Who were the Gunters?
James Gunter bought the Priory and many of its lands in 1546. He was a landowner who made his money by speculating in buying monastic property. He built Priory House which would have sat at right angles to the surviving Tithe Barn. His grandson, Thomas Gunter I, built Plas Gunter Mansion around 1630 on land previously owned by his grandfather.
The house eventually passed to his son, Thomas Gunter II, a lawyer and Jesuit supporter. He was a leading recusant and took great risks to promote Catholicism during the turbulent years following the Civil War and Restoration. He created the chapel on the second floor.
Members of the Gunter family lived at Plas Gunter Mansion until around the mid to late eighteenth century. Anne Gunter went to London and founded a London based confectionery business, the Pot and Pineapple, with her husband, Italian pastry chef, Domenico Negri. Her nephew James Gunter, inherited it. The business enjoyed royal patronage and became known as Gunter's Tea Shop, surviving for several generations eventually closing in 1956.
A transcription of the inventory of Richard Gunter's belongings 1701
LL/1701/4
An inventory of all And singular of Goods Chattells and Creditts, of Richard Gunter late of ye Towne of Abergavenny in the County of Monmouth Diocess Mandaffe gent deceased made of Valluings and appraises ye twenty Seventh day of March this 1701 by Thomas Gunter, William Bradshaw and John Tully Appraisers
£ s d
Imprimis his wearing Aparell values at 10 10 00
Item in ready money ye sum of 140 00 00
Item in money layd out as mortgage the sum of 160 00 00
Item due to ye deceased by Bond ye sum of 40 00 00
Item in Debts sperate & desperatley Ye sum of 10 00 00
Item in ye best Chamber, one feather Bed, one
Boulster with ye furniture thereof valued att 10 00 00
Item in ye 2nd Chamber one paire of Brass
Andirons, one tongs, one fire shovel and one
grate with other goods att 08 00 00
Item in ye middle Chamber two Standing Beds,
one pallett bedstead, two feather Beds with furniture
there belonging att 10 00 00
Item in ye Chamber over the Parlour, two feather
beds all the goods, furniture thereunto belonging att 03 00 00
Item in ye Chamber over the Kitchen one feather bed 01 10 00
Carry over 394 10 00
(Page two)
Brought over 394 10 00
Item ye Oats in ye little Chamber valued att 01 10 00
Item in Linen four Holland sheets Twenty six
paire of flaxen sheets, Four dozen of diaper
Napkins and Sable cloths; one dozen pillaplas att 10 00 00
Item in Plate three silver Tumblers two silver spoons att 03 00 00
Item in ye Parlour one oval Table six wooden and twigg
chairs, one small grate, one paire of Andirons att 01 10 00
Item in ye Kitchen viz seventeen great and small
Platters and two dozen and a halfe of pewter plates,
one dozen flagons, two double flagons, six halfe Pints,
three pewter chamber-pots, one pewter candlestick &
four Pewter Porringers att 06 00 00
Item in Brass and Copper one Brewing Furnace,
three brass Potts. Three Kettles, one brass skillet,
one brass warming pan, six brass candlesticks att 10 00 00
Item in Iron one large grate,one paire of large Racks,
two Andirons, one tongs, two fire shovels, three iron Potts,
three Spitts, nine Iron candlesticks, two roasting Irons att 03 00 00
Item Four Wooden Vessells, two pipes, twenty
hogsheads and Barrills, other Brewing Vessells as
Coolers and Vates att 07 00 00
Item Malt and drinking of ye Cellar and brewhouse 32 10 00
Carry over 468 10 00
(Over page)
Suma Total hujus Inven..y 469 18 00
Read a fictional account Richard Gunter has died 1701.
Gunter family tree
You can see our research into the Gunter family in Gunter Family Tree 1 and Gunter Family Tree 2.
Please note that these documents are work in progress and we cannot guarantee their accuracy.
Are you a member of the Gunter family?
39a Cross Street, Abergavenny NP7 5ER
Registered charity no: 1144813