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Other Schools in Llanelli

The Blue Books

Llanelli Schools by John Innes 

19th century School Life

Teachers in Llanelli and District in 1841

Teachers in the Borough of Llanelli, 1851

Schools according to John Innes

Other ‘Venture’ Schools according to John Innes, 1902

Llanelly Guardian Advertisements 1886

Newspaper Reports

Mr Hall’s School, Hall Street

Mr Hall was the headmaster of this school which was off Hall Street and reached through a passage.

Pottery School

The Pottery was established by William Chambers (junior) of Llanelly House and the opening was celebrated in style in 1841. Houses were built to accommodate the pottery workers and a school was established to educate their children. Originally a British school known as Pottery School, John Innes recalls in 1902 that it was a Board School "which has turned out many generations of well-equipped boys and girls."

The Llanelly School, 1848 (later known as Market Street School).

A conference was held at Llandovery in April 1845 to consider promoting education in Wales. As a result of this conference Llanelly Nonconformists met and decided to form a committee and each denomination nominated four trustees to sit on the committee. Revd David Rees was to be the Honorary Secretary, Benjamin Jones, Solicitor and a Churchman was Honorary Treasurer and a piece of ground was leased from  William Chambers for £8.

1847 On 14 August David Morris MP laid the foundation stone.

1848 On 21 Aprilthere was a public meeting and a tea party when the schools, which cost £800 were opened. David Nicholas of Brecon College was the first master, and a little later a Miss Jones from Rotherhithe was appointed mistress. The curriculum included ‘Elements of Horticulture’; and ‘diverting exercises’ (preceded the Cadet Corps). It was stated that the moral nature of the pupils was not to be blunted by undue corporal punishment and severity. Also pupils were not to be crammed with tasks. Later it was stipulated that the school was to be of a religious character insofar as the Master and Mistress shall be religious persons. The day’s work started and finished with singing and prayer.

The Scripture was taught but every denominational subject was carefully avoided and children were expected to attend a place of worship on Sunday, and Sunday School according to their parents’ preference. The largest subscribers were William Chambers (senior), William Chambers (junior), David Morris MP, Richard Janion Nevill and Charles William Nevill, David Lewis, Squire of Stradey and James Buckley. No clergyman’s name appeared on the list of subscribers.

Heol Fawr School, 1846 (later known as Copperworks School).

Richard Janion Nevill gave an account of the educational state of the town in his evidence before the Commissioners of Inquiry. He urged that something should be done to improve and extend the system of education for boys and girls in the rapidly expanding parish. He believed that if every married man could be induced, or compelled to contribute towards the education of their children, there would be some incentive to send them to school. The same year land was leased from William Chambers of Llanelly House and at the end of the year buildings for boys and infants were started.

1847 The school, financed by Richard Janion Nevill and other businessmen, was completed. Nevill also permitted children of other working class parents who were not employed by any of the works operated by Llanelly Copperworks Company to attend the school. Workmen were expected to pay a contribution from their wages and all children were required to pay school pence. Fees were carefully graded for children coming from the same family, while the children of other workmen, not employed by Nevill had to pay 1d per week extra. At the end of the year, any deficit in the cost of maintaining the school was met by the Company.

1847-1863 David Williams, who was described as a ruthless disciplinarian of the benevolent kind was head teacher.

1848 Comfortable teachers’ houses were added to the Copperworks School.

1863-1894 Head teacher was John E Jones and the number of children attending the school doubled. New extensions were built and new classrooms were added.

1902 Following the 1902 Education Act which created Part 3 Education Authorities, Copperworks School was one of very few Works Schools allowed to retain its identity and its original name.

Mr Robert V Innes School – New School, 1863

Robert V Innes, Dr Benjamin Thomas and Samuel Bevan were pioneers of higher education and about 1863 they established and managed a school for boys called the New School. The first home of the New School was in the Thomas Arms and it was later moved to the Athenaeum. The master was university-taught, there was military drill and the subjects followed those later taught in the County Schools. The school was said to have had a long and most useful career. Mr Linn was the last master and he eventually carried on the school as a private venture.

Pen Tip (National) School, Pembrey Road – 1863

The Revd A J M Green served in the latter years of the incumbency of Ebenezer Morris (vicar from 1820-1867) and started a movement which resulted in the National School known as ‘Pen Tip’ being established.

Revd Green married Miss Elizabeth Bond Howell, daughter of Richard Thomas Howell, Esq., a wealthy Thomas Street tradesman, of Bryncaerau, in September 1863.

David Lewis, Squire of Stradey, presented land for the school, which was sited on Alexander Raby's colliery rubbish tip. It was a mistake of gigantic proportions to erect a school on such a site – the containing wall round the loose shale was costly and the foundations were deep and expensive. The comment was made that ‘This gift horse ought to have been looked in the mouth, but was not.’

Pen Tip caused a storm when there was a preliminary meeting of church people. David Lewis, Squire of Stradey and Colonel Stepney (the Baronetcy was not created until 1871) both attended the meeting. David Lewis announced that he would present Raby’s Caemaen colliery tip as the site for the new school.

The somewhat eccentric Colonel Stepney speaking his thoughts said that ‘if Lewis is going to give that rubbish heap – worth £50 – I’ll give £100.’

Squire Lewis is said to have indignantly retorted ‘I won’t have you valuing my property.’

The squabbling pair were subdued at the meeting but hostilities continued when they met on the way home, close to the old Furnace Gate. Squire Lewis drew his umbrella from its scabbard, and stood waiting like the Earl of Chatham, whilst the old Colonel, laid his hand on the hilt of his two-edged walking stick and glared. It was all hot air and they both arrived home in one piece.

William Rosser, agent for Colonel Stepney said that his master had too much self-respect to quarrel with a man like that. Mr Forrest, the agent for Squire Lewis, said that his master would not touch the Colonel except with a pair of tongs.

David Lewis, Squire of Stradey gave the land on which the school was built. It was said that ‘this gift horse should have been looked in the mouth’ because it was the rubbish tip belonging to Alexander Raby’s (senior) Caemaen colliery.

1864 On 24 November the following article appeared in The Guardian:

The Proposed National School

It is now fully intended to erect a new school here in connection with the old parish church. The matter has been taken up by the Reverend A J M Green MA, the senior curate, who has only opened a subscription list since the 5 September last and has already succeeded in obtaining the handsome sum of £800. Amongst the subscribers are some of the most influential gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood including: David Lewis, Esq., Stradey a valuable site and £100; Rees Goring Thomas, Esq., Ferryside 100 gns; Lieutenant Colonel Stepney, The Dell £100; Earl Cawdor, Lord Lieutenant of the County £50; W Morris, Esq., MP £25.

1867 On 20 June the opening ceremony was performed by Bishop Thirwall of St David’s.

1868 In January the first pupils were admitted to the school. The Headmaster was John Vye Parmenter and his temporary assistant was a student from Carmarthen Training College.

School equipment was virtually non existent and it was not until the end of the first month that inkwells were provided, followed by blackboards and books. Forms for the pupils to sit on were delivered in mid-February 1868 and shortages plagued the staff for several months.

During August the Revd D Nicholls, the music teacher, could not find a duster to clean the blackboard. An investigation revealed that the stock of dusters was limited to three, two of which had been taken home by the school’s cleaner.

Truancy was a continual problem especially on a Thursday which was Market Day. Cleanliness seemed to be a problem too and it was recorded in May 1868 that the vicar’s wife (who was conducting an impromptu visit) was dismayed to find that the boys did not have pocket handkerchiefs. On a return visit the following week she took a supply of handkerchiefs and charged the pupils a penny each.

1967 In January (during its centenary year) a storm caused the loss of the quaint bell tower.

1983 During heavy rain loose shale on the tip moved and the subsidence that followed resulted in the school being evacuated. In January the school transferred to adjoining buildings which had formerly housed the Llanelli School of Art. The old school was eventually demolished and the tip was cleared. Like its predecessor the Wern Church School, Pentip had to be abandoned because it was built on old colliery workings.

The Good Shepherd Frieze from the original Pentip school is now incorporated in a Church Garden close to the present Pen Tip School.

Bigyn School, 1873

In 1873, a school that had been built on the top of Bigyn Hill was opened and took its name from the area where coalmining was known to have been carried out during the time of Sir Thomas Stepney 5th Baronet.

Coalmining had probably been carried out in the Bigyn area from the 15th and 16th centuries. The district is thought to have got its name from a friend of Sir Thomas who lived at Biggin Hill, Kent, in England.

Two schools were built on the same site, one for girls and one for boys.

1898 According to the school records, on September 20 1898 the school was closed because there was a circus in town. Schools would also close for national celebrations such as royal weddings, coronations or royal funerals.

1901 The school logbooks noted that on the afternoon of 31 January 1901 the school closed as the Proclamation of King Edward VII was being read by Carmarthenshire’s High Sheriff.

1902 When the country celebrated the Coronation of King Edward VII the school closed for a whole week in June as the townspeople joined in the festivities.

1904 The school also closed for a day in May 1904 when Buffalo Bill brought his Wild West Show to town

1907 This year saw the beginning of the School Library, which was proud to open with 78 books.

1911 A fundraising Concert was organised in 1911 and raised £25 towards the purchase of a new piano for the school.

At the beginning of September 1911 one of the schoolboys at Bigyn school was punished so some of his fellow pupils decided to take matters into their own hands. According to a report at the time 32 of the 327 boys left the field adjoining the school and marched along Murray Street singing and shouting. Other children from other schools throughout the country followed the example of the Bigyn School pupils but it is generally recognised that Bigyn School was the first school in the country to take action.

The pupils of Bigyn School joined in the celebrations to mark the first anniversary of the marriage of Lady and Sir Edward Stafford Howard and the opening of Parc Howard. (Parc Howard, formerly Bryncaerau, was given to the people of Llanelli by Lady and Sir Edward Stafford Howard who arranged for all the town’s school children to attend a tea party celebration.)

1971 Bigyn School had been built over old mine workings and in 1971 the effects of subsidence from these was causing problems and it was decided to build a new school. During the same year the decision was made to amalgamate the two schools with one head teacher.

1982 The old school was vacated and a new school was built on an adjacent site. Because the new school was built over an old mine shaft construction costs were substantial. The new school, which was designed to be semi open plan, was opened and the two old school buildings were demolished. The infants’ school that had been housed in the St Paul’s district was converted into flats for senior citizens.

1991 Over the years Bigyn School, built high on Bigyn Hill, with a panoramic view of the town and the surrounding area, standing next to a communications tower, has enjoyed successes and memorable moments. One such moment was in May 1991 when the school made radio contact with Helen Sharman (who was the first British Astronaut), whilst she was aboard the Russian space station MIR. Bigyn School’s claim to fame is that, out of the eight schools from the British Isles chosen to take part in this historic event, it was the only primary school to do so.

In November 1991, as a sequel to this unforgettable event, Helen Sharman visited to school, much to the delight of pupils, teachers and parents.

2002 Bigyn School provides educational facilities for children aged from 3 to 11 years and has an enthusiastic and energetic Parents’ Association.

Other ‘Venture’ Schools according to John Innes, 1902

Mr Lewis, Park Street

Mr Lovejoy, Mount Pleasant

Miss George’s Academy

Miss Cook’s Academy

Miss Edwards’ Academy

Middle Class School (Forerunner of Llanelly Grammar School. Canon Williams (who succeeded Vicar Ebenezer Morris from 1867 to 1890), started a Middle Class School with a curate as master. This school, according to John Innes was fairly successful for a while and was the forerunner of the Llanelly Grammar School. Revd James Boaden and Revd Gybbon Spilsbury were associated with the school.

Llanelly Grammar School, 1875-1977 The Middle Class or Intermediate School became the Llanelly Grammar School and opened in the Museum Room of the Athenaeum Hall (nowpart of the Library). The Intermediate School, as it was then known, moved to new buildings at Marble Hall in 1896 where it remained until new accommodation was completed in 1956. In 1977 Llanelly Grammar School was forced to relinquish its title and status when it became Graig Comprehensive School.

Coleshill, 1891 Llanelly Higher Grade School The Llanelly Higher Grade School was opened in 1891 adjacent to the Town Hall and Tabernacle Chapel. It was a building of architectural and historical importance being constructed with Bath stone facings, complimenting the adjacent buildings. In 1984 it was decided by the Ministry of Education that the building had to be demolished, even though protestors voiced their opinions vehemently in opposition to the plans.

Llanelly Guardian advertisements 1886

Mrs Pedley’s Private School for Infants, 5 Greenfield Terrace

Greenfield Ladies School, (E G Foley), 7 Greenfield House

Mr Radcliffe, Professor of Music

Athenaeum School, The Park, Llanelly

Llanelly Academy, Bridge Street

The Llanelly Science & Art School, (Nevill Memorial) Mr J E Jones, Beaumont House

Luther Owen, Teacher of Music

Middle Class or Intermediate School (later Llanelly Grammar School)

Newspaper Reports

1900 1st December The South Wales Press

The prize distribution at the Llanelly Intermediate Schools will take place on Tuesday evening next, and will be performed by Mrs H P Sandford, Chester, and Principal T F Roberts, Aberystwyth.

There was a great deal of indignation amongst Llanelly teachers over the action of the School Board in passing a resolution, which will only permit of a head teacher administering corporal punishment. The decision of the Board is a wise one however, and should be well supported.

1907 11th February The South Wales Press

LLANELLY COOKERY SCHOOL

Chaff at the Education Committee

At Llanelly Education Committee on Thursday, it was proposed to have a combined cookery school and laundry at Prospect-place school, and engage an additional teacher at about £70 per annum.

The Chairman said that the only cost besides the teacher would be the soap. Children usually provided the garments for washing. They would not take in public washing. (Laughter).

Mr D R Edmunds doubted whether the children were at present being taught the proper class of cookery.

Mr D J Davies observed that almost everyone understood plain cookery. He was afraid, however, that Mr Edmunds did not know much about it. (Laughter.)

Mr Edmunds remarked that Mr Davies, with his knowledge, might be of some assistance to the ladies. (Laughter.)

Mr Phillips urged that domestic subjects should be dealt with carefully.

Mr Nathan Griffiths said that if women advanced in the next decade as they advanced in the past decade cookery would have to be taught to the boys.

The question was deferred until the next meeting.

1924 Monday March 10th The South Wales Press

OUTBREAK AT A LLANELLY SCHOOL

For the second time within 24 hours, the Llanelly Fire Brigade was called out on Sunday night to deal with a fire at the Boy’s Central School. The outbreak was discovered by a person walking through People’s Park, which adjoins the school buildings, and he immediately raised the alarm. The fire broke out in the boiler-room connected with the heating apparatus, and the Brigade, which arrived on the scene, succeeded in extinguishing the flames before the buildings became involved. Only slight damage was done.

References

Old Llanelly, John Innes.

A Short History of English Education 1760-1944, H. C. Barnard,  Hodder & Stoughton, 1947.

Education in Industrial Wales 1700-1900,Leslie Wynne Evans,  Qualitex Printing Ltd, Cardiff.

History of Education in Wales, Jack L. Williams & G. R. Hughes.

The Blue Books, 1847, Frank Price Jones. Christopher Davies Publishers Ltd., 1978.