John Bancroft Willans

John Bancroft Willans (1881 - 1957) was an English landowner, historian, photographer and philanthropist

Early life Willans was born on 27 May 1881 in Liverpool, the only child of John William Willans - the chief engineer of the Liverpool Overhead Railway - and Mary Louisa Willans.

In 1894, Willans' father purchased Dolforgan Hall from the executors of James Walton and Willans moved there with this family.

War Service During the First World War, Willans served in a non-combat role in Italy.

In 2005, his collection of photographs was rediscovered and donated to the National Library of Wales at Aberystwyth. The collection was described by local historian David Pugh as "...important in documenting the history of mid Wales a century ago - these photographs have been a great find."

Death He died on 12 April 1957, aged 76, at the Royal Salop Infirmary in Shrewsbury and was buried in the churchyard of St. Michael's Church in Kerry, Powys near to Dolforgan Hall.

Works