MERIONETH HISTORICAL AND RECORD SOCIETY

(Registered Charity, 1102366)

 

 

The Merioneth Historical and Record Society was founded in June 1939, but due to the outbreak of war three months later, it existed in name only for a number of years. Its inaugural meeting was held in Dolgellau on 3 July 1948. The Society’s first Journal , under the editorship of Sir William Ll. Davies, was published in 1949. Three 'Extra Publications' were issued between 1952-55 – see below. In 1957 the Society initiated an official County History project which, upon completion, will provide a comprehensive and scholarly account of the history of Merioneth from prehistoric times to the twentieth century. Two volumes of the History have been published to date – see below.

 

OBJECTS:

The object of the Society is the education of the public in the history of the former county of Merioneth ('the county') including archaeology, buildings, family history, folklore, literature and all the various subjects which come under the designation of 'antiquities' and in particular:

 

1. to publish a Journal which shall include articles in Welsh and English, contributions on current research, reports from the local Record Office and on the Society’s proceedings, and reviews of scholarly publications;
   
2. to publish an official History of the county;
   
3. to hold meetings to hear papers of relevance to the county and for discussion;
   
4. to arrange field meetings at historic sites in the county or in any former neighbouring county;
   
5. to encourage, promote and develop the establishment of local historical societies within the county;
   
6. to encourage and promote the preservation of historical records which relate to the county.
   

MEMBERSHIP:

 

1. Membership of the Society is, upon application and full payment of the annual subscription, open to all persons and institutions who are interested in furthering the objects of the Society.
   
2. All members are entitled to attend and vote at all meetings of the Society and are entitled to receive a copy of the Society’s Journal. (Members who benefit from the payment of a joint annual subscription are entitled to one copy of the Journal.)

 

SUBSCRIPTIONS:

 

1. The annual membership subscription shall be such sum as the Trustees may determine from time to time. The current subscription rates are:

   (a) £10.00 single membership;
   (b) £15.00 joint membership and institutions.
   

2. The membership subscription is payable on 1 April in each year.
   

MEETINGS:

 1. The Annual General Meeting of the Society is held in the autumn in each year.

2. The Council seeks to arrange at least two other meetings annually which shall include:

(a) a paper in Welsh to be read and discussed;
(b) a field meeting at an historic site in the county or in any former neighbouring county.

 

PUBLICATIONS:

1. The Society’s annual Journal since 1949; a good number of issues are now out of print.
   
2. An Index to the Journal, Vols. I – X (1949-89) is to be published on CD in 2008.
   
3. 'Extra Publications', Series I, Nos. 1-3 (1952-55):
   
   (a) The Memoirs of Samuel Holland: One of the Pioneers of the North Wales Slate Industry. Out of print.
   (b) Atgofion Amaethwr gan Gomer Roberts. Gol. C. Bryner Jones. Out of print.
   (c)The Merioneth Miscellany. Out of print.
   (i) 'Some Botanical Exploration in Merionethshire' by P. W. Carter;
   (ii) 'A Report on the Deanery of Penllyn and Edeirnion presented by
   the Reverend John Wynne in 1730”' Abstracted from the original
   MSS by G. M. Griffiths.
   
4. History of Merioneth, Volume I: From the Earliest Times to the Age of the Native Princes by E. G. Bowen and C. A. Gresham (1967). Out of print.
   
5. History of Merioneth, Volume II: The Middle Ages. Ed. J. Beverley Smith and Llinos Beverley Smith (2001). Out of print.
   

Enquiries concerning the Society’s publications should be addressed to the Honorary Secretary.