National Library of Wales
Cwrtmawr Manuscripts
#### Cwrtmawr Manuscripts

The Cwrtmawr Manuscripts are one of the significant manuscript collections that were transferred to the National Library of Wales in the early years of its existence. They are from the personal collection of [John Humphreys Davies](/wiki/John_Humphreys_Davies "John Humphreys Davies"), who was the Principal of University College, Aberystwyth. Davies was a barrister and a keen book collector who acquired the manuscripts gradually from a number of sources. The largest group of manuscripts are those acquired from [John Jones ('Myrddin Fardd')](/wiki/Myrddin_Fardd "Myrddin Fardd"), but there are several other substantial groups including those from a Welsh clerical family, the Richards of Darowen, [Peter Bailey Williams](/wiki/Peter_Bailey_Williams "Peter Bailey Williams") and his brother Rev. St George Armstrong Williams, William John Roberts ('Gwilym Cowlyd'), and [Daniel Silvan Evans](/wiki/Daniel_Silvan_Evans "Daniel Silvan Evans").


Why were the Cwrtmawr Manuscripts transferred to the National Library of Wales?