A FAMILY archive of letters from the Duke of Wellington to his brother William will be coming to Gwent.

The archive has been accepted for the Welsh nation in lieu of inheritance tax.

It includes the military and personal correspondence of FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan, who served as the military secretary to the 1st Duke of Wellington, Arthur.

Tony Hopkins, who is county archivist at Gwent Archives, said: “This is an outstanding collection and we are privileged to be entrusted with it.

“The Raglan archive is without doubt a collection of national and international importance and a huge boost to the cultural resources of the area.

“The people of Gwent can take great pride in it.”

FitzRoy Somerset, who died near Sevastopol in the Crimea, was one of the most distinguished British military commanders of the 19th Century.

The letters provide an insight into Baron Raglan’s relationship with Wellington after the Battle of Waterloo.

Ken Skates AM, economy secretary, said: “I am delighted this collection will be permanently housed at Gwent Archives.

“It is a superb addition to their collections, providing a wonderfully rich resource for the study of an enormously significant period in British military history.”

The Acceptance in Lieu (AIL) scheme enables taxpayers to transfer works of art and important heritage items, such as the Raglan Archive, into public ownership in full or part payment of their inheritance tax.