Subject: Re: Freedom of Information / Historical Records Request - Mr. Williams, Cardiff Post Office Engineering Department, 1897 Marconi Lavernock Experiments
From: Sion Buckler
Direction: sent
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:46 UTC
Institution: Glamorgan Archives
Refs: FOI25766
Archive id: gm-19f84b66522474a6
------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Chris,

Thank you for confirming that FOI25766 is already open.

Please treat my email of 20 July as a clarification and continuation of
FOI25766 rather than as a new FOI request. I do not wish to open a separate
request.

I appreciate that Glamorgan Archives may hold historical archive material
relating to 1897. However, the clarification I submitted relates to whether
Cardiff Council, including any predecessor authorities, holds recorded
information created or retained in the course of its own functions.

Accordingly, I would be grateful if FOI25766 could address the points
raised in my email of 20 July, including confirmation of:

   - which Council departments were consulted;
   - what searches were undertaken;
   - whether Cardiff Council holds any records within the scope of that
   request; and
   - whether any relevant records have been transferred to Glamorgan
   Archives.

Thank you for your assistance, and I look forward to your response under
FOI25766.

Kind regards,

Sion Buckler (Ret'd Sergeant)

Royal Signals Cyber & Electronic Warfare Professional & Life Member

On Tue, 21 Jul 2026, 05:07 FOI / Rhyddid Gwybodaeth, <[email redacted]>
wrote:

> Good Morning
>
>
>
> Thank you for your email below.
>
>
>
> There is already an FOI open for Great House Farm (Ty Mawr) under the
> reference FOI25766.
>
>
>
> The email below is different to the one sent on 16th of July which
> related to Mr William`s involvement in Guglielmo Marconi’s wireless
> telegraphy experiments at Lavernock Point.
>
>
>
> This information is only likely to be held by Glamorgan Archives as it
> relates to information from 1897.
>
>
>
> If you wish for another FOI to be logged for the information below please
> confirm, or do you feel this would be information covered in FOI25766.
>
>
>
> Thank you for confirming the above.
>
>
>
> Kind Regards
>
>
>
> Chris Oleksy
>
>
>
> *Gwasanaeth Cais am Wybodaeth / Information Request Service*
>
> *Llywodraethu Gwybodaeth / Information Governance*
>
> *Cyngor Caerdydd / Cardiff Council*
>
> Ystafell 118, Neuadd y Sir, Glanfa'r Iwerydd CAERDYDD [postcode redacted]
>
> Room 118, County Hall, Atlantic Wharf CARDIFF [postcode redacted]
>
> Ffôn / Tel: [phone redacted]
>
> E-bost / Email: [email redacted] / [email redacted]
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Sion Buckler <[email redacted]>
> *Sent:* 20 July 2026 20:48
> *To:* FOI / Rhyddid Gwybodaeth <[email redacted]>
> *Subject:* Re: Freedom of Information / Historical Records Request - Mr.
> Williams, Cardiff Post Office Engineering Department, 1897 Marconi
> Lavernock Experiments
>
>
>
>  *EXTERNAL:* This email originated from outside Cardiff Council, take
> care when clicking links.
>  *ALLANOL:* Daw'r e-bost hwn o'r tu allan i Gyngor Caerdydd, cymerwch
> ofal wrth glicio ar ddolenni.
>
>
>
>
> Dear Information Governance Team,
>
>
>
> Thank you for your response. To whom am I speaking?
>
>
>
> I note your advice that Glamorgan Archives may be the appropriate
> repository for historic material. I will contact Glamorgan Archives
> separately.
>
>
>
> However, I would like to clarify that my request was not limited to
> deposited historical archive material.
>
>
>
> My request concerns any recorded information held by Cardiff Council and
> its predecessor authorities relating to Great House Farm, Llandough (Ty
> Mawr), including operational records created or retained by the Council.
>
>
>
> Please confirm:
>
>
>
> Which Cardiff Council departments were consulted before reaching the
> conclusion that Glamorgan Archives was the appropriate route;
>
>
>
> Whether searches were carried out within:
>
> - Planning records;
>
> - Building Control records;
>
> - Legal Services records;
>
> - Estates/property records;
>
> - Highways records;
>
> - Environmental/archaeology records;
>
> - Records inherited from former Glamorgan County Council or South
> Glamorgan County Council;
>
> - Whether the following search terms were used:
>
>
>
> "Great House Farm"
>
> "Ty Mawr"
>
> "Llandough"
>
> "Buckler"
>
> "Williams"
>
> "BP Properties"
>
> "BP Pension Trust"
>
> "Western Ground Rents"
>
>
>
> Whether Cardiff Council holds any records relating to:
>
> - the demolition of Great House Farm around 1988;
>
> - planning and development of the replacement housing;
>
> - any inspections, surveys, photographs or reports concerning the site;
>
> - correspondence with BP, their representatives, the Buckler/Williams
> family, Cadw, archaeological bodies or other public authorities.
>
>
>
> I appreciate Glamorgan Archives may hold historic deposited collections.
> However, an archive referral does not confirm whether Cardiff Council
> itself holds related administrative records, and I would therefore be
> grateful for confirmation of the searches undertaken before this request is
> redirected.
>
>
>
> Given the age and significance of the records concerned, I would
> appreciate this clarification at your earliest convenience.
>
>
>
> Kind regards,
>
>
>
> Sion Buckler (Ret'd Sgt)
>
> Royal Signals Cyber & Electronic Warfare Professional & Life Member
>
> On Mon, 20 Jul 2026, 05:42 FOI / Rhyddid Gwybodaeth, <[email redacted]>
> wrote:
>
> Good Morning Ms Buckler
>
>
>
> Thank you for your email below.
>
>
>
> We have made some enquiries regarding this, and feel this is best
> responded to by Glamorgan Archives rather then through the Freedom of
> Information process.
>
>
>
> They are aware of this request, and have asked that you make an official
> request through them, they have also agreed this would be best answered by
> them.
>
>
>
> They can be contacted by emailing [email redacted] or phoning (029)
> 2087 2200. Their website can be found by following this link: Home -
> Glamorgan Archives <https://glamarchives.gov.uk/>.
>
>
>
> Thank you again for contacting Cardiff Council, and if you have any
> further queries please don’t hesitate in contacting us.
>
>
>
>
>
> Kind Regards
>
>
>
> *Gwasanaeth Cais am Wybodaeth / Information Request Service*
>
> *Llywodraethu Gwybodaeth / Information Governance*
>
> *Cyngor Caerdydd / Cardiff Council*
>
> Ystafell 118, Neuadd y Sir, Glanfa'r Iwerydd CAERDYDD [postcode redacted]
>
> Room 118, County Hall, Atlantic Wharf CARDIFF [postcode redacted]
>
> Ffôn / Tel: Working From Home
>
> E-bost / Email: [email redacted] / [email redacted]
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Sion Buckler <[email redacted]>
> *Sent:* 16 July 2026 01:45
> *To:* [email redacted];
> [email redacted]; [email redacted];
> Glamro / Swyddfa Cofnodion Morgannwg <[email redacted]>; FOI /
> Rhyddid Gwybodaeth <[email redacted]>; [email redacted];
> [email redacted]; [email redacted];
> [email redacted]
> *Subject:* Freedom of Information / Historical Records Request - Mr.
> Williams, Cardiff Post Office Engineering Department, 1897 Marconi
> Lavernock Experiments
>
>
>
>  *EXTERNAL:* This email originated from outside Cardiff Council, take
> care when clicking links.
>  *ALLANOL:* Daw'r e-bost hwn o'r tu allan i Gyngor Caerdydd, cymerwch
> ofal wrth glicio ar ddolenni.
>
>
>
>
> Dear Information Rights / Archives Team,
>
> I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act
> 2000 (or equivalent records access) regarding my grandfather, Mr. Williams,
> who worked in the engineering department of the Cardiff Post Office /
> General Post Office around 1897.
>
> Specifically, I seek any records, personnel files, correspondence,
> reports, or mentions confirming his involvement in Guglielmo Marconi’s
> wireless telegraphy experiments at Lavernock Point (including erecting the
> 120-foot pole and related tests to Flat Holm). This relates to contemporary
> newspaper reports from May 1897.
>
> Please provide:
>
>    - Any personnel or service records for Mr. Williams in the Cardiff
>    engineering department circa 1897.
>    - Documents referencing "Mr. Williams" in connection with Marconi’s
>    demonstrations.
>    - Any other relevant historical files from the GPO
>    telegraph/engineering teams.
>
> My full name: Sion Buckler Address: [address redacted], Vale of
> Glamorgan, [postcode redacted]
> [map link redacted]
> Contact: [email redacted] Relationship: Great Grandson
>
> I am ultimately seeking any record about my great grandfather Mr Williams
> of Great House Farm, Llandough, Cardiff (formerly Vale of Glamorgan). Not
> to be confused with Great House Farm, Llandough, Cowbridge, Vale of
> Glamorgan. And his role in the Marconi experiment. And before and after
> Marconis stay with our family in our home in 1897.
>
> I am happy to provide further identification if required. Thank you for
> your assistance.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Sion Buckler (Ret'd Sergeant)
>
> Royal Signals Cyber & Electronic Warfare Professional & Life Member
>
> **********************************************************************
>
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> long as you let us know which you prefer. Corresponding in Welsh will not
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>
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>
> **********************************************************************
>
> Mae’r Cyngor yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg, Saesneg neu’n ddwyieithog.
> Byddwn yn cyfathrebu â chi yn ôl eich dewis, dim ond i chi roi gwybod i ni
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>
> Mae'n bosibl bod gwybodaeth gyfrinachol yn y neges hon. Os na chyfeirir y
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> neges i'r person a enwir), yna ni chewch gopio na throsglwyddo'r neges.
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> Rhaid deall nad yw'r safbwyntiau, y casgliadau a'r wybodaeth arall yn y
> neges hon nad ydynt yn cyfeirio at fusnes swyddogol Cyngor Dinas a Sir
> Caerdydd yn cynrychioli barn y Cyngor Sir nad yn cael sel ei fendith. Caiff
> unrhyw negeseuon a anfonir at, neu o'r cyfeiriad e-bost hwn eu prosesu gan
> system E-bost Gorfforaethol Cyngor Sir Caerdydd a gallant gael eu
> harchwilio gan rywun heblaw'r person a enwir.
>
> **********************************************************************
>
>