John Dillwyn Llewelyn

I am Co-Director of Red Kite Environment, a company specialising in heritage interpretation. We have a contract to plan and provide interpretation at Penllergare, the historic home of John Dillwyn Llewelyn. JDL was an early pioneer of photography and there are photographs of Penllergare dating from around 1841. His wife was a cousin of William Henry Fox Talbot. We have researched the story of JDL widely and know that many of his photos are held by the National Museum of Wales. We would welcome any information anyone may have on JDL and his influence on the early development of photography, including the development of the collodion process.

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  • It would be a pleasure to help your efforts.

    Best,

    Alex

    Peter Seccombe said:

    Hi Alex

    Many thanks for this. The album that you have sounds very interesting. I guess it will have more photographs in it than are available from the National Museum of Wales. It would be good to see it sometime if that would be possible. The other document and photographs would also be good to see.

    We have now prepared the plan for the interpretation in the proposed visitor centre and other sites at Penllergare, and will be seeking the next phase of funding from the Heritage Fund later this year. I'll be in touch again later in the year when we start to produce the interpretation exhibitions.

    Many thanks for your help

    Peter

  • Hi Alex

    Many thanks for this. The album that you have sounds very interesting. I guess it will have more photographs in it than are available from the National Museum of Wales. It would be good to see it sometime if that would be possible. The other document and photographs would also be good to see.

    We have now prepared the plan for the interpretation in the proposed visitor centre and other sites at Penllergare, and will be seeking the next phase of funding from the Heritage Fund later this year. I'll be in touch again later in the year when we start to produce the interpretation exhibitions.

    Many thanks for your help

    Peter

  • Peter, I have an album largely of JDL's work that I bought at Christie's London back in May 2002. I believe it was put together by several people, beginning with his daughter. At the same sale I bought a two handwritten manuscripts and a copy of a typed transcription of one of them by Thereza Story Maskelyne, JDL's daughter, one called The Penllergare Grand Parents", and the other simply titled "Photography".  There is some information where she writes: "...Collodion coated glass gave a smoother surface for the picture. This was again improved upon when my father added Oxmel to the Collodion film and so enabled the plates to be kept moist for a much longer time than when they were dry."  

    I also have what looks like a maquette entitled, "A Month with the Camera in the Highlands of Scotland by an Amateur, August 1854". The title and date are repeated on the first board after the fly leaf in very light pencil.  There is a highly ornate set of initials in script that could be J.D.L., although it is very difficult to decipher.  All the pencil writing on this board seems to be from the same hand and period.  Llewelyn was known to have photographed in Scotland. Also possibly by George Washington Wilson was hired by Prince Albert to photograph the rebuilding of Balmoral. This is an important album no matter who was the photographer, especially for its nearly unique views of Balmoral at this key transformative time period.

    Many of the photos are of the old and new Balmoral Castle with the new construction.  Photos also include the Aberdeen Cathedral, The Scott Monument, Kings College (Aberdeen), Lynn of Dee, Mar Castle, Ballater Village, and numerous bridges, waterwheels, towns and landscape scenes in the Northern Highlands of Scotland.  Photographs vary in size and the negative type may have also varied.

    I've also had a few extra photos by him or family members and a printed obituary with much bio detail on Nevil Story-Maskelyne.

    Feel free to get in touch with me if you have any questions.

    Best,

    Alex

  • Hello Peter

    Sorry my piece on the Erddig Servants photo is on Forum page 7 dated April 29 2019

    Geoff

  • Hi Geoff.

    Sorry for the delay replying to your message. JDL's wife was Emma, but his sister was Mary. I've done a bit of research of photographs but I cannot find any from North Wales. I have only seen the photos that are in the National Museum of Wales and in Noel Chanan's book, but I am aware that the Llewelyn family have other photos that are not publicly available. It's possible that Noel himself might have more information on this. 

    Thank you for responding. You refer to the piece on page 7 'below' but I can't see the reference.

    Peter


    GEOFF RIMMER said:

    Hello Peter

    In my piece on page 7 below re the Erddig 1852 Servants Photograph I had a paragraph  on JDL and in particular his wife Mary. Although not what you are looking for I was wondering if you had any information on whether JDL or Mary had at any time travelled into North Wales and in particular the area around Wrexham

    Thanks

    Geoff

  • Hello Peter

    In my piece on page 7 below re the Erddig 1852 Servants Photograph I had a paragraph  on JDL and in particular his wife Mary. Although not what you are looking for I was wondering if you had any information on whether JDL or Mary had at any time travelled into North Wales and in particular the area around Wrexham

    Thanks

    Geoff

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