A Timeline of Some of the People & Events Surrounding Nannau.

Nannau

The Twelfth Century
Cadwgan ap Bleddyn
Built the Nannau house that was probably destroyed by Cromwell’s Troops c. 1401 (described as “the stateliest structure in all North Wales”.)
Cadwgan ap Bleddyn was Killed by his Nephew in Welshpool c.1110.
m. Gwenllian
Daughter of Gruffydd at Cynan. Prince of North Wales (King of Gwynedd).
The Thirteenth Century
Maddog
1st Lord of Nannau.
m. Efa
Daughter and heiress of Madoc ap Philip ap Uchdryd.
Meurig
Lord of Nannau.
m. Gwenlian
Daughter and heiress of Ierwerth ap Peredyr ap Ednowain.
Ynyr Hen
born c.1200 / d. c.1250.
m. Gwerfyl
Daughter and heiress of Madog ap Llowarch Vychan ap Llowarch Goch.
Ynyr Vychan
Helped to capture the rebel Madog ap Llywelyn in 1295.
m. Gwenhwyfar
Daughter and heiress of Gruffydd ap Grono ap Einion at Seissyllt.
The Fourteenth Century
Meurig ap Ynyr Fychan
Died 1350.
The 14th century Effigy in St. Marys Church, Dolgellau.
m. Angharad
Meuric Llwyd
Died before 1400.
m. Mallt
Daughter of Howel.
Howel Sele
m. Mali
Daughter of Egnion.
His brother founded the family of Caerynwch.
Meurig Vychan
Aged two when his father was killed.
Died between 1460 and 1480. Buried at Cymer Abbey.
m. Angharad
Buried at Cymer Abbey.
The Fifteenth Century
Howel Sele
Died c.1401.
Daffydd ap Meurig Vychan
10th Lord of Nannau.
died c.1494.
Buried at Cymer Abbey.
Bequeathed eight shillings and six pence for the building of Llanfachreth Church, and four nobles for the construction of St. Mary’s Church in Dolgellau.
m. Ellen Salisbury
Daughter of Hywel ap Rhys ap Dafydd, Lord of Rug.
Hywel ap Daffydd ap Meurig Vychan
born. c.1480 (a minor at the time of his fathers death).
Died c.1540.
m. Elin
Daughter of Robert Salesbury.
The Sixteenth Century
Gruffydd Wyn Nanney
b. 1536 / d. 1573.
m. Jane – Daughter of Humphrey.
Hugh Nanney ‘Hen’
12th Lord of Nannau and High Sheriff of Merioneth (1587).
b.1542 / d.1623.
m. Annes Vaughan (d. 1627)
Daughter of Rhys Vaughan of Corsygedol.
Gruffydd Nanney, MP
13th Lord of Nannau.
b. 1568 / d. 1592.
m. Ellin – Daughter of John Wynn ap Cadwaladr of Rhiwlas.
Hugh Nanney (The Younger)
14th Lord of Nannau and High Sheriff of Merioneth (1627-38).
b.1588 / d.1647.
Hugh’s sister Catherine married Robert Vaughan of Hengwrt (The Antiquarian) who’s collection of books are now in the National Library of Wales.
m. Annes Vaughan – Daughter of Gruffydd Vaughan of Corsygedol.
b. c.1584 / d. c.1632.
The Seventeenth Century
Gruffydd Nanney – 15th Lord of Nannau
born 1600 / d. 1655.
High Sheriff of Merioneth (1640-42).
m. Mary Gwyn
Daughter of Lewis Gwyn.
Hugh Nanney – 16th Lord of Nannau.
born circa 1630 / d. after 1667.
m. Jonet Salusbury.
born c.1630.
Col. Hugh Nanney, MP – 17th Lord of Nannau.
born 1669 / d. 1701.
MP for Merioneth (1695-1701). High Sheriff of Merioneth. Vice-Admiral of North Wales.
Knight of the Shire (three times).
Colonel of a Regiment of Militia (which he raised himself).
m. Catherine Vaughan
Daughter of William Vaughan of Corsygedol.
born c.1659 / d. 1733.
Janet Nanney
born 1692 / d. 1728.
m. Robert Vaughan of Hengwrt Uchaf.
born 1695 / d. 1749.
High Sheriff of Merioneth.
The Eighteenth Century
Hugh Vaughan
died 1783.
High Sheriff of Merioneth.
He left Nannau to his Brother, Howell.
Robert Howell Vaughan, 1st Bart. (The Brother of Hugh)
Made a Baronet in 1791.
born 1723 / died 1792.
Practising surgeon at Dee Bank in Chester.
m. Anne Williams
born c.1731 / d. 1791
Robert Williames Vaughan, 2nd Bart.
born 1768 / died 1843.
MP from 1792-1836.
m. Anna Maria Mostyn
Daughter of Sir Roger Mostyn, 5th Baronet.
born 1777 / died 1858.
The Nineteenth Century
Robert Williames Vaughan, 3rd Bart.
born 1803 / died 1859
m. Frances Margaret Lloyd (of Mostyn).
born 1810 / died 1858.
Thomas Pryce Lloyd
Hon. Thomas Pryce Lloyd of Pengwern, Flintshire.
One of the sons of the first lord Mostyn. Inherited Nannau for Life.
born 1800 / died 1874.
John Vaughan
Of Chilton Grove, Shropshire.
born 1829 / died 1900.
High-Sheriff of Merioneth in 1880.
A member of the Dolmelynllyn branch of the Hengwrt family.
Took over Nannau in 1874.
He was responsible for building the school at Llanfachreth and also gave a 10% rent rebate to his tenants.
m. Ellinor Anne Owen.
born 1832 / died 1917.
The estate passed to his wife when he died in 1900 and she ran it until her death in 1917.
Major-General John Vaughan
born 1871 / died 1956.
m. Louisa Evelyn in 1913.
Sir Robert Williams Vaughan, 2nd Bart. Dies
Sir Robert Williams Vaughan (2nd Baronet) dies and the estate passes to his wife Anna Maria.
Sir Robert Williams Vaughan, 3rd Bart. Dies
Sir Robert Williams Vaughan (3rd Baronet) dies aged 55 without an Heir.
He lived most of his life away from Nannau, due to a possible formidable mother (who only passed away the year before he died).
He lived mainly at Rûg and died in London.
Thomas Pryce Lloyd inherits Nannau for Life.
World War One
Nannau was one of many large houses commandeered as short-term hospitals during WWI. Nannau was chosen due to it’s quiet location and private grounds. The nearby house at Maes-y-Bryner was used as a guest house for the relatives of the sick patients.
Nannau During WWI
With Fondest Love, Trev. (Letters Home)
Major-General John Vaughan Inherits Nannau
Ellinor Anne Vaughan, widow of John dies.
The estate passes to her son, Major-General John Vaughan.
World War Two
Bedgebury Park School for Girls, in Kent, was evacuated to Nannau during World War Two (on May 24th, 1940).
Information courtesy of Alan S. Nipper:
“This private school for girls moved to Wales in 1940, returning to Goudhurst, Kent in 1945. The school was founded in 1920 and closed circa 2002. I believe the younger pupils were housed in Llanelltyd . They and the seniors were also given facilities at Dr Williams School.”
The 1949 Royal Visit
The Princess Elizabeth And The Duke Of Edinburgh (Earl Of Merioneth) had lunch at Nannau during their tour of Merioneth on April 28th & 29th, 1949.
Cavalry & Sporting Memories Published
Major-General John Vaughan describes Nannau in his war memoirs, “Cavalry and Sporting Memories”, published in 1954:
“Nannau is about the best built Georgian house I have ever seen. With huge blocks of stone and round, pointed and projecting mortar. Incidentally, I cannot find out the composition of the cement but I have been told that it was burnt lime, fine river sand and bullocks’ blood or white of eggs. It is previous to Portland cement. All the stone was, of course, hand dressed and the interior woodwork and ceilings are a monument to the old Welsh craftsmen, who have now entirely ceased to exist”.
He describes the estate as “one of the most beautiful in the United Kingdom.”