Welsh Journals

THE DILLWYNS AS NATURALISTS: MARY DE LA BECHE NICHOLL (1839-1922) BUTTERFLY COLLECTOR A. R. WALKER THE DILLWYN FAMILY Many members of the Dillwyn family were interested in Natural Sciences either as horticuturalists, or collectors, or Natural History recorders. Two of them showed outstanding achievements: they were Lewis Weston Dillwyn (1778-1855), and his grand-daughter Mary De la Beche Nicholl. Lewis Weston Dillwyn was for a time owner of the Cambrian Pottery in Swansea and was a remarkable man by any description. A great deal has been written about him, but less has been written about his natural history and science interests. It is hoped to outline these interests in a separate article about his life as a naturalist. There are other naturalists in this large family and both sons of Lewis Weston Dillwyn became Fellows of the Linnean Society (F.LS.). The eldest son John Dillwyn Llewellyn (1810-1882) was a plant expert, a photographer, and an astronomer. He built an orchid house at his home at Penllergare in 1841. This is well documented by Richard Morris (see bibliography). John's son Sir John Talbot Dillwyn-Llewellyn (1836-1927) also recorded birds and produced lists in 1900 and 1925. These were not published. Lewis Weston Dillwyn's daughter Fanny married Matthew Moggridge (died 1882). He too was interested in natural history and was also interested in geology. This family often used to travel with Lewis. MARY DE LA BECHE NICHOLL Swansea Museum contains a large and important collection of butterflies. Though most of the specimens are about 100 years old their condition is remarkably good. They were collected by a woman who spent her early life in Swansea: Mary De la Beche Nicholl. Mary De la Beche Nicholl may well have been influenced by her grandfather, although she was only sixteen years old when he died. She may also have been encouraged by her father, Lewis Llewelyn Dillwyn, a naturalist who wrote articles on natural history. Her mother was Elizabeth De la Beche, known as Bessie, the daughter of Henry De la Beche the celebrated geologist. It was his work as director of the Geological Survey of England and Wales that brought him to Swansea. All these people may have set Mary De la Beche Nicholl on a course to pursue her