Casgliadau Arlein

Two part bureau-bookcase that belonged to John Edwards, (agent to Rees Goring Thomas) of Gelliwernen farmhouse, that was attacked by followers of Rebecca's daughters in 1843. On 23 August 1843, over 500 of Rebecca's daughters made their way to Gelliwernen home of John Edwards, agent to Rees Goring Thomas - one of the landed gentry of Llannon. He was responsible for collecting tithes from the local farmers for Rees Goring Thomas who was an absent landlord. John Edwards was known as an unpopular man who was insensitive and arrogant to people who were trying their best to pay their debts. The crowd shot at but missed John Edwards' wife as he lay ill in bed, and attacked the garden, greenhouses and the keeper's lodge as they left. This bureau was used by John Edwards to keep the tithe payments by the local community and details of all the debts that made him so unpopular and such a hated figure in the area.

Upper section has a bold swan-neck pediment above a veneered frieze, with a pair of astragal-glazed doors enclosing a bookcase section; the lower part has a tall-front enclosing a lifted interior which includes an inlaid central door and secret compartments, above three drawers and raised on bracket feet.