A School's History
Introduction
By
The Rev. I. T.
BIDGOOD, Vicar of Dyffryn
THIS
title book is a souvenir of a special occasion in the life of the parish of
Dyffryn, Neath and of the Primary School, now known as The Bryncoch Church in
Wales Primary School. Formerly it was known as The Bryncoch
National School, having been founded in co-operation with the National
Society for Religious Education in 1857. Not many Primary Schools have one
hundred years of history. We rejoice and give thanks on the Centenary
anniversary. We remember the founders and benefactors; the Church people who
have maintained the school; the teachers who have taught in the school; the
children (estimated to be about 4500) who have received their education in
the school; and we praise God for this notable achievement.
THE SCHOOL MANAGERS:
The Rev. 1. T.
BIDGOOD, B.A. Vicar of Dyffryn, Ex-officio manager.
Mr. WILLIAM ALLEN
Manager appointed by the Llandaff Diocesan Schools Committee. Chairman of
Managers.
Mrs. G. BEVAN
Manager appointed by the Llandaff Diocesan Schools Committee.
Mr. D. H. PROUT
Manager appointed by the Dyffryn Parochial Church Council.
Councillor j. T.
EVANS, J.P. Manager appointed by the Glamorgan County Education Authority.
Mr. E. MATTHEWS
Manager appointed by the Blaenhonddan Parish Council.
THE STAFF
Mr. J. M. DAVIES
Head Teacher.
Mrs. H. TREMAINE
Assistant Teacher.
EPISCOPAL MESSAGE
By
THE VENERABLE J. G.
JAMES, M.A.
The
Archdeacon of Llandaff, appointed to deputise for the Bishop of Llandaff in
certain matters during the vacancy of the See. THE centenary of a Church
School is a great occasion, and I am proud, in the absence of a Bishop, to
write a preface to this book which will explain to those who read it how
important a centenary is. Bryncoch Church in Wales Primary School is a
reminder to all who see it that the Church is something more than a group of
people who happen to meet together on a Sunday for worship. The Church is a
body of men and women who have two great duties to perform, the duty to God
and the duty to man. One way in which we serve our fellow men is by providing
education, and when Bryncoch School began its work, most of the education
provided in this country was given by the Church. Many things have happened
in the last hundred years, indeed there have been few periods in our history
more crowded with events of momentous importance, but in all those changes and
chances certain things have remained, and among them is this School. It is
doing today what it did one hundred years ago. There is no need for me to
remind you how important it is that our children should be given a Christian
education. For many years people have assumed that education was enough, that
it was sufficient for children to be taught certain subjects and that religion
could be left out altogether. A number of sad events have shown that this is
not so, that unless Education is a Christian education, it will not produce
the kind of men and women that we need so badly at the present time. The
Church must go on with her task of educating this country, and educating means
teaching people the whole truth the truth about God, the truth about the
world we live in, and the truth about ourselves. This work is not confined to
our Church Schools whether they are Aided or Controlled; it goes on in the
pulpit on Sundays, in our Bible classes and other groups on weekdays and in
many other ways. But in this task our Schools can play a vital part; they are
not as many as they used to be or as we should wish, but where there is a
Church School, there is something of inestimable value. Bryncoch has done its
work for a hundred years; this fact should make us proud and as we look
forward to the years that are to come, our prayer must be that it may long
continue to do the task for which it was built.
BRYNCOCH NATIONAL SCHOOL
CENTENARY
1857 - 1957
HISTORICAL RECORD
THE
year 1857 was an eventful one. Queen Victoria had been for twenty years out of
her long reign of sixty-three years, on the throne. Lord Palmerston had just
been defeated at the Polls and in consequence had to resign his Premiership in
favour of the Leader of the Opposition, Lord John Russel, to the undisguised
joy of Queen Victoria, who feared and disliked Palmerston. The Crimean War had
ended three years before and Florence Nightingale was the National Heroine.
She had made her name imperishable by her splendid courage and
unexampled devotion in organising a Nursing Service in the field for the first
time in the face of opposition both from the Army and the Government, and as
the famous " Lady with the Lamp " gave succour and help to our sick and
wounded in the so called Hospitals of the period, fighting not only the
ineptitude of Army Officials, but Filth and squalor beyond description. The
terrible Indian Mutiny had broken out even before the Country had recovered
from the after effects of Crimea and our troops were in 1857 engaged in a life
and death struggle with the Indian Sepoys. Prince Albert, the husband of the
Queen, after years of unpopularity in the Country, although pathetically
trying to win public esteem and liking (people could not forget he was a
German) was by Letters Patent created Prince Consort and gradually the public
accepted him as a Public Man. He died in 1861. The American Civil War was
four years in the future. 1861, engendering as Civil War always does, the
most dreadful hatred between even brother and brother, but producing
inncidentally America's greatest President, Abraham Lincoln. This, even more
than the Age of the first Elizabeth and George the third, was the Augustan age
of English Literature and Statesmanship. Apart from Palmerston, there were
William Ewart Gladstone destined to be Prime Minister four times and to die at
an advanced age in 1896. Disraeli (Lord Beaconsfield) Cobden, Bright and
Salisbury and Novelists such as Charles Dickens, who was just beyond middle
age, and the world was seeing the flowering of his genius in "Sketches by Boz,"
Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist, Martin Chuzzlewit, in which he enshrined his
masterly exposure of the social evils of his time. He was writing and
lecturing at fever heat and was to die suddenly and prematurely from
overwork. He was at this time writing " Little Dorrit." Thackery, his great
contemporary and the "Novelist of the Middle Classes" was writing his book "
Esmond." He had already written his masterpiece "Vanity Fair." Dr. Jowett,
the Educationist, was alive as was Dean Stanley, the favourite Preacher of the
Queen. Victoria's eldest son (his elder sister married Kaiser Wilhelm II.)
the Prince of Wales afterwards Edward VII. was sixteen years of age. Daniel
O'Connel, the great Irish Orator, Barrister at Law, had passed away a year
before. Garibaldi the soldier and Cavour the statesman had led the Italian
people to victory, throwing off the yolk of Austrian oppression. The Great
Eastern was building what was to be the greatest Sail and Steam Ship in the
world and was to remain so for many years. It was designed by the Great
G.W.R. Civil Engineer, Isambard Brunei, who died before she sailed the
Atlantic. Grace Darling, the heroine of the sea rescue off the Fame Islands
was still alive. Income Tax was one and two pence in the pound as a result of
the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny, it was lowered to two pence in the
pound in a few years time and was for a short period afterwards to disappear
altogether. Tennyson had followed Wordsworth as Poet Laureate. He was a great
favourite with Queen Victoria and had completed " The Charge of the Light
Brigade." The more celebrated Scientists of this time were Darwin, Huxley and
Lister. The country was now in the grip of the Industrial Revolution. The
stagecoach had not been superseded many years, but it was already a relic and
a memory. Factories and Railways were being erected and laid down
everywhere. Coat measures were being rapidly exploited, particularly in
Glamorganshire, where the enormous coal deposits were being worked by rich men
many of whom had already made their wealth in the Iron Industry and were
making another in Coal. They were, The Guest's, the Baileys, the Crawshways,
the Powells, the Homfrays, and the Nixons. The beautiful Rhondda Valley was
riven and ravaged beyond all recognition. Cardiff Docks were being dredged
and deepened and the great days of Cardiff Shipping were about to begin.
Great fortunes were made in Coal, Iron and Shipping, but my researches have
revealed no fortunes made by Miners, Seamen or Ironworkers. The wages of
Miners were 3/6 to 4/- a day for twelve hours. Tea at this time was very dear
and people drank it without milk in order to experience the full flavour of so
costly a beverage. Meat was sixpence an Ib. and bread was seven pence per
four Ib. loaf. Spurgeon was a young man preaching at Southwark. Sir Henry
lrving was appearing as a young man in Richelieu at a Sunderland Theatre.
Coming nearer home and still dealing with 1857, Captain Evan Evans Great
Grandfather of Mr. D. M. Evans Bevan was Mayor of Neath. C. M. R. Talbot was
M.P. for Glamorgan. The Railway running through Neath was the old South Wales
Broad Gauge Railway, it ran from Chepstow to Swansea and the Railway Station
so called was situated where the Goods Station is now approached from what
is known as the Green. It was merged in the G.W.R. In 1861. Alfred Russel
Wallace, the World Traveller and Scientist who had stayed at Bryncoch Farm,
was in Malaya studying the Plant and Animal life of the Country. Benjamin
Baker (afterwards knighted by the Queen) was just completing his
apprenticeship at Neath Abbey Ironworks and was to become one of the foremost
Engineers of the world and responsible in 1890 for that marvel of Engineering,
the Forth Bridge. Voting was open. There was of course no adult suffrage, but
voting rights were based upon a man's possessions and wealth. The secret
ballot Act was not passed until 1872 (Forster's Act). The population of the
British Isles was twenty seven million. There were, no County, District or
Parish Councils in 1857. County Councils were created by Act, of Parliament
in 1888, District and Parish Councils in 1895. Poor Law Guardians and
Overseers of the poor flourished, if that is the proper word. Paddison lived
in Treneche, as his descendents do today and he had it appears either complete
possession or a controlling interest in Bryncoch Farm. The Davies' ancestors
of the present family lived in Llettyshack, the Bowen's were at Plough and
Harrow for which a Revenue Licence for the sale of Beer was being sought.
According to the Ordnance Map of the period, the Hamlet of Bryncoch was a
small and scattered Community, the only houses were apart from the farms,
Pentwyn, Main Road; Pentwyn, Dyffryn. Old Furnace. Queens Row, Dyffryn Arms
and the Cwm Cottages, the row afterwards known as Bottle and Glass, Bridge
House was a thatched Cottage (Ty Melin now occupied by the Baileys), and Ty
Gwyn, representing a population of about eighty or ninety adults. Gilfach
Farms existed and Ty Cerrig before the first Vicarage. In this year, Mr. Howel
Gwyn, who had made a considerable fortune as an Ironmaster lived in Baglan
House? He had purchased for a low figure the Estate and Minerals partly owned
by the Williams Family, who at this time lived in a fairly large Tudor Style
House at Dyffryn. The late owners having vacated the house. He built Dyffryn
Mansion and took possession of it in about 1869. He was a member of, on the
male side, the Gwyn Family of Abercrave and on his mother's side, was a
descendant of the Roger Vaughan Family of Trecastle, also in Breconshire. He
and Mr. Ridley, afterwards Mr. Justice Ridley, were elected M.P's. as Tories
for a two member constituency either Plymouth or the Plymouth Area. There was
not a Conservative Party in those days; the Liberals and Conservatives did not
exist before 1865. He was Chairman of the Neath Board of Guardians from 1848
to 1888 and Mayor of Neath in the years 1842-43 and 1844-45. It might be
factually stated that during his Membership of the House, his impact upon
Parliament was negligible. He probably stood little chance of being heard
when Disraeli and Gladstone were about. He is said to have made a speech
complaining in a Committee of The House of the horrible draughts, which
existed there. Not an epoch making contribution, but probably as useful as
some of the speeches made in the House. He had been a benefactor of the Town
of Neath and among other benefactions he gave the site upon which the Gwyn
Hall is built and the Citizens erected to his memory the bronze statue
opposite the hall named after him. The statue is, so it is said, a remarkable
likeness. He was a man of generous impulses and a keen and practical mind.
He saw the need of a School at Bryncoch, and he made a free gift of the land
upon which the school is built in the following terms. ' I HOWEL GWYN of
Dyffryn in the Parish of Cadoxton juxta Neath in the County of Glamorgan under
the authority of the Acts of the fifth and eighth years of Her Majesty for
affording facilities for the Conveyance and Endowment of Sites for Schools DO
HEREBY freely and voluntarily and without valuable consideration to me paid
GRANT AND CONVEY unto the Minister and Churchwardens of the Parish aforesaid
ALL THAT piece of ground part of the lands called Bryncoch in the Hamlet of
Blaenhonddan in the said parish containing by admeasurement three roods or
thereabouts. TO HOLD the same unto and to the use of the said Minister and
Churchwardens and their Successors for the purposes of the said Acts and UPON
TRUST t0 permit the said premises and all buildings thereon erected or to be
erected to be for ever hereafter appropriated and used as and for a School for
the education of children and adults or children only pf the labouring
manufacturing and other poorer classes in the said parish and for no other
purpose. AND IT IS HEREBY DECLARED that such Schools shall at all times be
open to the inspection of the Inspectors of Schools for the time being
appointed in the conformity with the Order in Council bearing date the tenth
day of August One thousand eight hundred and forty and shall always be in
union with and conducted according to the principles and in furtherance of the
ends and designs of the National Society for promoting the Education of the
Poor in the principles of the Established Church throughout England and Wales
and subject to and in conformity with the Declaration aforesaid such School
and premises and the funds and endowments thereof in respect whereof no other
disposition shall be made by the donor shall be controlled and managed in
manner following (that is to say) The principal Officiating Minister for the
time being of the said Parish shall have the superintendance of the religious
and moral instruction of all the scholars attending such School and may use or
direct the premises to be used for the purposes of a Sunday School under his
exclusive control and managements. But in all other respects the control and
managements of such school and premises and of the funds and endowments
thereof and the selection appointment and dismissal of the Schoolmaster and
Schoolmistress and their Assistants (except when under the provisions
hereinafter mentioned the dismissal of any Master, Mistress or Assistant shall
be awarded by the Bishop of the diocese or the Arbitrators as the case may be)
shall be vested in and exercised by a committee consisting of the principal
Officiating Minister for the time being of the said Parish his licensed Curate
or Curates if the Minister shall appoint him or them to be a member or members
of the said Committee such of the Churchwardens for the time being as shall be
Communicants of the Established Church and of myself and five appointed that
is to say Howel Gwyn Nash Edwards Vaughan of Rheola, Neath; William Williams
of Westfleld, Neath: John Diliwyn Llewellyn Pennilygare and Capel Hanbury
Leigh Pontypool Park all Esquires such other persons continuing to be
Contributors in every year to the amount of Twenty shillings each at the least
to the funds of the said School and to be members of the Church of England as
by law established and either to have a beneficial interest to the extent of a
life estate at the least in real property situated in the said Parish or to
be resident therein or in a Parish of Ecclesiastical District adjoining
thereto. . . .. The Conveyance added that no Person shall be appointed or
continue to be Master or Mistress of the School who shall not be a member of
the Church of England. It must be borne in mind that St. Matthews had not yet
been built nor had the vicarage and that was not erected until about thirty
years after the school. The vicarage was * Ty Cerrig ' and services for some
years were held in the school. The political name of the Parish was
Blaenhonddan, the ecclesiastical name was Cadoxton juxta Neath. Before dealing
with the education offered in the school, it might be as well to obtain as far
as possible a picture of the system of education at this time. Education at
this period was haphazard and casual to a marked degree. From 1857 to 1883
it was mainly the responsibility of the Church and voluntary organisations
though aided in a niggardly way by the State; and nobly the Church accepted
the responsibility. There were at this period 13,000 schools in some way
connected with the Church of which 6,470 were both day and Sunday Schools.
Gradually, however, although they did not wholly take control until 1883, the
Government took over with the growing conviction that with the widening of
Political Power the State could command a minimum of knowledge from every
citizen and a definite step was taken in 1870 to ensure Public Education where
voluntary provision was lacking. They were still tinkering with the problem
but it was definitely an improvement of outlook but yet a long way off the
present day high standard of education by trained teachers carefully chosen
for their scholarship and ability to teach and enforce discipline with at the
same time a broad human sympathy and an understanding of the mind of a child.
The excellent social services of today were then unheard of, the school meals
system, the milk scheme, the care of the mentally defective and retarded
children, the special care of afflicted children such as the blind, and the
deaf was a pipe dream of the future for educationists at that period. This
merely serves to emphasise the grand work done by those men and women in whose
hands lay the task of educating the young, at the same time enduring the
frustration, lack of encouragement and low pay of those times. Education is
now for the common man and woman, a part of his or her national heritage. The
pay of the Headmaster and Staff well into the twentieth century was
scandalously low. Less than a hundred a year for the Head and about £50 for
certified Teachers. Even the provision of that was problematical because
although a portion was provided by the State the rest was found from school
fees. Id. or 3d. a week exacted as a fee from each child, assistance too in
all probability from the Squire and Life Governor Howel Gwyn and it is safe to
assume a contribution from the workmen of the Bryncoch Pit who quite
definitely a few years later subscribed to the salary of the Vicar. Several
Acts of Parliament were passed during the hundred years, dealing with
Education. Notably in 1858 and 1870 together with consolidating Acts. None
of them materially altering the unsatisfactory condition of the National
Education System. The most important Act and the one which had the greatest
beneficial effect was the Act of 1902 which stated that, * Every County or
County Borough is the Education Authority for Higher and Elementary Education
in the County Districts. Powers were given under what was known as Part III.
over Elementary Education to Boroughs having a population of 10.000 and Urban
Authorities with a population of over 20,000. That part of the Act has now
been repealed and the County Councils and County Boroughs have full control
not only of Higher Education but of Elementary Education also. The one
exception is the newly credited Borough of Rhondda, which still enjoys
autonomous powers. Other Acts were those of 1914-1918 and the Consolidating
Act of 1921 called the Fisher Act. The School Building was originally the
large Hall and a Class Room, the Infants room was added in 1889 and cost 035
10s. Od. and the West Classroom in1910. A hundred years from this Standpoint
of Historical Records is not a long time but the records of the School and
even the names of the early Head Teachers have eluded a careful search which
has been made for them. Certain it is that Mr. Madge was the First Head
Teacher followed so far as information goes, and with less certainty. Fowler,
Bishop. Bullifant, Davies. Brecon, and somewhat disrespectfully but probably
descriptively ~ Davies Tow." One of them was, it is said, very fond of liquid
refreshment and one boy made frequent journeys to the " local " in order that
the Masters healthy thirst might be assuaged. Still it may be only a tale but
it is significant that one of the Masters held the post for only a short
period before he mysteriously disappeared. He was of course an exception
because the other Heads of whom we have knowledge were and are models of good
conduct. The first records we have, albeit irregular and meagre, are of Tom
Watson Fellowes who was Head Teacher from according to the entries in his log
book 1880 to 1883. There were, astonishingly over 200 children on the books
probably accounted for by the large Families of that period (average 5
children per family), and by the fact that Wernddu and Forestgoch were intake
areas for the School. (They are now in Pontardawe Rural Area) to which were
added there between 50 to 60 Cottage Homes for children. It is interesting to
recall the successive Superintendent at the Homes. Mr. Osborn was in charge
in 1857, then Mr. Powell to the time of Mr. Knowles of whose Head Mastership
more will be written, followed by Mr. Sair during the Headship of Mr. Howel
and subsequently Mr. John Jones and last of all Mr. Rosser. The Log book kept
by Mr. Fellowes was very meagre in information. The Rev. J. C. Thomas the
Vicar was the correspondent or Secretary to the Managers who were Mr. Howel
Gwyn, Mr. John Diliwyn, and Llewellyn Nash. Edward Vaughan and William
Williams. Mr. Fellowes last entry was made May 2nd. 1883. Whether he died or
retired is not clear. Mr. Robert Knowles succeeded him on May 21st. 1883 and
although there is little information in the Log Book. it is more copious than
that of Mr.Fellowes. The visits made by the Vicar. Rev. J. C. Thomas, are
referred to and it seems that over the long span of years, during which he was
Vicar and correspondent, he was most attentive to his duties. He frequently
took classes for short periods, particularly in arithmetic, in order to
relieve the Teachers. The average attendance was quite good. 206 children on
the books. There were frequent references to the unsatisfactory attention
given to absenteeism by the Attendance Officer, who almost always excused
himself because of indisposition, which apparently had little sympathy from
the Master. There is one rather amusing reference to the insolence before the
whole school, of a Pupil Teacher. He was reported to the Vicar when he next
called, who remonstrated with the Teacher and asked him to r(come outside."
The unsensational reason, I suppose, being that there was not a Master's study
and really the only place in which it could be discussed was Outside" rather
than before the children lest there should be any ambiguity, the Vicar was
emphatically not a * Fighting Parson.' That Mr.Knowles was not a physically
fit man is made clear in the Notes made by the Vicar and when the poor man
died suddenly when on holiday at Llandrindod on the 26th July 1888. it did not
occasion the surprise that such a happening normally would. He was praised in
the Vicar's report for his excellent and conscientious work in the School.
The Teachers during Mr.Fellows' and Mr. Knowles' Headships were, Margaret
Thomas, a Member of the Thomas Family, so closely identified with the school
in later years as Teachers. Mr. William Thomas, B.Sc., an Inspector of
Secondary and Grammar Schools and Miss May Thomas, Certificated Teacher, both
now retired. Mary Eldridge. Annie Stroud. Elizabeth Davies, Mary Owen, Roger
Howetl (afterwards Head Teacher of Machynileth), Mary Llewellyn, David Lewis,
William Harding.Roger Howel became Head Teacher on September 3rd, 1888. He
was a Native of Pontardawe and had immediately before his new appointment been
on the Staff of a small school at Tal-y-Bont, Breconshire. He was destined to
be the Headteacher of Bryncoch School for over thirty three years until his
retirement on 31st March, 1921, when the last entry in his Log Book read," I
would fain express my deep gratitude for the support and kindness shown by the
Managers, Scholars and people generally during my Headship." He was a
remarkable man in many ways. Although only a humble village School Master, he
was a Scholar. His interests were many and varied. He had studied and
written upon subjects such as Geology, Photography, Music Composition, and
Horticulture and was in the opinion of those competent to judge, a good
mathematician. He left his mark, literally in many cases, on his pupils,
because with all his virtues, he did not spare the rod. He was methodical
and thorough in all he did. His neat and legible handwriting without blot or
erasure was accepted by Editors in place of typescript. He had however one
failing, he had little sense of humour and a short temper, and his pupils as a
consequence of years of careful observation, had reason to accept as an
infallible indication of his temper, his growth or absence of beard when his
beard had grown comfortably, he was inclined to be kindly and indulgent almost
benign, but when he had shaved as he did occasionally then he was thoroughly
bad tempered and the children were as quiet as mice. The cane and the standard
punishment of 'four cracks,' six for 'major' misdemeanors was always in the
offing. Even a more painful experience after a private interview. The
psychological reason for this variation in temper was never solved by anyone,
even by the teachers who themselves suffered in other ways. Measured by
modern standards the curriculum was narrow, the studies were directed to a
thorough grounding in the three Rs with Geography, History, Arithmetic,
Reading, Writing, Nature Study, Scripture and for the boys Gardening, as the
main subjects. Physical education in the modern sense was non-existent,
indeed he frowned upon anything that might take the pupil's mind away from the
steady daily grind of learning; it was the school first and last. He
possessed amazing energy, he taught vigorously all day moving from one group
to the other and keeping his own class fully and profitably occupied in
complete silence at written exercises or reading. He had no children of his
own and he took a delight in arranging concerts for charity. He must have
been responsible with the pupils of different generations for hundreds of
concerts for the Waifs and Strays Society, Dr. Barnados Homes and other
organisations. These charities must have benefited by thousands of pounds as
a result of his efforts. He made his school in those days of limited
pictorial and stage attractions, a social centre for the community. This
eurudite and busy man kept his log book up to date in his meticulous way and
the entries not only refer to the school but to any, what he considered
outstanding event in the village. He was interested in everybody and
everything, really they are a mine of interesting but seldom amusing
information. He found when he began duties that spelling was very weak. Pupil
Teachers were rather out of hand (one can imagine him grinding his teeth with
a colloquial ' I'll lam them '). His main troubles were absenteeism caused
seasonally by potato picking (he refers to the childrens excuses 1 was
picking taters on the field Sir'). The Neath Fair and various circuses took
their toll and upset his tidy and school centered nature. The attendance
Officer often came in for censure as in Mr. Knowles' days. These worthy
individuals were decidedly unpopular with the Masters in those days. The
Teachers in Mr. Howels' (he spelled his name with one L and no one dared
introduce two) early days as a master were. David Lewis he left in 1889, W. H.
Harding, Roger Howell brother to Mr., John Howell, Elizabeth Davies, Mary
Owen, and Thomas E. Hughes. Thomas Hughes was from the Cottage Homes and he
was a young man with a bright future in Teaching. Mr. Roger Howell too left
shortly afterwards; both David Lewis and Ed. Hughes left for Carmarthen
College for Training. David Lewis after obtaining his certificate taught at
the Melincrythan School. The numbers on the Registers in 1888-1889 were 210.
School fees were collected weekly in 1891 as they had been from 1857; the
miners had by now ceased to contribute from their pay. They had previously
been exempt but Mr. Howel thought that their children should pay like other
children, a minimum of Id. per week reduced from 2d. and 3d. per child. He
enters everything in his diary Mrs. Gwyn gave a Brass Lamp to the school
Mr. Howel Gwyn had died, in 1890. There was of course no gas or electricity
available; gas was not laid on until 1896. He refers to the weather again
with the attendance in mind. His frugal and practical mind was shown in his
newly begun penny bank (no deposits to exceed 1/- per week). Elizabeth
Davies, teacher left in 1892 for Newton Abbot. References were beginning to
be made to his beloved concerts and charities. Receipts at concert operetta'
Dick Whittington ' on March 18th, 1892 were £7 5s. 3d. given to Waifs and
Strays Society. Prizes for good attendance were given to Avery Gosling,
Elizabeth Owen, Fred Morgan, John Evans, Rod Morgan, and Charity Jones. Dolls
given to Elizabeth Jones, Patti Jones. Polly Stevens, Edith Harding, Hannah
Howell and work baskets to Evelyn Paddison, Gwen Sims. Hannah Morris,Carrie
Powis. Special prizes to James Prout, Hannah Morris and Margaret Arnold had
made full attendance during the year which was something which gladdened his
heart. Attendance still bad due to the perennial reason, potatoes, helping
mother and sickness. Long tots on rollers were now being introduced into
Arithmetic Lessons. He was obliged to complain of lack of energy by a teacher
and inability to enforce discipline, ' unless he improves I shall report it to
the Managers. During this year Cantatas, Concerts were being held at
intervals of three months. (He loved this work). For one concert twenty
yards of carpet was purchased for the stage, purchased from a Mr., Walter,
Finsbury, London, which considerably lessened the proceeds. The girls
costumes were kindly provided by the parents, (no mention is made of the boys)
the cantata was ' The Merry Party. Recitations being learned by the older
children were ' Edinburgh after Flodden,' ' Inchcape Bell,' ' Arthur and
Hubert,' ' Compassion,' and so on down the years. It would require a fair
sized book to deal with all the entries made by him of the simple but
intensely lived life of the school and the little community of which he was so
important a member. ' Storms,' ' Circuses,'' Snow,' ' Fetes,' Deaths of
prominent villagers, absenteeism, concerts, visits. complaints, all go in, in
his neat calligraphy. He had on his staff or had trained a long line of
teachers apart from the ones already referred to. Mary Hay left January 3rd,
1895. Mary Owen began March 1886, left September 18th. 1896, (she returned as
Mrs. Lewis in later year). H. Hopkins 1890, Sarah Hall 1890. D. M. Griffiths
1892. Edith Weaver 1892 to 1895, Mary Morgan 1893 to 1897. William Thomas 1895
to 1899, (he left for Cheltenham College), Elizabeth James 1895 to 1904.
Annie James 1895 to 1899, Arthur Thomas (afterwards Head Teacher at a London
School) 1897-1901. Hannah Taylor (the first period) 1896-1900. Ben Jones
(afterwards Head Teacher) 1899-1902, he returned subsequently to teach for a
short period after qualifying. Elizabeth Owen 1897-1908. He refers to the
remarkable case of a boy from the Cottage Homes named John Hudson (1895) who
was illiterate, could not write nor understand words of three letters and was
uneducable, they could do nothing with him. He suffered a severe illness and
when he returned, he had completely changed mentally. He afterwards proved
to be one of the brightest children in the school. Typhoid Fever broke out in
1896 and caused a great deal of apprehension in the village and affected
school attendance, this was the year of the explosion in the Main Colliery.
Grants were being paid by the Board of Education for the excellent results in
the school both appertaining to the Pupil Teachers and the Scholars. Mr. Gwyn
is frequently referred to as visiting the school, as of course are the
frequent visits of the Rev. J. C. Thomas. The Fossil expeditions with senior
boys to the surrounding tips. His museum where he kept his classified Fossils,
his not infrequent writings in the Press both articles and tetters are all
referred to. Public Events the death of Mr. Howel Gwyn in 1889 is of course
in the Log. The Bryncoch Pit Disaster in 1896, where seven men died. Five men
by the name of Jones, 3 of them Father and two Sons one James Jones the
fireman, no connection of the others was from Old Furnace. The Main Colliery
Strike of 1897. In 1898 a meeting at the school addressed by Mr. S. T. Evans,
M.P. for Mid-Glamorgan, afterwards, Sir Samuel Evans, Solicitor General and
finally President of the Divorce and Admiralty Court. 'Mabons' day (called
after William Abraham, Miners Agent) was a frequent cause of complete stoppage
at the collieries it was a kind of one day in fourteen holiday. He
evidently did not agree with this practice. On February 7th. 1898. William
Evans was killed by a stone as a result of shot firing at the colliery and he
records that some of the Teacher relatives were given an afternoon off to
attend the funeral. 15th January 1898. He refers to a sensational happening
at Margam where a Gamekeeper named Scott was murdered by poachers. Joseph
Lewis of Aberavon was charged with the crime. May 1902, Mary Meyrick and her
child were found drowned in GlynClydach Pond. 1901 There were Flower Shows at
Duffryn where Messrs. Prout and Taylor were the chief rivals in the Local
Classes. Mr. Bradley was Secretary and Mr. Sair of the Cottage Homes was the
Chairman. 1903 Mrs. Anne Howell of Tonna had reached the great age of 105.
1904 and 1905 Evan Roberts preached at Forest Chapel, Aberdulais during the
Great Welsh Revival when hundreds had to be turned away.1905 Again there was a
Flower Show at Duffryn when Messrs. Prout (again) T. Harris and James Pantglas
were heavy winners. Mr. Howel won first prize with Red (pickling) Cabbage.
1897 He even refers to an elephant running amok in Green Street, Neath, and
breaking a window in J. D. Llewellyn's Shop. Other Entries were: The funeral
of Isaac Evans, Miners Agent. November 1899 and various trivia such as Madame
Patti and Charles Santley at the Gwyn Hall, May 1901, Riot at Neath
Reformatory, July 1901, Lifeboat Disaster at Swansea. August 18th, 1902.F.
B. Meyer the Great Preacher at Neath. October 1903,and of course as
previously referred to the visits of Evan Roberts to the Neath District in the
years 1903, 1904 and 1905 with the shrewd observation that the Revival had
robbed the Lawyers of their livelihood! ! He records too the deaths of John
Henry Rowlands in August 1899 and E. Rowe Evans the Minister at Orchard Place,
September 1899. He writes with regret of the passing of a woman of charm and
benevolence, Mrs. Gwyn of Duffryn, who died on January 24th, 1900. The
school was closed when the news was received. Miss G. James, Teacher at the
school, married Mr. John Howell, January 16th, 1905. David Prout it seems was
bitten by a dog on May 8th, 1903. During the years there were at different
times an extraordinary number of teachers many of them on Supply and staying
for not more than a month or two. The names of those teachers which will
stimulate the memory of ex pupils are William Thomas 1895-1899. He
afterwards left for Cheltenham College where he gained honours in Science
becoming a B.Sc. and subsequently after various teaching posts in Elementary
and Grammar Schools, he became an Inspector of Schools under the Cardiff
Education Authority. He is now in retirement. Arthur Thomas 1897-1899 when he
left for training at Battersea College after qualifying he became Head
Teacher of a London School (Deceased). Benjamin Jones 1899-1902 who also was
trained and passed his Certificate at Battersea, He is a much travelled man
who after his return from the U.S.A. again in 1910 took up a teaching
appointment at the School until he left for Pontyclun. He was on Active
Service in the 1914-1918 War and on his return he was made a Headteacher under
the Glamorgan Education Authority. He married Miss Sarah Jones a member of
the Teaching Staff at the School. He now lives in retirement at Porthcawl
with his sister Miss Patti Jones, who was also a teacher at the School. His
wife has pre-deceased him. Miss Elizabeth Owen, March 1901 to October 1908,
became Mrs. Edward Phillips, since deceased. Miss Elsie Marsh, February 1st,
1907 to July 12th, 1911. She subsequently returned for two years in 1913. Mr.
Levi Phillips was a pupil teacher in 1911. He afterwards departed for Cardiff
University College where he gained the degrees of M.E. and B.Sc., afterwards
becoming Agent and General Manager of a Coal Combine. He is now deceased.
Miss May Thomas after serving as Monitress and Pupil Teacher 1902-1905 became
a fully qualified certificated Teacher on November 2nd, 1908 and spent the
rest of her career at the School. Miss Thomas is a sister of Mr. William
Thomas, B.Sc. and a relative of Miss Margaret Thomas who taught in the School
between the 80s and 90s of last century. Miss May Thomas is now living in
retirement.
Miss Newman,
December 1899 to January 1910.
Mrs. Hannah Taylor,
October 1902 to September 1910.
Mrs. Taylor renewed
for a while in later years her teaching career at the School (Deceased).
Mr. Rosser Thomas
1901 to 1902 (Deceased).
Mrs. Elizabeth
Howell, wife of Mr. John Howell commenced teaching for her second period on
May 24th, 1909.
Mr. Wynne Jones
brother of Mr. Ben Jones and Miss Patti Jones commenced teaching on November
17th, 1913, after teaching for a period at Rhos School, September 16th, 1912
to November 14th. 1913.
Mr. Wynne Jones who
is now a Senior Master at Bassaleg Mon. Grammar School graduated as B.Sc. in
later years.
Reference has
already been made to Mrs. Ben Jones certificated Teacher in charge of the
infants Class in 1914 and during the War years.
Mr. D. W. Prosser
was teaching here in 1909 and Mr. W. M. Thomas later Head Teacher at Tynyrheol
Primary School taught at Bryncoch after his return from Active Service in
1921.
Ten Pupil Teachers
in two last decades of Mr. Howells Mastership were as far as can be
ascertained and excluding those who qualified and to whom reference has
already been made were Miss Evelin Isted deceased, Miss Nellie Bown (Mrs.
John), Miss Gladys Isted (Mrs. Bickle), and Miss Gertrude Lewis. deceased.
It might be
interesting to give an example of the grants made by the Board of Education to
the School in a typical year 1909.
There
were certain small extra grants given by the Board for exceptional work in
teaching and the training of Pupil Teachers and knowing R.H. we may be sure he
earned and received those extra grants as indeed is recorded in his log book
the total amounted to £38. The Penny Bank (maximum deposit per child of \/-)
still flourished. It was closed in 1915.In March 19H an inquiry
was held into the Bryncoch School Staff Salaries in the Gwyn Hall as
a result largely of representation and protests made by Mr. Howell
himself which required no little moral courage when it is
remembered that it was opposed by the formidable Sir Mansel Franklin,
Clerk of the County Council. The result of the Inspector's report was that
Mr. Howells' salary was increased to £193 a difference to him of £40 per annum
and it was retrospective from September 1912, a proportionate increase was
given to every member of the Staff. On September 28th, 1914 his wife was
buried (they are now at rest in the same grave) in Pontardawe. A loss not
only to the Master but to pupils of the School and to her neighbours who loved
her. There is an entry in the Diary on the day of the funeral which is
singular to say the least knowing his great affection for his wife " School
today as usual " no matter what happened school had to go on! (My comment).
The War years
Introduction
By
The Rev. I. T.
BIDGOOD, Vicar of Dyffryn
THIS
title book is a souvenir of a special occasion in the life of the parish of
Dyffryn, Neath and of the Primary School, now known as The Bryncoch Church in
Wales Primary School. Formerly it was known as The Bryncoch
National School, having been founded in co-operation with the National
Society for Religious Education in 1857. Not many Primary Schools have one
hundred years of history. We rejoice and give thanks on the Centenary
anniversary. We remember the founders and benefactors; the Church people who
have maintained the school; the teachers who have taught in the school; the
children (estimated to be about 4500) who have received their education in
the school; and we praise God for this notable achievement.
THE SCHOOL MANAGERS:
The Rev. 1. T.
BIDGOOD, B.A. Vicar of Dyffryn, Ex-officio manager.
Mr. WILLIAM ALLEN
Manager appointed by the Llandaff Diocesan Schools Committee. Chairman of
Managers.
Mrs. G. BEVAN
Manager appointed by the Llandaff Diocesan Schools Committee.
Mr. D. H. PROUT
Manager appointed by the Dyffryn Parochial Church Council.
Councillor j. T.
EVANS, J.P. Manager appointed by the Glamorgan County Education Authority.
Mr. E. MATTHEWS
Manager appointed by the Blaenhonddan Parish Council.
THE STAFF
Mr. J. M. DAVIES
Head Teacher.
Mrs. H. TREMAINE
Assistant Teacher.
EPISCOPAL MESSAGE
By
THE VENERABLE J. G.
JAMES, M.A.
The
Archdeacon of Llandaff, appointed to deputise for the Bishop of Llandaff in
certain matters during the vacancy of the See. THE centenary of a Church
School is a great occasion, and I am proud, in the absence of a Bishop, to
write a preface to this book which will explain to those who read it how
important a centenary is. Bryncoch Church in Wales Primary School is a
reminder to all who see it that the Church is something more than a group of
people who happen to meet together on a Sunday for worship. The Church is a
body of men and women who have two great duties to perform, the duty to God
and the duty to man. One way in which we serve our fellow men is by providing
education, and when Bryncoch School began its work, most of the education
provided in this country was given by the Church. Many things have happened
in the last hundred years, indeed there have been few periods in our history
more crowded with events of momentous importance, but in all those changes and
chances certain things have remained, and among them is this School. It is
doing today what it did one hundred years ago. There is no need for me to
remind you how important it is that our children should be given a Christian
education. For many years people have assumed that education was enough, that
it was sufficient for children to be taught certain subjects and that religion
could be left out altogether. A number of sad events have shown that this is
not so, that unless Education is a Christian education, it will not produce
the kind of men and women that we need so badly at the present time. The
Church must go on with her task of educating this country, and educating means
teaching people the whole truth the truth about God, the truth about the
world we live in, and the truth about ourselves. This work is not confined to
our Church Schools whether they are Aided or Controlled; it goes on in the
pulpit on Sundays, in our Bible classes and other groups on weekdays and in
many other ways. But in this task our Schools can play a vital part; they are
not as many as they used to be or as we should wish, but where there is a
Church School, there is something of inestimable value. Bryncoch has done its
work for a hundred years; this fact should make us proud and as we look
forward to the years that are to come, our prayer must be that it may long
continue to do the task for which it was built.
BRYNCOCH NATIONAL SCHOOL
CENTENARY
1857 - 1957
HISTORICAL RECORD
THE
year 1857 was an eventful one. Queen Victoria had been for twenty years out of
her long reign of sixty-three years, on the throne. Lord Palmerston had just
been defeated at the Polls and in consequence had to resign his Premiership in
favour of the Leader of the Opposition, Lord John Russel, to the undisguised
joy of Queen Victoria, who feared and disliked Palmerston. The Crimean War had
ended three years before and Florence Nightingale was the National Heroine.
She had made her name imperishable by her splendid courage and
unexampled devotion in organising a Nursing Service in the field for the first
time in the face of opposition both from the Army and the Government, and as
the famous " Lady with the Lamp " gave succour and help to our sick and
wounded in the so called Hospitals of the period, fighting not only the
ineptitude of Army Officials, but Filth and squalor beyond description. The
terrible Indian Mutiny had broken out even before the Country had recovered
from the after effects of Crimea and our troops were in 1857 engaged in a life
and death struggle with the Indian Sepoys. Prince Albert, the husband of the
Queen, after years of unpopularity in the Country, although pathetically
trying to win public esteem and liking (people could not forget he was a
German) was by Letters Patent created Prince Consort and gradually the public
accepted him as a Public Man. He died in 1861. The American Civil War was
four years in the future. 1861, engendering as Civil War always does, the
most dreadful hatred between even brother and brother, but producing
inncidentally America's greatest President, Abraham Lincoln. This, even more
than the Age of the first Elizabeth and George the third, was the Augustan age
of English Literature and Statesmanship. Apart from Palmerston, there were
William Ewart Gladstone destined to be Prime Minister four times and to die at
an advanced age in 1896. Disraeli (Lord Beaconsfield) Cobden, Bright and
Salisbury and Novelists such as Charles Dickens, who was just beyond middle
age, and the world was seeing the flowering of his genius in "Sketches by Boz,"
Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist, Martin Chuzzlewit, in which he enshrined his
masterly exposure of the social evils of his time. He was writing and
lecturing at fever heat and was to die suddenly and prematurely from
overwork. He was at this time writing " Little Dorrit." Thackery, his great
contemporary and the "Novelist of the Middle Classes" was writing his book "
Esmond." He had already written his masterpiece "Vanity Fair." Dr. Jowett,
the Educationist, was alive as was Dean Stanley, the favourite Preacher of the
Queen. Victoria's eldest son (his elder sister married Kaiser Wilhelm II.)
the Prince of Wales afterwards Edward VII. was sixteen years of age. Daniel
O'Connel, the great Irish Orator, Barrister at Law, had passed away a year
before. Garibaldi the soldier and Cavour the statesman had led the Italian
people to victory, throwing off the yolk of Austrian oppression. The Great
Eastern was building what was to be the greatest Sail and Steam Ship in the
world and was to remain so for many years. It was designed by the Great
G.W.R. Civil Engineer, Isambard Brunei, who died before she sailed the
Atlantic. Grace Darling, the heroine of the sea rescue off the Fame Islands
was still alive. Income Tax was one and two pence in the pound as a result of
the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny, it was lowered to two pence in the
pound in a few years time and was for a short period afterwards to disappear
altogether. Tennyson had followed Wordsworth as Poet Laureate. He was a great
favourite with Queen Victoria and had completed " The Charge of the Light
Brigade." The more celebrated Scientists of this time were Darwin, Huxley and
Lister. The country was now in the grip of the Industrial Revolution. The
stagecoach had not been superseded many years, but it was already a relic and
a memory. Factories and Railways were being erected and laid down
everywhere. Coat measures were being rapidly exploited, particularly in
Glamorganshire, where the enormous coal deposits were being worked by rich men
many of whom had already made their wealth in the Iron Industry and were
making another in Coal. They were, The Guest's, the Baileys, the Crawshways,
the Powells, the Homfrays, and the Nixons. The beautiful Rhondda Valley was
riven and ravaged beyond all recognition. Cardiff Docks were being dredged
and deepened and the great days of Cardiff Shipping were about to begin.
Great fortunes were made in Coal, Iron and Shipping, but my researches have
revealed no fortunes made by Miners, Seamen or Ironworkers. The wages of
Miners were 3/6 to 4/- a day for twelve hours. Tea at this time was very dear
and people drank it without milk in order to experience the full flavour of so
costly a beverage. Meat was sixpence an Ib. and bread was seven pence per
four Ib. loaf. Spurgeon was a young man preaching at Southwark. Sir Henry
lrving was appearing as a young man in Richelieu at a Sunderland Theatre.
Coming nearer home and still dealing with 1857, Captain Evan Evans Great
Grandfather of Mr. D. M. Evans Bevan was Mayor of Neath. C. M. R. Talbot was
M.P. for Glamorgan. The Railway running through Neath was the old South Wales
Broad Gauge Railway, it ran from Chepstow to Swansea and the Railway Station
so called was situated where the Goods Station is now approached from what
is known as the Green. It was merged in the G.W.R. In 1861. Alfred Russel
Wallace, the World Traveller and Scientist who had stayed at Bryncoch Farm,
was in Malaya studying the Plant and Animal life of the Country. Benjamin
Baker (afterwards knighted by the Queen) was just completing his
apprenticeship at Neath Abbey Ironworks and was to become one of the foremost
Engineers of the world and responsible in 1890 for that marvel of Engineering,
the Forth Bridge. Voting was open. There was of course no adult suffrage, but
voting rights were based upon a man's possessions and wealth. The secret
ballot Act was not passed until 1872 (Forster's Act). The population of the
British Isles was twenty seven million. There were, no County, District or
Parish Councils in 1857. County Councils were created by Act, of Parliament
in 1888, District and Parish Councils in 1895. Poor Law Guardians and
Overseers of the poor flourished, if that is the proper word. Paddison lived
in Treneche, as his descendents do today and he had it appears either complete
possession or a controlling interest in Bryncoch Farm. The Davies' ancestors
of the present family lived in Llettyshack, the Bowen's were at Plough and
Harrow for which a Revenue Licence for the sale of Beer was being sought.
According to the Ordnance Map of the period, the Hamlet of Bryncoch was a
small and scattered Community, the only houses were apart from the farms,
Pentwyn, Main Road; Pentwyn, Dyffryn. Old Furnace. Queens Row, Dyffryn Arms
and the Cwm Cottages, the row afterwards known as Bottle and Glass, Bridge
House was a thatched Cottage (Ty Melin now occupied by the Baileys), and Ty
Gwyn, representing a population of about eighty or ninety adults. Gilfach
Farms existed and Ty Cerrig before the first Vicarage. In this year, Mr. Howel
Gwyn, who had made a considerable fortune as an Ironmaster lived in Baglan
House? He had purchased for a low figure the Estate and Minerals partly owned
by the Williams Family, who at this time lived in a fairly large Tudor Style
House at Dyffryn. The late owners having vacated the house. He built Dyffryn
Mansion and took possession of it in about 1869. He was a member of, on the
male side, the Gwyn Family of Abercrave and on his mother's side, was a
descendant of the Roger Vaughan Family of Trecastle, also in Breconshire. He
and Mr. Ridley, afterwards Mr. Justice Ridley, were elected M.P's. as Tories
for a two member constituency either Plymouth or the Plymouth Area. There was
not a Conservative Party in those days; the Liberals and Conservatives did not
exist before 1865. He was Chairman of the Neath Board of Guardians from 1848
to 1888 and Mayor of Neath in the years 1842-43 and 1844-45. It might be
factually stated that during his Membership of the House, his impact upon
Parliament was negligible. He probably stood little chance of being heard
when Disraeli and Gladstone were about. He is said to have made a speech
complaining in a Committee of The House of the horrible draughts, which
existed there. Not an epoch making contribution, but probably as useful as
some of the speeches made in the House. He had been a benefactor of the Town
of Neath and among other benefactions he gave the site upon which the Gwyn
Hall is built and the Citizens erected to his memory the bronze statue
opposite the hall named after him. The statue is, so it is said, a remarkable
likeness. He was a man of generous impulses and a keen and practical mind.
He saw the need of a School at Bryncoch, and he made a free gift of the land
upon which the school is built in the following terms. ' I HOWEL GWYN of
Dyffryn in the Parish of Cadoxton juxta Neath in the County of Glamorgan under
the authority of the Acts of the fifth and eighth years of Her Majesty for
affording facilities for the Conveyance and Endowment of Sites for Schools DO
HEREBY freely and voluntarily and without valuable consideration to me paid
GRANT AND CONVEY unto the Minister and Churchwardens of the Parish aforesaid
ALL THAT piece of ground part of the lands called Bryncoch in the Hamlet of
Blaenhonddan in the said parish containing by admeasurement three roods or
thereabouts. TO HOLD the same unto and to the use of the said Minister and
Churchwardens and their Successors for the purposes of the said Acts and UPON
TRUST t0 permit the said premises and all buildings thereon erected or to be
erected to be for ever hereafter appropriated and used as and for a School for
the education of children and adults or children only pf the labouring
manufacturing and other poorer classes in the said parish and for no other
purpose. AND IT IS HEREBY DECLARED that such Schools shall at all times be
open to the inspection of the Inspectors of Schools for the time being
appointed in the conformity with the Order in Council bearing date the tenth
day of August One thousand eight hundred and forty and shall always be in
union with and conducted according to the principles and in furtherance of the
ends and designs of the National Society for promoting the Education of the
Poor in the principles of the Established Church throughout England and Wales
and subject to and in conformity with the Declaration aforesaid such School
and premises and the funds and endowments thereof in respect whereof no other
disposition shall be made by the donor shall be controlled and managed in
manner following (that is to say) The principal Officiating Minister for the
time being of the said Parish shall have the superintendance of the religious
and moral instruction of all the scholars attending such School and may use or
direct the premises to be used for the purposes of a Sunday School under his
exclusive control and managements. But in all other respects the control and
managements of such school and premises and of the funds and endowments
thereof and the selection appointment and dismissal of the Schoolmaster and
Schoolmistress and their Assistants (except when under the provisions
hereinafter mentioned the dismissal of any Master, Mistress or Assistant shall
be awarded by the Bishop of the diocese or the Arbitrators as the case may be)
shall be vested in and exercised by a committee consisting of the principal
Officiating Minister for the time being of the said Parish his licensed Curate
or Curates if the Minister shall appoint him or them to be a member or members
of the said Committee such of the Churchwardens for the time being as shall be
Communicants of the Established Church and of myself and five appointed that
is to say Howel Gwyn Nash Edwards Vaughan of Rheola, Neath; William Williams
of Westfleld, Neath: John Diliwyn Llewellyn Pennilygare and Capel Hanbury
Leigh Pontypool Park all Esquires such other persons continuing to be
Contributors in every year to the amount of Twenty shillings each at the least
to the funds of the said School and to be members of the Church of England as
by law established and either to have a beneficial interest to the extent of a
life estate at the least in real property situated in the said Parish or to
be resident therein or in a Parish of Ecclesiastical District adjoining
thereto. . . .. The Conveyance added that no Person shall be appointed or
continue to be Master or Mistress of the School who shall not be a member of
the Church of England. It must be borne in mind that St. Matthews had not yet
been built nor had the vicarage and that was not erected until about thirty
years after the school. The vicarage was * Ty Cerrig ' and services for some
years were held in the school. The political name of the Parish was
Blaenhonddan, the ecclesiastical name was Cadoxton juxta Neath. Before dealing
with the education offered in the school, it might be as well to obtain as far
as possible a picture of the system of education at this time. Education at
this period was haphazard and casual to a marked degree. From 1857 to 1883
it was mainly the responsibility of the Church and voluntary organisations
though aided in a niggardly way by the State; and nobly the Church accepted
the responsibility. There were at this period 13,000 schools in some way
connected with the Church of which 6,470 were both day and Sunday Schools.
Gradually, however, although they did not wholly take control until 1883, the
Government took over with the growing conviction that with the widening of
Political Power the State could command a minimum of knowledge from every
citizen and a definite step was taken in 1870 to ensure Public Education where
voluntary provision was lacking. They were still tinkering with the problem
but it was definitely an improvement of outlook but yet a long way off the
present day high standard of education by trained teachers carefully chosen
for their scholarship and ability to teach and enforce discipline with at the
same time a broad human sympathy and an understanding of the mind of a child.
The excellent social services of today were then unheard of, the school meals
system, the milk scheme, the care of the mentally defective and retarded
children, the special care of afflicted children such as the blind, and the
deaf was a pipe dream of the future for educationists at that period. This
merely serves to emphasise the grand work done by those men and women in whose
hands lay the task of educating the young, at the same time enduring the
frustration, lack of encouragement and low pay of those times. Education is
now for the common man and woman, a part of his or her national heritage. The
pay of the Headmaster and Staff well into the twentieth century was
scandalously low. Less than a hundred a year for the Head and about £50 for
certified Teachers. Even the provision of that was problematical because
although a portion was provided by the State the rest was found from school
fees. Id. or 3d. a week exacted as a fee from each child, assistance too in
all probability from the Squire and Life Governor Howel Gwyn and it is safe to
assume a contribution from the workmen of the Bryncoch Pit who quite
definitely a few years later subscribed to the salary of the Vicar. Several
Acts of Parliament were passed during the hundred years, dealing with
Education. Notably in 1858 and 1870 together with consolidating Acts. None
of them materially altering the unsatisfactory condition of the National
Education System. The most important Act and the one which had the greatest
beneficial effect was the Act of 1902 which stated that, * Every County or
County Borough is the Education Authority for Higher and Elementary Education
in the County Districts. Powers were given under what was known as Part III.
over Elementary Education to Boroughs having a population of 10.000 and Urban
Authorities with a population of over 20,000. That part of the Act has now
been repealed and the County Councils and County Boroughs have full control
not only of Higher Education but of Elementary Education also. The one
exception is the newly credited Borough of Rhondda, which still enjoys
autonomous powers. Other Acts were those of 1914-1918 and the Consolidating
Act of 1921 called the Fisher Act. The School Building was originally the
large Hall and a Class Room, the Infants room was added in 1889 and cost 035
10s. Od. and the West Classroom in1910. A hundred years from this Standpoint
of Historical Records is not a long time but the records of the School and
even the names of the early Head Teachers have eluded a careful search which
has been made for them. Certain it is that Mr. Madge was the First Head
Teacher followed so far as information goes, and with less certainty. Fowler,
Bishop. Bullifant, Davies. Brecon, and somewhat disrespectfully but probably
descriptively ~ Davies Tow." One of them was, it is said, very fond of liquid
refreshment and one boy made frequent journeys to the " local " in order that
the Masters healthy thirst might be assuaged. Still it may be only a tale but
it is significant that one of the Masters held the post for only a short
period before he mysteriously disappeared. He was of course an exception
because the other Heads of whom we have knowledge were and are models of good
conduct. The first records we have, albeit irregular and meagre, are of Tom
Watson Fellowes who was Head Teacher from according to the entries in his log
book 1880 to 1883. There were, astonishingly over 200 children on the books
probably accounted for by the large Families of that period (average 5
children per family), and by the fact that Wernddu and Forestgoch were intake
areas for the School. (They are now in Pontardawe Rural Area) to which were
added there between 50 to 60 Cottage Homes for children. It is interesting to
recall the successive Superintendent at the Homes. Mr. Osborn was in charge
in 1857, then Mr. Powell to the time of Mr. Knowles of whose Head Mastership
more will be written, followed by Mr. Sair during the Headship of Mr. Howel
and subsequently Mr. John Jones and last of all Mr. Rosser. The Log book kept
by Mr. Fellowes was very meagre in information. The Rev. J. C. Thomas the
Vicar was the correspondent or Secretary to the Managers who were Mr. Howel
Gwyn, Mr. John Diliwyn, and Llewellyn Nash. Edward Vaughan and William
Williams. Mr. Fellowes last entry was made May 2nd. 1883. Whether he died or
retired is not clear. Mr. Robert Knowles succeeded him on May 21st. 1883 and
although there is little information in the Log Book. it is more copious than
that of Mr.Fellowes. The visits made by the Vicar. Rev. J. C. Thomas, are
referred to and it seems that over the long span of years, during which he was
Vicar and correspondent, he was most attentive to his duties. He frequently
took classes for short periods, particularly in arithmetic, in order to
relieve the Teachers. The average attendance was quite good. 206 children on
the books. There were frequent references to the unsatisfactory attention
given to absenteeism by the Attendance Officer, who almost always excused
himself because of indisposition, which apparently had little sympathy from
the Master. There is one rather amusing reference to the insolence before the
whole school, of a Pupil Teacher. He was reported to the Vicar when he next
called, who remonstrated with the Teacher and asked him to r(come outside."
The unsensational reason, I suppose, being that there was not a Master's study
and really the only place in which it could be discussed was Outside" rather
than before the children lest there should be any ambiguity, the Vicar was
emphatically not a * Fighting Parson.' That Mr.Knowles was not a physically
fit man is made clear in the Notes made by the Vicar and when the poor man
died suddenly when on holiday at Llandrindod on the 26th July 1888. it did not
occasion the surprise that such a happening normally would. He was praised in
the Vicar's report for his excellent and conscientious work in the School.
The Teachers during Mr.Fellows' and Mr. Knowles' Headships were, Margaret
Thomas, a Member of the Thomas Family, so closely identified with the school
in later years as Teachers. Mr. William Thomas, B.Sc., an Inspector of
Secondary and Grammar Schools and Miss May Thomas, Certificated Teacher, both
now retired. Mary Eldridge. Annie Stroud. Elizabeth Davies, Mary Owen, Roger
Howetl (afterwards Head Teacher of Machynileth), Mary Llewellyn, David Lewis,
William Harding.Roger Howel became Head Teacher on September 3rd, 1888. He
was a Native of Pontardawe and had immediately before his new appointment been
on the Staff of a small school at Tal-y-Bont, Breconshire. He was destined to
be the Headteacher of Bryncoch School for over thirty three years until his
retirement on 31st March, 1921, when the last entry in his Log Book read," I
would fain express my deep gratitude for the support and kindness shown by the
Managers, Scholars and people generally during my Headship." He was a
remarkable man in many ways. Although only a humble village School Master, he
was a Scholar. His interests were many and varied. He had studied and
written upon subjects such as Geology, Photography, Music Composition, and
Horticulture and was in the opinion of those competent to judge, a good
mathematician. He left his mark, literally in many cases, on his pupils,
because with all his virtues, he did not spare the rod. He was methodical
and thorough in all he did. His neat and legible handwriting without blot or
erasure was accepted by Editors in place of typescript. He had however one
failing, he had little sense of humour and a short temper, and his pupils as a
consequence of years of careful observation, had reason to accept as an
infallible indication of his temper, his growth or absence of beard when his
beard had grown comfortably, he was inclined to be kindly and indulgent almost
benign, but when he had shaved as he did occasionally then he was thoroughly
bad tempered and the children were as quiet as mice. The cane and the standard
punishment of 'four cracks,' six for 'major' misdemeanors was always in the
offing. Even a more painful experience after a private interview. The
psychological reason for this variation in temper was never solved by anyone,
even by the teachers who themselves suffered in other ways. Measured by
modern standards the curriculum was narrow, the studies were directed to a
thorough grounding in the three Rs with Geography, History, Arithmetic,
Reading, Writing, Nature Study, Scripture and for the boys Gardening, as the
main subjects. Physical education in the modern sense was non-existent,
indeed he frowned upon anything that might take the pupil's mind away from the
steady daily grind of learning; it was the school first and last. He
possessed amazing energy, he taught vigorously all day moving from one group
to the other and keeping his own class fully and profitably occupied in
complete silence at written exercises or reading. He had no children of his
own and he took a delight in arranging concerts for charity. He must have
been responsible with the pupils of different generations for hundreds of
concerts for the Waifs and Strays Society, Dr. Barnados Homes and other
organisations. These charities must have benefited by thousands of pounds as
a result of his efforts. He made his school in those days of limited
pictorial and stage attractions, a social centre for the community. This
eurudite and busy man kept his log book up to date in his meticulous way and
the entries not only refer to the school but to any, what he considered
outstanding event in the village. He was interested in everybody and
everything, really they are a mine of interesting but seldom amusing
information. He found when he began duties that spelling was very weak. Pupil
Teachers were rather out of hand (one can imagine him grinding his teeth with
a colloquial ' I'll lam them '). His main troubles were absenteeism caused
seasonally by potato picking (he refers to the childrens excuses 1 was
picking taters on the field Sir'). The Neath Fair and various circuses took
their toll and upset his tidy and school centered nature. The attendance
Officer often came in for censure as in Mr. Knowles' days. These worthy
individuals were decidedly unpopular with the Masters in those days. The
Teachers in Mr. Howels' (he spelled his name with one L and no one dared
introduce two) early days as a master were. David Lewis he left in 1889, W. H.
Harding, Roger Howell brother to Mr., John Howell, Elizabeth Davies, Mary
Owen, and Thomas E. Hughes. Thomas Hughes was from the Cottage Homes and he
was a young man with a bright future in Teaching. Mr. Roger Howell too left
shortly afterwards; both David Lewis and Ed. Hughes left for Carmarthen
College for Training. David Lewis after obtaining his certificate taught at
the Melincrythan School. The numbers on the Registers in 1888-1889 were 210.
School fees were collected weekly in 1891 as they had been from 1857; the
miners had by now ceased to contribute from their pay. They had previously
been exempt but Mr. Howel thought that their children should pay like other
children, a minimum of Id. per week reduced from 2d. and 3d. per child. He
enters everything in his diary Mrs. Gwyn gave a Brass Lamp to the school
Mr. Howel Gwyn had died, in 1890. There was of course no gas or electricity
available; gas was not laid on until 1896. He refers to the weather again
with the attendance in mind. His frugal and practical mind was shown in his
newly begun penny bank (no deposits to exceed 1/- per week). Elizabeth
Davies, teacher left in 1892 for Newton Abbot. References were beginning to
be made to his beloved concerts and charities. Receipts at concert operetta'
Dick Whittington ' on March 18th, 1892 were £7 5s. 3d. given to Waifs and
Strays Society. Prizes for good attendance were given to Avery Gosling,
Elizabeth Owen, Fred Morgan, John Evans, Rod Morgan, and Charity Jones. Dolls
given to Elizabeth Jones, Patti Jones. Polly Stevens, Edith Harding, Hannah
Howell and work baskets to Evelyn Paddison, Gwen Sims. Hannah Morris,Carrie
Powis. Special prizes to James Prout, Hannah Morris and Margaret Arnold had
made full attendance during the year which was something which gladdened his
heart. Attendance still bad due to the perennial reason, potatoes, helping
mother and sickness. Long tots on rollers were now being introduced into
Arithmetic Lessons. He was obliged to complain of lack of energy by a teacher
and inability to enforce discipline, ' unless he improves I shall report it to
the Managers. During this year Cantatas, Concerts were being held at
intervals of three months. (He loved this work). For one concert twenty
yards of carpet was purchased for the stage, purchased from a Mr., Walter,
Finsbury, London, which considerably lessened the proceeds. The girls
costumes were kindly provided by the parents, (no mention is made of the boys)
the cantata was ' The Merry Party. Recitations being learned by the older
children were ' Edinburgh after Flodden,' ' Inchcape Bell,' ' Arthur and
Hubert,' ' Compassion,' and so on down the years. It would require a fair
sized book to deal with all the entries made by him of the simple but
intensely lived life of the school and the little community of which he was so
important a member. ' Storms,' ' Circuses,'' Snow,' ' Fetes,' Deaths of
prominent villagers, absenteeism, concerts, visits. complaints, all go in, in
his neat calligraphy. He had on his staff or had trained a long line of
teachers apart from the ones already referred to. Mary Hay left January 3rd,
1895. Mary Owen began March 1886, left September 18th. 1896, (she returned as
Mrs. Lewis in later year). H. Hopkins 1890, Sarah Hall 1890. D. M. Griffiths
1892. Edith Weaver 1892 to 1895, Mary Morgan 1893 to 1897. William Thomas 1895
to 1899, (he left for Cheltenham College), Elizabeth James 1895 to 1904.
Annie James 1895 to 1899, Arthur Thomas (afterwards Head Teacher at a London
School) 1897-1901. Hannah Taylor (the first period) 1896-1900. Ben Jones
(afterwards Head Teacher) 1899-1902, he returned subsequently to teach for a
short period after qualifying. Elizabeth Owen 1897-1908. He refers to the
remarkable case of a boy from the Cottage Homes named John Hudson (1895) who
was illiterate, could not write nor understand words of three letters and was
uneducable, they could do nothing with him. He suffered a severe illness and
when he returned, he had completely changed mentally. He afterwards proved
to be one of the brightest children in the school. Typhoid Fever broke out in
1896 and caused a great deal of apprehension in the village and affected
school attendance, this was the year of the explosion in the Main Colliery.
Grants were being paid by the Board of Education for the excellent results in
the school both appertaining to the Pupil Teachers and the Scholars. Mr. Gwyn
is frequently referred to as visiting the school, as of course are the
frequent visits of the Rev. J. C. Thomas. The Fossil expeditions with senior
boys to the surrounding tips. His museum where he kept his classified Fossils,
his not infrequent writings in the Press both articles and tetters are all
referred to. Public Events the death of Mr. Howel Gwyn in 1889 is of course
in the Log. The Bryncoch Pit Disaster in 1896, where seven men died. Five men
by the name of Jones, 3 of them Father and two Sons one James Jones the
fireman, no connection of the others was from Old Furnace. The Main Colliery
Strike of 1897. In 1898 a meeting at the school addressed by Mr. S. T. Evans,
M.P. for Mid-Glamorgan, afterwards, Sir Samuel Evans, Solicitor General and
finally President of the Divorce and Admiralty Court. 'Mabons' day (called
after William Abraham, Miners Agent) was a frequent cause of complete stoppage
at the collieries it was a kind of one day in fourteen holiday. He
evidently did not agree with this practice. On February 7th. 1898. William
Evans was killed by a stone as a result of shot firing at the colliery and he
records that some of the Teacher relatives were given an afternoon off to
attend the funeral. 15th January 1898. He refers to a sensational happening
at Margam where a Gamekeeper named Scott was murdered by poachers. Joseph
Lewis of Aberavon was charged with the crime. May 1902, Mary Meyrick and her
child were found drowned in GlynClydach Pond. 1901 There were Flower Shows at
Duffryn where Messrs. Prout and Taylor were the chief rivals in the Local
Classes. Mr. Bradley was Secretary and Mr. Sair of the Cottage Homes was the
Chairman. 1903 Mrs. Anne Howell of Tonna had reached the great age of 105.
1904 and 1905 Evan Roberts preached at Forest Chapel, Aberdulais during the
Great Welsh Revival when hundreds had to be turned away.1905 Again there was a
Flower Show at Duffryn when Messrs. Prout (again) T. Harris and James Pantglas
were heavy winners. Mr. Howel won first prize with Red (pickling) Cabbage.
1897 He even refers to an elephant running amok in Green Street, Neath, and
breaking a window in J. D. Llewellyn's Shop. Other Entries were: The funeral
of Isaac Evans, Miners Agent. November 1899 and various trivia such as Madame
Patti and Charles Santley at the Gwyn Hall, May 1901, Riot at Neath
Reformatory, July 1901, Lifeboat Disaster at Swansea. August 18th, 1902.F.
B. Meyer the Great Preacher at Neath. October 1903,and of course as
previously referred to the visits of Evan Roberts to the Neath District in the
years 1903, 1904 and 1905 with the shrewd observation that the Revival had
robbed the Lawyers of their livelihood! ! He records too the deaths of John
Henry Rowlands in August 1899 and E. Rowe Evans the Minister at Orchard Place,
September 1899. He writes with regret of the passing of a woman of charm and
benevolence, Mrs. Gwyn of Duffryn, who died on January 24th, 1900. The
school was closed when the news was received. Miss G. James, Teacher at the
school, married Mr. John Howell, January 16th, 1905. David Prout it seems was
bitten by a dog on May 8th, 1903. During the years there were at different
times an extraordinary number of teachers many of them on Supply and staying
for not more than a month or two. The names of those teachers which will
stimulate the memory of ex pupils are William Thomas 1895-1899. He
afterwards left for Cheltenham College where he gained honours in Science
becoming a B.Sc. and subsequently after various teaching posts in Elementary
and Grammar Schools, he became an Inspector of Schools under the Cardiff
Education Authority. He is now in retirement. Arthur Thomas 1897-1899 when he
left for training at Battersea College after qualifying he became Head
Teacher of a London School (Deceased). Benjamin Jones 1899-1902 who also was
trained and passed his Certificate at Battersea, He is a much travelled man
who after his return from the U.S.A. again in 1910 took up a teaching
appointment at the School until he left for Pontyclun. He was on Active
Service in the 1914-1918 War and on his return he was made a Headteacher under
the Glamorgan Education Authority. He married Miss Sarah Jones a member of
the Teaching Staff at the School. He now lives in retirement at Porthcawl
with his sister Miss Patti Jones, who was also a teacher at the School. His
wife has pre-deceased him. Miss Elizabeth Owen, March 1901 to October 1908,
became Mrs. Edward Phillips, since deceased. Miss Elsie Marsh, February 1st,
1907 to July 12th, 1911. She subsequently returned for two years in 1913. Mr.
Levi Phillips was a pupil teacher in 1911. He afterwards departed for Cardiff
University College where he gained the degrees of M.E. and B.Sc., afterwards
becoming Agent and General Manager of a Coal Combine. He is now deceased.
Miss May Thomas after serving as Monitress and Pupil Teacher 1902-1905 became
a fully qualified certificated Teacher on November 2nd, 1908 and spent the
rest of her career at the School. Miss Thomas is a sister of Mr. William
Thomas, B.Sc. and a relative of Miss Margaret Thomas who taught in the School
between the 80s and 90s of last century. Miss May Thomas is now living in
retirement.
Miss Newman,
December 1899 to January 1910.
Mrs. Hannah Taylor,
October 1902 to September 1910.
Mrs. Taylor renewed
for a while in later years her teaching career at the School (Deceased).
Mr. Rosser Thomas
1901 to 1902 (Deceased).
Mrs. Elizabeth
Howell, wife of Mr. John Howell commenced teaching for her second period on
May 24th, 1909.
Mr. Wynne Jones
brother of Mr. Ben Jones and Miss Patti Jones commenced teaching on November
17th, 1913, after teaching for a period at Rhos School, September 16th, 1912
to November 14th. 1913.
Mr. Wynne Jones who
is now a Senior Master at Bassaleg Mon. Grammar School graduated as B.Sc. in
later years.
Reference has
already been made to Mrs. Ben Jones certificated Teacher in charge of the
infants Class in 1914 and during the War years.
Mr. D. W. Prosser
was teaching here in 1909 and Mr. W. M. Thomas later Head Teacher at Tynyrheol
Primary School taught at Bryncoch after his return from Active Service in
1921.
Ten Pupil Teachers
in two last decades of Mr. Howells Mastership were as far as can be
ascertained and excluding those who qualified and to whom reference has
already been made were Miss Evelin Isted deceased, Miss Nellie Bown (Mrs.
John), Miss Gladys Isted (Mrs. Bickle), and Miss Gertrude Lewis. deceased.
It might be
interesting to give an example of the grants made by the Board of Education to
the School in a typical year 1909.
There
were certain small extra grants given by the Board for exceptional work in
teaching and the training of Pupil Teachers and knowing R.H. we may be sure he
earned and received those extra grants as indeed is recorded in his log book
the total amounted to £38. The Penny Bank (maximum deposit per child of \/-)
still flourished. It was closed in 1915.In March 19H an inquiry
was held into the Bryncoch School Staff Salaries in the Gwyn Hall as
a result largely of representation and protests made by Mr. Howell
himself which required no little moral courage when it is
remembered that it was opposed by the formidable Sir Mansel Franklin,
Clerk of the County Council. The result of the Inspector's report was that
Mr. Howells' salary was increased to £193 a difference to him of £40 per annum
and it was retrospective from September 1912, a proportionate increase was
given to every member of the Staff. On September 28th, 1914 his wife was
buried (they are now at rest in the same grave) in Pontardawe. A loss not
only to the Master but to pupils of the School and to her neighbours who loved
her. There is an entry in the Diary on the day of the funeral which is
singular to say the least knowing his great affection for his wife " School
today as usual " no matter what happened school had to go on! (My comment).
The War years
