Welsh Journals

President: RICHARD HANBURY TENISON 8 Pentonville, Newport, Gwent 'Hadlow', Llanwenarth Citra, Abergavenny, Gwent NP7 7EY GWENT LOCAL HISTORY Formerly "Presenting Monmouthshire" No. 65 EDITORIAL One matter of concern which has been voiced at recent committee meetings is the recent market in manorial lordships, when documents which may be of great interest to local historians have been included in the sale. These documents then find homes (often abroad) where it is impossible to track them down. The legal position on this is that owners of manorial documents are required to furnish particulars of their documents and changes in their ownership. The Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts maintains a public register. Manorial documents can only be taken out of England and Wales with the consent of the Master of the Rolls and this consent has never been given. However it may happen that these rules are transgressed through ignorance. It appears that the inclusion of manorial documents with a lordship for sale makes no discernable difference in the price fetched at auction, bidders wishing to purchase for other reasons, so documents may be reserved for retention by the local record office without harming the vendors interests. So local historians be vigilant! Geoff Mein has been attempting to find documents concerning the Manor of Trostrey (see article Dafydd Benwyn and a date for Trostre Court) so if anyone is able to help him, please get in touch (see Notes on Contributors). Blaenau Gwent Borough Council have just completed landscaping Gilwern Wharf on the Monmouth and Brecon canal and I have already enjoyed the new parking facilities on the north side of the wharf. It is now easy to walk and explore from this point on the canal. Information is provided to visitors in the form of an interpretive panel. I, personally, always enjoy such provisions when I am visiting areas I do not know and am pleased to see them closer to home in Gwent. Chairman: BETTY SAGE Secretary: ARTHUR DAVIES Editor: MRS. ANNA TUCKER Autumn 1988