Llanfair Talhaearn National School opened in 1836.
This National school (Ysgol Genedlaethol) was established in the village in 1836/7 for the main purpose of promoting the education of the poor in the principles of the established church through the medium of English. It was a mixed junior and infants school.
In March 1863 the first log book records that there were 48 pupils on roll. Up until the end of the century there were a series of head teachers and numbers of pupils on roll fluctuated. The school suffered the usual problems of poor attendance and closure because of disease.
In July 1878 a rival Llanfair TH Board School opened in the village (Ysgol Gynradd Llanfair). An agreement between the National School and the Board School that children were not allowed to migrate between schools was established in 1886 (ED/LB/56/2 page 323) but frequently parents moved their children between the schools if they did not agree with the head teacher’s policy over religion or discipline etc.
Both schools were similar in the quality of the education pupils received and coexisted until 1929. However, an entry in the log book on page 443 mentions the difficulties maintaining discipline followed by the pupils concerned switching to the Board School.
In May 1897 the school received a very bad HMI report describing the school as ‘insufficient’. By the turn of the century there were 28 pupils on roll compared to 127 at the Board School.
The school continued to have frequent changes of head teacher and by 1920 had 38 pupils on roll against its rival’s 90.
The school closed in 1929. The Old School Building still exists and is Grade II listed under British Listed Buildings. The building was latterly used as a community centre.
This collection consists of a log book and 2 volumes of minutes.
Location
Old School
Water Street
Llanfair Talhaearn
Conwy
LL22 8SD
OS Grid Coordinates 292 719 370 245
OS 25 inch 1880 Sheet V11 School (Boys and Girls)
OS 1900 2nd Ed. Sheet V11.11 – Both schools – National and Board Schools are marked on the map.
Related Material-
PD/56/1/32-35, School accounts, 1835-1907
PD/56/1/36-41, Correspondence, 1833-1856
PD/56/1/42-43, Education department returns, 1833-1904
PD/56/1/44-47, Correspondence and papers, 1905-1932
PCD/56/6, Draft manager's minutes, 1911-1913