The Architectural Competition to design the Proposed Aberdare Intermediate School
from School Archives & The Building News
Following the passing of the Welsh Intermediate Education Act in 1889, a large deputation1 went in March 1890 from Aberdare to County Hall Cardiff to put the case that one of the new Intermediate Schools should be located in Aberdare. They faced the Joint Committee, set up under the Act, chaired by Sir Hussey Vivian.
One of the conditions was that the town had to find a site for such a school. A year later, in January 1891 at a meeting in Saron Hall, Aberaman, it was decided to offer a site of area 3 roods 30 perches 2 near Aberdare park for the proposed school.
Then at a further meeting, this one in Calfaria Hall in April 1891, it was announced that Aberdare had been selected as a centre for one of the new Intermediate Schools. The meeting was chaired by David Price Davies, (Ynyslwyd), and Lord Aberdare was also in attendance. The establishment of the school was however dependant on an element of local fundraising to supplement the sum allocated by the Joint Education committee. This task fell to D.P. Davies who was Chairman of the Local Committee.
Eventually after the fundraising was successful, permission to commence the construction of the school was given. Reverend Benjamin Evans, the minister of Gadlys Welsh Baptist Chapel, Railway Street, was Clerk to the Local School Governors. It was to him that fell the task of organising the builders and purchasing furnishings.
Rev Evans placed a notice in The Building News, of
13th May 1892, advertising a competition in which architects would submit
rival plans for the new school.
Then in the issue of 18th November 1892, in the same journal, the result of the competition was announced. The architect was to be Mr. John Henry Phillips3 of Cardiff. Some time after completion of the Aberdare building, Mr Phillips went on to design other buildings in the Cynon valley including Mountain Ash Town Hall, (1904) and The Intermediate School for Girls, in Plasdraw, (1913).
The image below shows the bill for the May advert placed in the The Building News. The cost of placing the advert was 7 shillings.
The building of the school was completed around the end of
1894, but it was not occupied until September 1896. Seven years after
the school opened, significant building alterations were undertaken. In 1901
a tower was erected at the southern end of the building on which a turret
clock would be placed. The clock was a gift of D.A. Thomas, the local
M.P., later to become Viscount Rhondda.
1. The deputation consisted of many local worthies: Rev. Richard
Bowen Jenkins (Vicar), Rev. Wm. James (Calvinistic Methodist minister), Rev.
Benjamin Evans, and Rev T. Jones (Baptists), Rev. R. Morgan and Messrs D.P.
Davies, (vice-chairman Aberdare School Board), Wm. Williams (chairman Penderyn
School Board), John Morris (inspector of schools, Aberdare), John Morgan
(High Constable of Aberdare), Alderman White (Cwmaman), D.E. Davies (Dewi
Mabon), Gwilym Jones (colliery manager), William Hughes (colliery manager),
Richard Pardoe, David Williams, Griffith George, Thomas Williams (member
of school board), J.H. James (member of school Board), L.N. Williams, Morgan
John (Cwmbach), William Morgan, Abernant (colliery manager), W.A. Davies
(Aberaman), F.W. Mander (Aberdare), J.T. Evans (Hirwaun), J.W. McKwen (Aberdare),
D. Richards (Aberdare), and the local M.P., D.A. Thomas.
As well as the Aberdare group of representatives, a similar group from Merthyr
was also present. They had come to put the case for an Intermediate School
in their town.
2. An area of 3 roods 30 perches is equivalent to 0.94 acres or 0.38 hectares.
3. More information about J.H. Phillips can be found in the History section of this website in an item entitled ‘Some biographical details of John Henry Phillips.’
Notes on some deputation members
The former Aberdare Memorial Hall was built in memory of Rev Richard Bowen Jenkins.
L.N. Williams was Lewis Noah Williams of ‘E. Thomas & Williams’ Cambrian Lampworks, the famous manufacturer of miners’ safety lamps. His home was Caecoed in Graig Street, Foundry Town.
F.W. Mander was the third owner of the large house named Glanynys
on Cwmbach Road not far from the former Trap Surgery. He lived there from
about 1906 until his death in 1923. Mander was a very astute local businessman,
a J.P., and Deputy Chairman of Bwllfa and Merthyr Dare Steam Collieries.
His grocery store, which he completely rebuilt, occupied 40–42 Commercial
St. The family were very much members of the town’s gentry. Adjusted
for inflation he left £11m in his will.
Glanynys was originally the home of a Scottish medic, Dr John Hutcheson.
He came to Aberdare in 1874, and entered into partnership with Dr. Davies
of Bryngolwg.