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December 5, 2025
The subtitle of the hardback edition is The History of a Mansion and Its Infamous Squire. The mansion, Peterwell, is in Ceredigion, mid-Wales, near the town of Lampeter. It was built in 1695, replacing an earlier building, and was left to fall into ruins by 1802 when locals were pillaging the fabric for building stone. That about sums up the mansion. The interesting parts of the story, which often reads as a dissertation, concern the society of mid-Wales from the English Civil War to the death of the main character and the villain of the piece, Sir Herbert Lloyd, in 1769.
Ceredigion was an isolated place even for the gentry. A journey to London along poorly maintained roads was a thing to be endured with gritted teeth, especially in an unsprung carriage. It seems that well into the eighteenth century the local lords of the manor, even though they may have been magistrates, mayors or even Members of Parliament in the British system of public control, saw themselves almost as Welsh princelings, each with his own territory and loyal army of followers. They rivalled each other for power and it it was into that milieu that Herbert Lloyd was born.
It soon became apparent that Herbert was an ambitious young man. He was the younger son of Walter Lloyd and Elizabeth Evans. As such it was his older brother John who inherited the family estate of Peterwell, Herbert had to make do with the lesser property of Foelallt. For some time he was an eighteenth century rake, a compulsive gambler and an excessive drinker. He married at 22 and a year later his wife died in childbirth along with their baby daughter. Perhaps it was the trauma of their deaths that encouraged Herbert to apparently convert to Methodism and mend his ways. He was a Justice of the Peace and a rising presence in the community. He re-married in 1765 to a local widow, Anne Stedman. That may have marked Herbert's change of mind over living an ascetic life: Anne brought with her the possibility of a substantial share of the Stedman family wealth and his subsequent behaviour to her makes one think that it was never a love match.
Herbert fell back into his old ways very quickly and became involved in several dubious, almost criminal, activities. The Crown claimed extraction rights over the gold, silver and lead to be found in the old county of Cardiganshire. Herbert joined with his brother-in-law, William Powell, with an armed mob of retainers to chase out the Crown Agent from a mine in the Cardigan hills. A rival, Thomas Johnes, arrived with his own little army and forced Herbert to retreat. As the author says, it seems as if rural Cardiganshire was turning into something resembling the Wild West. It had its consequences: Herbert lost his important position as a J. P. - it undoubtedly meant more then than it would now.
In 1755 Herbert's brother, John Lloyd, died and Herbert lost no time in moving his household into Peterwell and taking over most of the substantial land holdings that John had built up. He quickly proved himself to be a ruthless landlord and began his campaign to become a Member of Parliament for Cardigan. This he achieved in 1761 and two years later, much to the surprise of those who knew him, he became a baronet.
That was the height of his power but his fall was as rapid as his rise. His unscrupulous and often criminal behaviour culminated in the incident of the Black Ram. I am not certain how many of the elements in the story have ever been proved but the suspicions helped to bring him down. Briefly, Sir Herbert wanted possession of a piece of land near Peterwell and a small cottage that were owned by a freeholder, Sion Philip. Philip refused all offers to sell so, it seems, Sir Herbert arranged to have Philip framed for the theft of his prize ram. As Sir Herbert was the lord of the manor he ordered Philip's arrest, imprisonment and eventual trial after having the body of the ram hidden in the cottage as evidence. The crime of sheep stealing was then a capital offence. The trial was a farce. Sir Herbert had been allowed to select the members of the jury himself and the trial was conducted in English, knowing that Philip, a Welsh speaker, understood little of the language. Philip was found guilty and hanged – a completely innocent man – while Sir Herbert calmly took over the field as, being lord of the manor, he was entitled to the possession of the estate of a convicted felon within his bounds of authority.
Sir Herbert's fall continued, pushed on by his erratic behaviour, which was possibly fueled by his considerable appetite for alcohol. He angered his tenants, enraged his neighbours and lost his few allies through his own duplicity. Finally he lost his Parliamentary seat and with it his immunity from pursuit by his many creditors. He died in 1769 at the age of 49. Some suggest he took his own life but the evidence the author puts forward disputes that. It seems that few people regretted his passing. Ms. Phillips' book provides a moving story of a disreputable man.
Ceredigion was an isolated place even for the gentry. A journey to London along poorly maintained roads was a thing to be endured with gritted teeth, especially in an unsprung carriage. It seems that well into the eighteenth century the local lords of the manor, even though they may have been magistrates, mayors or even Members of Parliament in the British system of public control, saw themselves almost as Welsh princelings, each with his own territory and loyal army of followers. They rivalled each other for power and it it was into that milieu that Herbert Lloyd was born.
It soon became apparent that Herbert was an ambitious young man. He was the younger son of Walter Lloyd and Elizabeth Evans. As such it was his older brother John who inherited the family estate of Peterwell, Herbert had to make do with the lesser property of Foelallt. For some time he was an eighteenth century rake, a compulsive gambler and an excessive drinker. He married at 22 and a year later his wife died in childbirth along with their baby daughter. Perhaps it was the trauma of their deaths that encouraged Herbert to apparently convert to Methodism and mend his ways. He was a Justice of the Peace and a rising presence in the community. He re-married in 1765 to a local widow, Anne Stedman. That may have marked Herbert's change of mind over living an ascetic life: Anne brought with her the possibility of a substantial share of the Stedman family wealth and his subsequent behaviour to her makes one think that it was never a love match.
Herbert fell back into his old ways very quickly and became involved in several dubious, almost criminal, activities. The Crown claimed extraction rights over the gold, silver and lead to be found in the old county of Cardiganshire. Herbert joined with his brother-in-law, William Powell, with an armed mob of retainers to chase out the Crown Agent from a mine in the Cardigan hills. A rival, Thomas Johnes, arrived with his own little army and forced Herbert to retreat. As the author says, it seems as if rural Cardiganshire was turning into something resembling the Wild West. It had its consequences: Herbert lost his important position as a J. P. - it undoubtedly meant more then than it would now.
In 1755 Herbert's brother, John Lloyd, died and Herbert lost no time in moving his household into Peterwell and taking over most of the substantial land holdings that John had built up. He quickly proved himself to be a ruthless landlord and began his campaign to become a Member of Parliament for Cardigan. This he achieved in 1761 and two years later, much to the surprise of those who knew him, he became a baronet.
That was the height of his power but his fall was as rapid as his rise. His unscrupulous and often criminal behaviour culminated in the incident of the Black Ram. I am not certain how many of the elements in the story have ever been proved but the suspicions helped to bring him down. Briefly, Sir Herbert wanted possession of a piece of land near Peterwell and a small cottage that were owned by a freeholder, Sion Philip. Philip refused all offers to sell so, it seems, Sir Herbert arranged to have Philip framed for the theft of his prize ram. As Sir Herbert was the lord of the manor he ordered Philip's arrest, imprisonment and eventual trial after having the body of the ram hidden in the cottage as evidence. The crime of sheep stealing was then a capital offence. The trial was a farce. Sir Herbert had been allowed to select the members of the jury himself and the trial was conducted in English, knowing that Philip, a Welsh speaker, understood little of the language. Philip was found guilty and hanged – a completely innocent man – while Sir Herbert calmly took over the field as, being lord of the manor, he was entitled to the possession of the estate of a convicted felon within his bounds of authority.
Sir Herbert's fall continued, pushed on by his erratic behaviour, which was possibly fueled by his considerable appetite for alcohol. He angered his tenants, enraged his neighbours and lost his few allies through his own duplicity. Finally he lost his Parliamentary seat and with it his immunity from pursuit by his many creditors. He died in 1769 at the age of 49. Some suggest he took his own life but the evidence the author puts forward disputes that. It seems that few people regretted his passing. Ms. Phillips' book provides a moving story of a disreputable man.
March 16, 2022
Peterwell: The History of A Mansion and Its Infamous Squire. Author: Bethan Phillips
This book was lent to me by a friend after hearing of a possible family connection with the Lloyds. Thankfully that link was by marriage many years after the 18th century setting for this book. I say thankfully because the focus person of the book, Sir Herbert Lloyd, was one of the nastiest people I've read about in a long time. An Infamous Squire indeed.
Having said that the book was extremely good and read like a novel. There were many page-turner endings and cliff-hanger moments. The research was evidently extensive with each chapter giving details at the end of the sources. The book is also peppered with excellent photos that add a visual dimension to the authors detailed descriptions. It paints a very clear picture of the machinations of that time in local politics and amongst the wealthy elite. I really enjoyed the book but was very glad of the tenuous link between our families!
This book was lent to me by a friend after hearing of a possible family connection with the Lloyds. Thankfully that link was by marriage many years after the 18th century setting for this book. I say thankfully because the focus person of the book, Sir Herbert Lloyd, was one of the nastiest people I've read about in a long time. An Infamous Squire indeed.
Having said that the book was extremely good and read like a novel. There were many page-turner endings and cliff-hanger moments. The research was evidently extensive with each chapter giving details at the end of the sources. The book is also peppered with excellent photos that add a visual dimension to the authors detailed descriptions. It paints a very clear picture of the machinations of that time in local politics and amongst the wealthy elite. I really enjoyed the book but was very glad of the tenuous link between our families!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews