Focus on: The Vaughan family

Friday 21st November 2008

Imagine a family whose wealth, back in the 19th century, actually exceeded the riches of Britain’s reigning monarch of the time, King George III.

So when they chose to celebrate, boy, did they do it in some style and substance.

They are the Vaughan family of Hengwrt, Nannau and Rug, Merionethshire, and they were the most powerful family in Wales. Now some major historical artifacts of theirs are being sold by Tamlyn’s of Bridgwater on December 9.

The sale items all relate to the first, second and third baronets of this aristocratic family along with other significant individuals of their day, including the “Cycle of the White Rose”, a Welsh Jacobite society founded by the Williams-Wynn’s of Wynnstay in 1710. “The fascinating thing about sales from families that can trace their roots back through the mists of time, in this case to the 10th century, is the history that comes with the lots,” say Tamlyn’s.

“In this sale the items are all documented, their owners listed, the history so precise it immediately puts you in touch with centuries long gone.”

By way of an example, they cite the fact that some of the lots have been constructed from the Ceubren yr Ellyll, a hollow oak tree steeped in Welsh history and superstition.

“According to legend, in the early 15th century Howel Sele, Lord of Nannau, a strong supporter of King Henry IV, was hunting with his cousin Owen Glendower.

“Bitter enemies, Sele is alleged to have aimed to kill a deer, but then aimed his bow at Glendower and missed. Glendower then killed Sele and, realising the repercussions of what he had done, placed the body in a hollow oak tree on the estate.”

The tree linked to this legend then blew down during a terrible gale at Nannau on July 28, 1813. The wood was used to make various items, including a silver-mounted oak cup included in this sale. It is inscribed in Welsh and bears two silver plaques, one with the image of the tree, the other the arms of Williames-Vaughan. It is hallmarked London 1816.

Another lot from this tree is four silver- mounted stirrup cups, modelled in the form of acorns and each engraved with a toast, which follow in a logical sequence. These were made for the coming of age celebrations on June 25, 1824, of Robert Williames Vaughan (1803-1859), later the third baronet.

The birthday bash was in fact a vast celebration and it spelled the end for a magnificent beast. He’s the particularly fine, though rather shy-looking, piece of prime beef featured in an oil painting by Daniel Clowes (pictured).

The animal is the famous White Ox of Nannau, pictured with the old herdsman Sian Dafydd and Nannau in the background. Purported to be the last White Ox of Wales, this beast was slaughtered for the feast “of which a barron of one hundred and sixty five pounds was roasted at Nannau 25th June 1824”.

Two of his hooves and his horns were mounted in silver and constructed to support an ornate cast silver three-branch candel- abra, also included in the sale.

The earliest item to be sold will be an Elizabethan bronze measure decorated in raised relief with the Royal Arms of Elizabeth I and dated 1601. It also bears initials that indicate the line of descent from Janet Salesbury of Rug to Sir Robert Howel Vaughan first baronet.

Tim Davey