Sal Mager, Senior Archivist, writes: Estate maps can often be very large and imposing. They can also sometimes be a little disappointing as they can be rather scant on useful information and little more than an outline sketch. I am pleased to say the Trefonnen, Trefloch and Soughtin Survey which we have recently acquired is neither of these things. The compact soft-bound volume belies its contents. Inside are a set of meticulously drawn, detailed and coloured maps, recorded over eight sets of double pages. Each map is given a scale.
Every map is accompanied by a table detailing the extent and use of the various plots shown, as well as naming the occupiers and neighbouring landowners. This means the information content will be valuable to a range of researchers – from academics and those studying land use and field names to genealogists and house history researchers.
The survey was made for Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn who was the largest landowner in North Wales at that time. He was the 5th Baronet of Wynnstay and married Lady Henrietta Clive, daughter of Edward Clive, 1st Earl of Powis.
As this record clearly illustrates, his holdings extended over the border into Shropshire. As the main the Williams-Wynn estate papers are held at the National Library of Wales, we liaised with them about the best home for this particular survey but agreed that it was more appropriate to be held in Shropshire.
It is a significant addition to our collections. It complements the estate records of Rowland Hunt who owned adjacent land in Trefloch (otherwise spelt Treflach) ref 6000/16380-17990. We have very little material on Trefonnen and Soughtin.
We are delighted to have acquired this unique record of the area which will enable the history of the local people and landscape to be accessible to all. We are very grateful to both the Friends of Shropshire Archives and FNL, who generously provided the funds needed to secure the purchase of this volume when it came up for auction. The survey is now available to view in our search room, or copies can be ordered through our website, under the reference MI9940/1.
