitors, Llandysul. Specifically D/AL/9/2-3, a Lease and Release; D/AL/18/2, the 1907/08 Sale Catalogue; and D/AL/18/3, Abstract of the title of Capt. Richard Price Jordan to the Pigeonsford estate, 1888-1907
A Lease of the estate from 1898 is amongst the British Records Association Collection, see Acc. 340, BRA/9/3.

Publication Note:
Jones, Francis (2000) Historic Cardiganshire Homes and Their Families Brawdy Books: Newport pp. 241-244.
Obituary: Death of Mr. C.W. Webley Hope, J.P., Pigeonsford. (1926, July 2). Cardigan and Tivy-Side Advertiser, p. 8.
Obituary: Sudden passing of Deaconess Hope, Cardigan. (1939, July 28). Cardigan and Tivy-Side Advertiser, p. 7.
The late Mr. Jordan of Pigeonsford. (1882, December 22). Cardigan and Tivy-Side Advertiser, p. 4.

Archivist's Note: This catalogue was prepared by students from Aberystwyth University’s MSc Econ in Archive Administration (2010/2011).

Rules or Conventions: ISAD(G) 2nd Edition, ANW Guidelines, and NCA rules for the construction of personal, place, and corporate names (1997).

Index Entries:

Subjects
Estate administration | Wales | Ceredigion
Estate administration | Wales | Llangrannog (Ceredigion)
Price family | of Pigeonsford | Archives

Personal names
Hope, Charles William Webley, d 1926
Hope, Evelyn, 1862-1939, Deaconess
Jordan, George Bowen, 1806-1882
Price, George, 1768-1829
Price, George, d 1786

Corporate names
Pigeonsford Estate (Wales)

Places
Llangrannog
Pigeonsford


Contents

PG/1: Legal Documents

PG/1/1: Deeds, Charters and related material
PG/1/2-7: Other legal documents, as follows:
PG/1/2: Appointments to positions.
PG/1/3: Wills and Inheritance.
PG/1/4: Bonds.
PG/1/5: Court Documents.
PG/1/6: Notices of Assignment.
PG/1/7: Legal Miscellaneous.

PG/2: Finance

PG/2/1: Accounts.
PG/2/2: Receipts and Invoices.
PG/2/3: Financial Miscellaneous.

PG/3: Letters

PG/3/1: Letters to George Price (d. 1786)
PG/3/2: Letters to George Price (1768-1829) and Elizabeth Price, his wife.
PG/3/3: Letters to other recipients.

PG/4-5: Papers of Evelyn Hope and misc.

PG/4: Papers and Correspondence of Evelyn Hope.
PG/5: Miscellaneous