BRADNEY, Sir JOSEPH ALFRED (Achydd Glan Troddi; 1859 - 1933), historian of Monmouthshire

Born 11 January 1859, only son of Joseph C. Bradney, rector of Greete, Salop; educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated in 1881. He was connected with the militia and with the army from 1882 - when he was a captain in the Monmouthshire Militia - until after the war of 1914-18. Bradney served his country and his county in many capacities: on the county council, as a Justice of the Peace, as high sheriff, and deputy-lieutenant of his county, as a prominent member of the Court and Council of the National Library and of the Court of the National Museum of Wales, and as a member of the Royal Commission on Ancient Monuments in Wales, and of the Order of S. John of Jerusalem, etc.

But it is as the historian of Monmouthshire and the editor of much other material for the use of historians that he will be remembered. The first part of his History of Monmouthshire appeared in 1904; a part of the fourth volume came in 1932, but he did not live to complete this monumental work. Volume 5 of History of Monmouthshire (ed. Madeleine Gray) was published in 1993. See NLWJ, 14 (1965-66), 114 .

Besides the History of Monmouthshire, Bradney published several books and articles such as (a) Genealogical Memoranda relating to the families of Hopkins of Llanfihangel Ystern Llewern, co. Monmouth, and Probyn of Newland, co. Gloucester… 1889; (b) The Diary of Walter Powell, 1907; (c) Acts of the Bishop of Llandaff, 1908; (d) Llyfr Baglan, 1910; (e) (ed.) Hanes Llanffwyst by Thomas Evan Watkins, Eiddil Ifor, 1922; (f) A Dissertation on Three Books, 1923; (g) A History of the Free Grammar School in the Parish of Llantilio-Crossenny, 1924; (h) A Survey of the general history of the town of Newport and district, 1925; (i) A Memorandum, being an attempt to give a chronology of the decay of the Welsh language in the eastern part of the County of Monmouth, 1926. He also published Noctes Flandricae (London), a collection of poems and prose composed mainly in Flanders in 1917. He produced at least two works in Latin, a little book entitled Carmina jocosa, 1916, and a Carmen in 1923, when he received the honorary degree of D.Litt. (Wales). He transcribed and published the church registers of the parishes of Llantilio Crossenny and Penrhos (1916), Llanbadog (1919), Llanddewi Rhydderch (1919), Caerwent and Llanfair Discoed (1920), and Grosmont (1920). He contributed to the journals of the Welsh Bibliographical and other Societies.

Many honours came to him in recognition of his service to his country, and of his scholarship. He was made a C.B. in 1911, knighted in 1924, and awarded the D.Litt. of the University of Wales in 1923. He was twice married: (1) to Rosa (died 1927), daughter of Edward Jenkins, Nantygroes, Radnorshire, and (2) Florence, daughter of Francis E. Prothero, Malpas Court, Monmouth. He knew Welsh well and continued to write Latin almost until his death, 21 July 1933.

Author

• Sir William Llewelyn Davies, (1887 - 1952)

Sources

• Who's who?, 1933
• NLW Archives: NLW MS 7561-7767: Bradney Manuscripts
• Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica (1868–1934), June 1924
• Y Cymmrodor, xxxi
• Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club, 1924
• E. D. Jones, 'Sir Joseph Alfred Bradney (D.W.B., 48)', The National Library of Wales Journal, 14 (1965-66), 114

Further Reading

• NLW Archives: To the Electors of the County of Radnor... 1892
• NLW Archives: To the Electors of Radnorshire. Unionist Song "Here's To Our Cause"
• NLW Archives: The Chain Papers: C 2/13/50: Colonel Sir Joseph Bradney funeral leaflet
• NLW Archives: The Chain Papers: C 2/13/51: Col. Sir Joseph Bradney memorial service leaflet
• Wikipedia Article: Joseph Bradney

Additional Links

• VIAF: 34528050
• Wikidata: Q6281666

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-RUU/1.0/