Sir Robert Williames Vaughan, 2nd Baronet (29 March 1768 – 22 April 1843), was a Welsh landowner and

Tory A Tory () is an individual who supports a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalist conservatism which upholds the established social order as it has evolved through the history of Great Britain. The To ...

politician who sat in the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...

for 40 years from 1792 to 1836.

Nannau house

In 1800, Vaughan embarked on a life long journey to redesign his home and neighbouring areas. He lavishly rebuilt the Georgian home of Nannau, and designed the surrounding estate; he completed the job with the help from

Joseph Bromfield Joseph Bromfield (1744–1824) was a notable English Plasterwork, plasterer and architect working in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands and in Central and Northern Wales in the late Georgian period. He was Mayor of Shrewsbury in 1809. ...

, who created a pavilion wing and some internal features after a fire in 1808. He took inspiration from an architectural book written by

Peter Frederick Robinson Peter Frederick Robinson (1776–24 June 1858) was an English architect. Career Robinson began his career in Henry Holland's office and worked under William Porden at the Brighton Pavilion in 1801–02. In 1805 he designed Hans Town Assem ...

, but added subtle alterations to the designs inspired by

Tudor architecture The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture in England and Wales, during the Tudor period (1485–1603) and even beyond, and also the tentative introduction of Renaissance architecture to Britain. It fo ...

Estate

All around the 10,164 acre estate and

Llanfachreth Llanfachreth is a village approximately three miles north-east of Dolgellau, Gwynedd, in the Community (Wales), community of Brithdir and Llanfachreth within the historic boundaries of Merionethshire (), Wales. History Llanfachreth is a small ...

village, 55 miles of walling was built, for such a task, he kept 18 horses and mules, with 9 men operating

carts A cart or dray (Australia and New Zealand) is a vehicle designed for transport, using two wheels and normally pulled by draught animals such as horses, donkeys, mules and oxen, or even smaller animals such as goats or large dogs. A handcart ...

(carters). Two farms and ten cottages were built on the estate. Then five

arches An arch is a curved vertical structure span (engineering), spanning an open space underneath it. Arches may support the load above them, or they may perform a purely decorative role. As a decorative element, the arch dates back to the 4th mill ...

and one lodge were constructed between 1820-30, and another lodge named after his ancestor

Hywel Sele Hywel Sele (died c. 1402) was a Welsh nobleman. A cousin of Owain Glyndŵr, Prince of Wales, he was a friend of Henry IV of England and opposed his cousin's Glyndŵr Rising, 1400–1415 uprising. Sele was captured by Glyndŵr but is said to have a ...

, and a deer park, miles more of carriage driveways and a fishing pond too. He also turned his attention to

Dolgellau Dolgellau (; ) is a town and Community (Wales), community in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, lying on the River Wnion, a tributary of the River Mawddach. It was the traditional county town of the Historic counties of Wales, historic county of Merion ...

by rebuilding the town centre. On the estate of Nannau were several famous things including one placed there by Sir Robert Vaughan, the 'Nannau bucket' a late

Bronze Age The Bronze Age () was a historical period characterised principally by the use of bronze tools and the development of complex urban societies, as well as the adoption of writing in some areas. The Bronze Age is the middle principal period of ...

urn An urn is a vase, often with a cover, with a typically narrowed neck above a rounded body and a footed pedestal. Describing a vessel as an "urn", as opposed to a vase or other terms, generally reflects its use rather than any particular shape ...

discovered in nearby

Arthog Arthog () is a village, post town and community (Wales), community in the Meirionnydd area in Gwynedd, north Wales including the villages of Fairbourne and Friog. It is located on the A493 road, A493, approximately west of Dolgellau, and had a ...

. Vaughan had an interest in

antiquarianism An antiquarian or antiquary () is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artefacts, archaeological and historic s ...

and collected such items. Also on the estate was the Nannau Oak which was felled in a summer lightning storm in 1813, the tree famous for being the deathbed of his ancestor Hywel Sele, named 'Derwen Ceubren yr Ellyll' (). The oak was subsequently used for various things such as a

stirrup cup A stirrup cup is a "parting cup" given to guests, especially when they are leaving and have their feet in the stirrups. It is also the traditional drink (usually port (wine), port or sherry) served at the meet, prior to a traditional foxhunt. The ...

during his only son's 21st birthday, which is still considered one of Wales' grandest birthdays. In 1824, the famous white Nannau Ox, the last of its herd, was slaughtered for the coming-of-age celebrations at Nannau.

Politician

Vaughan was elected MP for

Merioneth Merionethshire, or Merioneth ( or '), was one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974. It was located in the north-west of Wales. Name 'Merioneth' is an anglicisation of the Welsh placename ''Mei ...

in 1792, holding the seat continuously through 14 Parliaments until he was forced to retire in 1836. He also continued to work with Oxford university, he chaired a meeting for gentlemen in Wales who studied at Jesus college like he had, until at least 1819. He was appointed

High Sheriff of Merionethshire This is a list of Sheriffs of Merionethshire (or Sheriffs of Meirionnydd). The historic county of Merioneth was originally created in 1284. The administrative county of Merioneth was created from the historic county under the Local Government Act ...

for 1837–38.

Family and personal life

Vaughan was the eldest son of Sir Robert Howell Vaughan, 1st Baronet, of Hengwrt, Merionethshire who died a year after being created baronet; Robert Vaughan 2nd baronet was educated at

Jesus College, Oxford Jesus College (in full: Jesus College in the University of Oxford of Queen Elizabeth's Foundation) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship ...

(1787). He succeeded his father on 13 October 1792, his father was buried at St Illtyd's Church, Llanelltyd. Sir Robert inherited the 12,000 acre Nannau estate and farms, as well as Ystum Colwyn, Meillionydd; and the

Hengwrt was a mansion near Dolgellau in Meirionnydd, Gwynedd. It lay in the parish of Llanelltyd near the confluence of the Afon Mawddach, River Mawddach and :cy:Afon Wnion, River Wnion, near Cymer Abbey. With medieval origins, it was rebuilt or remodel ...

estate, whilst his brother who changed his name to Edward Salesbury inherited the Rhug estate. His brother Edward pursued a career in the military, rising to

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

of the

1st Regiment of Foot Guards The Grenadier Guards (GREN GDS) is the most senior infantry regiment of the British Army, being at the top of the Infantry Order of Precedence. It can trace its lineage back to 1656 when Lord Wentworth's Regiment was raised in Bruges to protect ...

, before his death in battle in 1807, therefore his younger brother Griffith inherited Rhug. He married Anna Maria, the daughter of

Sir Roger Mostyn, 5th Baronet Sir Roger Mostyn, 5th Baronet (13 November 1734 – 26 July 1796) was a Welsh landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons for 38 years from 1758 to 1796. Early life and inheritance Mostyn was the son of Sir Thomas Mostyn, 4th Baro ...

, of Mostyn, Flintshire and Gloddaeth, Caernarvonshire on 23 September 1802. Before he died he had to settle the family finances, there was the lavish expense amounted from his son's coming of age party, but worse so were his brother's debts which he had to take care of after his death, these in 1842 amounted to £250,000 (). Sir Robert Williames Vaughan died in April, 1843. He left his estates at Nannau, Hengwrt, Meillionydd and Ystumcolwyn to his son, the 3rd and final of the

Vaughan baronets The Vaughan Baronetcy, of Nannau in the County of Merioneth, was a title in the Baronetage of Great Britain. It was created on 28 July 1791 for Robert Howell Vaughan. He was a descendant of Robert Vaughan, the antiquary. The second Baronet was ...

, this was the last time they would be in the common ownership of one person.

References

Books cited

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External links

* * * * * * 1768 births 1843 deaths Baronets in the Baronetage of Great Britain Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for Welsh constituencies British MPs 1790–1796 British MPs 1796–1800 Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Welsh constituencies UK MPs 1801–1802 UK MPs 1802–1806 UK MPs 1806–1807 UK MPs 1807–1812 UK MPs 1812–1818 UK MPs 1818–1820 UK MPs 1820–1826 UK MPs 1826–1830 UK MPs 1830–1831 UK MPs 1831–1832 UK MPs 1832–1835 UK MPs 1835–1837 High sheriffs of Merionethshire Tory MPs (pre-1834) People from Dolgellau People from Merionethshire 19th-century Welsh landowners {{Wales-UK-MP-stub