Manuscript archive of the Spencer family of Althorp

Item date: 16th - 20th centuries
Grant Value: 5,000
Item cost: Not recorded
Item date acquired: 1984
Item institution: British Library
Town/City: London

These papers document the activities of one of Englands most notable families. From the early years there is the journal of George Trimmer Savile, Marquis of Halifax of his conversations with William III; 145 boxes of the correspondence of Georgiana Poyntz, wife of the first Earl. 100 boxes of correspondence of the 2nd Earl in his capacity as diplomat, Lord Privt Seal, First Lord of the Admiralty and Home Secretary. The 3rd Earls correspondents included William IV, Melbourne, Grey , Wellesley and Brougham. The largest group of letters in the collection come from the 5th Earl who was Lord President, First Lord of the Admiralty and Viceroy in Ireland and includes 200 letters from Queen Victoria and 750 from Gladstone

Item Provenance
Family collection of the Earls Spencer