31/1/2007

A collection of books which were once owned by a member of the Pembrokeshire gentry is to be given to the National Library of Wales.

The 5,000-strong Henry Owen Collection will be handed over to ensure that the books, which include rare editions, stay in public ownership.

The hand over is particularly apt as Henry Owen was the first treasurer of the National Library, which celebrates its centenary this year.

Councillor Rob Lewis, Cabinet Member for Cultural Services said it would be sad to see the collection go but many of the books were in poor physical condition and no funding was available to preserve or restore them.

“The move to Aberystwyth means that it will be preserved for posterity and will enable more people to access them,� he said,

Born in Withybush in 1844, Henry Owen became a leading solicitor in London before retiring to Poyston near Haverfordwest in 1914.

There in a mansion which was the birthplace of Sir Thomas Picton he devoted his leisure to historical and antiquarian studies as befitted a member of the gentry of the time.

Over the years he collected a vast collection of books and manuscripts particularly in the field of history and archaeology but also including the cream of 19th and early 20th century literature.

When he died in 1919 this collection was bequeathed to Haverfordwest, with the exception of 500 books and the bulk of his manuscript materia, which went to the National Library.

Although a committee was set up to look after the collection it has been long defunct and today the books are stored in the basement reserve store of Haverfordwest Library , except for those works particularly relating to Pembrokeshire. These are in the Local Studies section of the library and will stay in the county.