Contains documents relating to the foundation of Bethesda Intermediate School. The majority of these documents are letters to and from Lord Penrhyn on his involvement and concerns about the usefulness and practicability of the school. Some of the documents also discuss the importance of Technical education in Wales and how the proposed disestablishment of the Church of England in Wales would effect the financial position of Bethesda Intermediate School as well as the effect of this on the availability of religious teaching in schools.
Penrhyn Correspondence - Bethesda Intermediate School
This material is held atArchifdy Prifysgol Bangor / Bangor University Archives
- Reference
- GB 222 PBIS
- Dates of Creation
- June 1885 - October 1900
- Name of Creator
- Language of Material
- English
- Physical Description
- 69 items
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
Bethesda Intermediate School was the first to be built under the new Welsh Intermediate Education Act of 1889.
The ceremony of laying the foundation stone for the school was performed by Lady Penrhyn and took place in 1896. The pioneer of the movement was William Rathbone, who in conjuction with Sir Henry Tate, subscribed £1000 towards the school. Mr Rathbone also paid the architects fees.
Lord Penrhyn donated the land for the site of the school and also contributed £200 towards the funds.
The quarrymen of Bethesda contributed £740 and amongst the other subscribers were E.A. Young, the manager of Penrhyn Quarry and Mr Ellis, Tai'r meibion.
The contract for building the county school in 1896 was £2,457. However, in 1900, money was still being raised towards the building fund, since the expenditure on the total buildings at that time was £4,600.
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