Bron-y-Garth British School Chirk near Ruabon

BRON-Y-GARTH BRITISH SCHOOL, CHIRK NEAR RUABON - This pretty little school is erected on the Quinta estate, the property and residence of Thomas Barnes Esq., high sheriff of Denbighshire. It is situated on the slope of one of the hills bordering the valley of the Ceiriog, which for beauty of scenery can hardly be surpassed, even in Wales. The school is a charming addition to the landscape, standing as it does on the hill-side in one of the loveliest bends of the valley. Add to this the picturesqueness of its outline and detail, the colour of its materials (rich brown tiles, quiet grey walls relieved by red brick dressings) its embossment in ornamental shrubbery and background sheltering of trees, and the result is a picture of landscape and architecture harmonious to a degree very seldom met with. The school was built by Captain and Mrs J. R. Barnes, Brookside, Chirk, to provide for the educational wants of the neighbourhood, and their generosity has been rewarded by the attendance of the full number of scholars for which the school was built viz; ninety (the number on the books being 120). The school meets all the requirements of the Committee of Council on Education and receives an annual grant from the Government of £57. The plan consists of a mixed school room 33 feet by 18 feet, with open roof, height to collar 11 feet 4 inches; classroom for infants 15 feet by 13 feet, flat ceiling 11 feet high; lavatory and cloakroom on the ground floor and above the classroom and lavatory, the teacher’s residence, approached by stairs from the entrance porch. The school walls inside are faced with glazed and white bricks and externally are built of millstone in random rubble with red brick dressings and strings. The white bricks are from the Quinta Colliery Company and the red and glazed bricks from Trefynant, Ruabon. Adjoining the school is a good-sized asphalted playground and enclosed boys’ and girls’ yards with closets etc. The architects if the school were Messrs Medland and Henry Taylor, of Manchester. [British Architect 5 January 1877 Page 7]

Public Elementary Schools: The schools are controlled by the Oswesty School Attendance Committee. Bron-y-garth (mixed), built in 1872, enlarged 1887, for 140 children; average attendance, 120; Miss Myfanvy Ennor Jones, mistress. In connection is a cottage garden for instructing the boys, on land given by Mrs. Barnes; the girls attending cooking classes. [Kelly's Directory 1912]

Reference    British Architect 5 January 1877 Page 7  - descriptive note and illustration by T Raffles Davidson dated December 1876
Reference    Kelly's Directory  1912