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Gathering the Jewels features over 30,000 images of objects, books, letters, aerial photographs and other items from museums, archives and libraries throughout Wales.

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Home » Neighbourhood and Community » Birth, Marriage and Death » Marriages

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  • Adelina Patti, a well known nineteenth century opera singer, married Ernest Nicolini at Ystradgynlais parish church on 19th June 1886. They lived at Craig-y-nos Castle.
Marriage entry of Adelina Patti, 1886
  • 'Clandestine' marriages were secret events which enabled couples to marry legally without a formal church ceremony. The marriage usually took place away from the homes of either party, without banns, and often without a licence. These ceremonies were often conducted to avoid publicity or to allow a marriage without the consent of the parents if the husband and wife to be were under the age of 21. As they were conducted in secret, surviving documentation relating to these marriages is rare. This is the clandestine marriage certificate of Samuel Edwards of the parish of Llanfihangel Ystrad and Margaret Jones of the parish of Cilie Aeron in Ceredigion. The marriage took place a good way away at the parish of Llanfynydd in the deanery of Carmarthen. Although partly written in Latin, the bulk of the certificate is in English and reads as follows: 'God Save King George Amen Whereas Samuel Edwards of the parish of Llanvihangel Ystrad [inserted above] in the county of Cardigan of the one part, & Margaret Jones of the parish of Killie Ayron in the county of Cardigan of the other part were married at Llanfinith [Llanfynydd] in the Deanery of Carmarthen the 28th day of Septemb[er] Month 1753. According to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England ...'
Clandestine or 'secret' marriage certificate, 1753
  • A note on the back of this photograph reads 'father and mother wedding picture, Uncle Owen and Aunt Margaret stood with them, Aunt Fanny'; the next two words are illegible.
Photograph of some of John Griffith Jones's family
  • Bidding letter inviting guests to the wedding of Thomas Jones and Jane Thomas, which is to be held on 3 November 1812. In south-west Wales, it was a common custom to invite guests to the wedding ceremony and the feast afterwards. Before the advent of the 'penny post' a 'gwahoddwr' or bidder was engaged to call at the houses of friends and acquaintances and deliver the invitation verbally. However, from the late eighteenth century onwards, the bidding letter became increasingly popular. Although the bidding letter shared many of the characteristics of the 'stori wadd' (bidding story), in that it adhered to a fairly set pattern, it undoubtedly lacked much of the humour which was evident in the oral presentation. By the end of the nineteenth century, both traditions had almost died out in Wales.
Bidding letter, 17 October 1812
  • Photograph taken by Robert Thompson Crawshay of the wedding of Henrietta Louise Crawshay to Captain 'Cookie' Ralston.
Wedding photograph on steps of Cyfarthfa Castle, April 29th 1871
  • Photograph of bridesmaid taken by Robert Thompson Crawshay on the wedding of Henrietta Louise Crawshay to Captain 'Cookie' Ralston.
Photograph of bridesmaid by Robert Thompson Crawshay, 1871