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ABERDARE HISTORY

24 — EDUCATION 18th AND EARLY 19th CENTURY


 

 

 

There is no historical evidence of any education at Aberdare before the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1535. That some instruction was given intermittently by travelling monks is possible and probable. There was little local effect even of the Translating of the Bible into Welsh as few had learned to read. This fact was bewailed by Yr Hen Ficer, Rhys Pritchard of Llandovery author of “Cannwyll Y Cymry”. There was great ignorance in the first half of the 17th century.

1580–1610

It is claimed that Thomas Llewellyn, Cwm Eithin Rhigos, established a private Academy though this may be one of the legends started by Iolo Morgannwg that have no historical basis.

1640–60

With the Puritan revolution of this period, there came a serious attempt to introduce instruction primarily of a religious nature. There was an early Puritan School at Merthyr and the

1650

Master, 1650, was William Walters appointed at a salary of £20 per annum. Lambeth Mss 972 Folio 18.

Before the end of the year, the salary was increased by £15 and in 1651 by another £20 by a grant from the Puritan Exchequer, because pupils “came unto him from the upper reaches of the Neth and Taph”.

The Committee for the Propagation of the Gospel in Wales set up its Triers and Approvers who tried and approved Schoolmasters as well as Clergy. Lambeth Mss 1017 Folio 421654.

1654 June 14

An order was issued that all schoolmasters in the 13 Counties were to receive arrears due to them from the Welsh Commissioners. Unfortunately, the lists contain no names in Aberdare or its vicinity. The nearest one mentioned was at Llangorse. Indeed, it appears that by the Restoration in 1660 most of the schools set up by the Protectorate had lapsed. Dr Thomas Richards estimates that there were no more than 7 schools left in South Wales.

1662

Dr. Hugh Lloyd, Bishop of Llandaff, wrote letters appealing for subscriptions to set up free schools in his Diocese. Quotation: “Glamorgan is most unfurnished of means either to propagate to others or to continue to itself Religion and Learning. It is utterly destitute of Schools”.

The common or traditional view is that popular Education in Wales began with the Circulating Schools in the 18th century organized by Griffith Jones and Madame Bevan and the Methodist Perrott. This view is erroneous. Between 1699 and 1735, the Charity School Movement had established numerous schools in Wales including the Aberdare neighbourhood.

1662

There was born John Phillips at Picton Castle Pembrokeshire son of Sir Erasmus Phillips by his second wife Catherine. This Erasmus Phillips had been an important person in Welsh Education.

1650–53

He was one of the Commissioners of the “Act for the Better Propagation of the Gospels in Wales”.

1670–71

There was established an Association for “The education of poor Welsh Children” by a man called Thomas Gouge actively supported by Sir Erasmus Phillips. Thomas Gouge, 1605–1681, had been one of the 2,000 or so ministers ejected as a consequence of the Act of Uniformity of 1662. So, he came to Wales, set up a number of Schools, and joined with Stephen Hughes for the purchase and distribution of Welsh books; he collected subscriptions from all over England and Wales.

1674

The Welsh Trust was founded for the purpose of printing and distributing Welsh Literature. They set up some 300 schools in Wales to teach children to read and write in English, simple arithmetic and to learn the Catechism. Members of the Trust were made up from all denominations but this was objected to by some churchmen and when Gouge died it declined; but it had achieved some remarkable results.

1674–75

Stones’ Survey: In 86 of the chief towns and parishes, 1,162 children were put to school over and above 200 for the 1st year, 2,225 have been put to school as before.

1699

A Landmark in the History of Education. This was the year of the formation of the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge (the S.P.C.K.). One of its earliest patrons was Sir John Phillips of Picton Castle who had succeeded his father in 1696 and who proved to be one of the most outstanding supporters of the S.P.C.K. in Wales. The new society was restricted to members of the Church of England, and its work was more directly related to the work of the church than the Welsh Trust. Sir John began to devote his wealth and talents to the new society and from 1699 to his death in 1737, he sponsored works of the S.P.C.K. in Wales; its work was one of the great antecedent causes of Religious Revival in Wales. In fact, Gruffydd Jones, preaching at Laugharne in 1714, started a Revival in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire long before Methodism was heard of. Gruffydd Jones’ work was not approved of by some of the clergy but he received great support from Sir John Phillips who appointed him to the living of Llanddowror in 1716 and gave him his sister to wife.

During these years, the establishing of Charity Schools especially in Glamorgan, with the patronage of Sir Humphrey Mackworth of Neath, spread rapidly. From the minute books of the S.P.C.K.:

 

Abstracts of Correspondence, Letters and Minutes of S.P.C.K.

No.33   Mr James Harries of Llantrisant Glamorgan to Dr. Evans Feb 16 1699: ‘Saith he hath put up two schools and set up Catachetical classes in his Parish and hopes his example will obtain through ye whole country’.

No.55   Mr James Harries of Llantrisant to Mr. Chamberlayne, March 1st 1699: ‘That he has begun catachetical lectures in ye several chapels of his great Parish and hopes to carry them on with the schooling of poor children’

No.7874   James Harries of Llantrisant Glamorganshire May 22nd 1724: ‘That there is a Charity School for 20 boys erecting at Llanwonno and that the number of children is increasing in ye School at Llantrisant’.

1731

Gruffydd Jones was appealing for ‘40 or 50 Welsh Bibles upon the Society’s usual terms for the newly established Circulating Schools at Llanddowror’. These were the prelude to the new Circulating Schools that superseded the Charity Schools after the death of Sir John Phillips in 1737.

Early in the 4th decade of the 18th century, Gruffydd Jones assisted by Madame Bevan was busy establishing Circulating Schools to teach reading of the Bible and Church Catechism in Welsh, and teachers were trained and sent wherever they were asked for. Teachers moved from parish to parish after 3 months but where the parish was large and scattered the teacher would move from one part of the parish to another. The schools were held usually in the winter and generally in the porches of churches or in barns. Children attended them in the day and adults in the evening. There was more emphasis on reading than on writing. After the death of Gruffydd Jones in 1761, the schools were continued by Madame Bevan until her death in 1779. Several such schools were held in the Parish of Aberdare.

1738–76

Welch Piety: An Account of the Circulating Schools. This was a series of reports by Gruffydd Jones and Madame Bevan during these years; it was an account of the circulating schools and published between these years.

There is a transcription in the Calvinistic Methodist Society Journal 1937–38 but this has some errors.

1738–39

Ynysybool, Llanwynno

 

49

 Pupils

1739–40

Ystradfellte

 

47

 Pupils

Penderyn

 

54

 Pupils

Aberdare before Christmas

 

67

 after Christmas 60

1740–41

None

1741–42

None

1742–43

Aberdare

 

103

Pupils

1743–44

None

1744–45

Y Gadlys Isa

Aberdare

77

Pupils

1745–46

Gadless

Aberdare

61

Pupils

Aberdare Parish Church

 

46

Pupils

Llanwynno Church

 

38

Pupils

Pontbrynllwyd

Penderyn

39

Pupils

1746–47

Aberdare Parish Church

 

59

Pupils

 

 

 

Between 1739 and 1776, there were constant appeals for renewal of the Circulating Schools, e.g. June 9th 1747 by David Jones, Curate of Aberdare:

 

Aberdare Glamorgan

Rev. Sir.
I thought it a duty encumbent upon me to acquaint you with the management of the Welsh Charity School you have been pleased to settle here in our Parish of Aberdare. The Teachers industry and pains were in truth very commendable in every respect. It appears to me by several examinations that the youths under his charge have made good progress. Some of them who diligently attend can read their Bibles and are so far advanced as to understand the most part of what our Church Catechism means. We beg to have a Quarter more. I wish you and all the benefactors length of days in health and happiness, and that God of his abundant mercy may influence and prosper your endeavours shall be the prayer of etc.

 

David Jones Curate of Aberdare

 

1747–48

Aberdare

71

Puplis

1748–49

None

1749–50

None

1750–51

Pontcynon, Llanwynno

71

Puplis

1751–52

None

1752–53

Aberdare Parish Church

31

Puplis

1753–54

Aberdare Parish Church

31

Puplis

1754–55

Cefn Don Llwydcoed Hamlet

35

Puplis

1755–56

Cefn Don

26

Puplis

Hirwaun

26

Puplis

Cwmdare

26

Puplis

Mynachdy in Llanwynno

25

Puplis

1756 May 18

Curate at the time Rev. Joseph Jones sends a further letter

1756–57

Dyffryn House Aberdare

26

Puplis

1757–58

None

1758–59

None

1759–60

Aberdare Village

31

Puplis

Llwydgoed Hamlet

42

Puplis

1760–61

Pentrebach

21

Puplis

1761–62

None

1762–63

Llwydgoed Hamlet

35

& 26 Puplis

Ffynnon Ralph Aberdare

32

& 25 Puplis

1763–64

Tŷ’n y Cwm Aberdare Parish

39

Puplis

1764–65

Hirwaun Common

29

& 36 Puplis

Aberaman

26

Puplis

1765–66

Aberaman

25

Puplis

Llwydgoed

25

& 20 Puplis

1766–67

None

1767–68

None

1768–69

None

1769–70

None

1770–71

None

1771–72

Nant y Vedw Llanwynno

36 Pupils

& 27Puplis

1772–73

Nant y Groes Aberdare

34

& 27 Puplis

Hirwaun

49

& 29 Puplis

Tŷ’r Cwm Aberdare Parish

44

& 47 Puplis

1773–74

None

1774–75

None

1775–76

None

 

 

 

REPORT OF 1775–76 WELCH PIETY p 39

 

Year

Schools

Scholars

1773

242

13,205

1774

21

11,685

1775

148

9,002

1776

118

7,354

 

 

1779

Madame Bevan died and left £10,000 in her Will for the continuance of the schools but the Will was contested by two of her relatives Admiral William Lloyd of Llangadog and Lady Stepney of Llanelli. It became a long-drawn-out case in Chancery and the Circulating Schools lost their financial backing. Gradually what became known as Private Adventure Schools and Dame Schools made their appearance. They were usually run by people who had failed at other occupations and were of a very low standard.
Information on early Private Schools in Aberdare is very scanty.
List up to 1850 Some dates are approximations.

1751

“Yr Ymofynnydd” 1894 states that a School was established at Hen Dŷ Cwrdd and that it was maintained up to the end of the century. The Rev John Davies minister, 1796–1803, kept a school at Hen Dŷ Cwrdd after his retirement. He started with 12 pupils learning to read and write but by 1824 these had increased to about 50.

1779–84

Rev Thomas Morgan kept a school at Blaengwrach. He had to close the school in

1784

when a small-pox epidemic occurred. Thomas Morgan then turned his attention to medicine and is said to have been the first person in Glamorgan to vaccinate against Small-Pox.

1800

Tŷ’r Ysgol near boundary of Aberdare and Llanwonno Parishes.

1800

Another Tŷ’r Ysgol at Cwmbach below Llettysiencyn House closed in 1815 when the house was re-occupied by the woodman of the Dyffryn Estate.

1800–03

A man named Thomas Price of Creunant came to Aberdare to keep a school. Morgan Williams of Tŷ’r Heol persuaded the churchwardens to allow Price to conduct his school in the vestry of the Parish Church and it remained a good school for 3 years.

1810

Rees Evans son of Edward Evans Ton Coch kept a school in one of the outhouses of Dyffryn House.

1830

Thomas Meredith kept a school at Heolyfelin. Teacher and teaching seem to have been somewhat indifferent.

1836–47

Taliesin Williams, (Taliesin ap Iolo), kept a very well known Day and Boarding School at Merthyr. Several Aberdare people had their early education there.

1818

Ben Lewis (Beni Tomos Henri) came to Aberdare from Neath where he was born in 1788 and he kept a school at Llwydcoed and later at Heolyfelin where the Public Hall now stands. He had 20 pupils. Bardd y Felin quickly gained a reputation of being a sound scholar and good teacher and a good English Scholar. He was the proud recipient of an English newspaper that he read aloud to an attentive audience at the Bell Inn. Beni kept a kind of large diary in which he recorded the important events of his day in Aberdare.

1820

One of the last masters of the little day school held in the vestry of the church was one Deuws Dafydd Llewellyn who had a club foot and was slightly paralysed but who in spite of his handicap was noted for his great achievements of which there were two in particular:
1 his ability to play the Clarionet
2 his ability to counterfeit £5 notesThere were 20 pupils in 1824. Later after the opening of the National Schools, he kept an Academy at Abernantygroes Baptist Church later Unitarian. One of his pupils later became Judge Gwilym Williams. He was also a noted antiquary, died at Pontypridd in 1888 at the age of 88, and lies buried in Llanwonno.

 

There were 20 pupils in 1824. Later after the opening of the National Schools, he kept an Academy at Abernantygroes Baptist Church later Unitarian. One of his pupils later became Judge Gwilym Williams. He was also a noted antiquary, died at Pontypridd in 1888 at the age of 88, and lies buried in Llanwonno.

1820

A Mrs. Richards kept a Dame School on the spot where the National School now stands.

1825

A Mrs Powell kept a school at Moss Cottage Abernant and later at Pentwyn Bach. She was the grandmother of Thomas Dawkin Williams.

1833

The Rev John Jones when he became Minister of Hen Dŷ Cwrdd opened a school above the chapel stable on the 2nd July of this year. There is a copy of the printed card announcing the opening of the school at the Cardiff Library.

Fees

10/- a Quarter for learning reading and writing
15/- a Quarter for classes in geography and Arithmetic
21/- a Quarter for Mathematics and Classical Languages

Dr. Thomas Rees of Swansea, and ‘Caradog’ and his brother, were educated there. It also appears that a certain amount of science was taught there.

1838 Aug 15

“I gave the boys permission to go in the afternoon to the Hall to hear the trial of Ynyslwyd versus the Abernant Iron Company.”

1840

A new schoolroom was built at a cost of £80.

1833

Pursuant to an address of the House of Commons dated 14th May 1833, the first education enquiry was held. The Abstract of Questions and Answers and returns made by the Overseer of the poor contain these facts concerning Aberdare.

In addition to the National School there were within the Parish of Aberdare 5 Day Schools connected with the Dissenters in which a total of 171 children of both sexes were being taught at the expense of their parents. All these schools except one have commenced since 1818.

1833

Thomas Rees probably while taking more advanced lessons himself at the Trecynon Seminary kept an elementary school at 3 Miners Row, Llwydcoed.

1835

Twmi Hywel Morgan a leading figure with the singing at Ebenezer kept a school at Tai’r Arches in Abernant, this was probably a music Academy and was part of the cultural life of the district.

1835–37

The Rev Thomas Gabriel Jones on becoming the minister of Ramoth Hirwaun in July

1835

began to keep a school to augment his salary. He left in 1837 but it seems to have been a very successful school because later he became Professor at the Baptist College at Haverfordwest.

1836

A Mr. Jones kept a school at Llwydcoed — 25 pupils

1838

A Mrs. Jones opened a school at Shop Houses — 21 pupils

1838

Rev Thomas Rees of Cwmgwrach, (uncle of the Rev. R.J. Jones), kept a school at Hirwaun.

1840–48

Henry Price kept a school at Hirwaun. He was the Parish Clerk of Penderyn and also kept a school at 14 Pontpren.

1844

Another Mr Jones opened a school at Moss Row Abernant.

1844

There was a Dame School at Mill Street kept by a Mrs. John. She later kept a school at Aberaman. Her husband Edward John, (Checkweigher at Llwydcoed), kept an evening school.

1845

A Mrs. Wood opened a school in the Village of Aberdare.

1846

The Rev Morgan Lewis founded a Day School in connection with the Baptist Church at Abernantygroes to augment his £40 a year salary. He died from cholera in 1849.

1846

Dame School in Aberaman kept by a Mrs. Baker. Report of Commissioners: “Teacher appeared intelligent and respectable, everything was very neat.”

1848

Day School established in schoolroom built by Ebenezer at Llwydcoed. The first master was Charles Griffiths. Jacob Treharne recalled in 1898 how he attended this school, “I can still feel the weight of the ruler”.

1850

The minister of Ebenezer himself kept a day school in his own house.

 

Year
Teacher
Age
Place
Accomm-
odation
Under 5
b  g
5-10
b  g
Over 10
b  g
Total on books
Annual Salary from School pence
1836
Mrs Jones
71
Llwydcoed
24
4   7
11  3
3   2
30
£13
1836
Mrs Jones
25
Llwydcoed
45
-   -
17  7
4  2
30
£20:16
1844
Mrs John
49
Mill St.
24
5   6
12  2
3
28
£13
1844
Mrs Jones
60
Moss Row
18
-   -
10  2
-  -
12
£8
1845
Mrs Wood
24
Village
24
2   5
6  3
-  9
25
£13
1846
Mrs Baker
42
Aberaman
37
4   6
6  1
2  5
20
£10
1846
Mr Lewis
45
Cwmbach
150
10   4
2  2
15
40
£15

 


Third feature in the Returns: No mention of private Academy at Hirwaun except that of Henry Price which as defunct by 1847, but there were two Colliery Schools which were among the earliest works schools in Glamorgan. Both were founded in 1820 and were known as

1 Colliers and Miners School

2 Furnace or Fireman’s School

They were both promoted by the Crawshays, (NLW Box 12 Book 1 Cyfarthfa Papers), and were maintained by a stoppage of ½d in the pound of the employees wages. The management was entirely in the hands of the workmen. NLW Journal Vol 10 1957–58 pp 37–116, “The Works Schools of the Industrial revolution in Wales.”

1842

Report on Employment of Children in Mines and Factories states that there were 50 children attending Hirwaun Schools: 35 boys and 15 girls. Hirwaun Miners School was held in a loft above a stable, “very close and crowded”. The only book was a Bible and nothing was taught but the three Rs.

11 children were heard and 9 read with ease and appeared to understand what they read. They mentioned several places in Glamorgan but did not know in which county the Beacons were.

Accommodation for 49 and there were 50 on the books 30 boys and 20 girls. The master’s Salary was £36..8..0 per annum.

The Firemen’s School had 40 pupils on its books, 16 boys and 24 girls, a decrease on 1836 when there had been an average attendance of 25 girls and 30 boys. Accommodation was for 35 but school was kept in “the master’s kitchen”. He had previously been a labourer. He was a Roman Catholic but no child knew what day fell on December the 25th.

Mr. D.M. Richards in his essay states that one Thomas Williams “Y Pab” came from an old Catholic family of Senny Bridge and kept school in Hirwaun at this time. Salary £31 per annum and £5 from School Pence.

“Welsh is universally spoken here. There is a wish on the part of the ministers and the workmen to erect a school on the British System. They were, however, unable to obtain a site.”