Whilst going through the large amount of paper work and photographs passed to me following Eddie’s death, I came across a booklet produced in 1989 by the Aberconwy Historical Society. There are articles by several members of the society, and I picked this one written by Hugh Prichard the Society’s president at the time.
So, this is the history story for July. 
It is said that the Infant School started in Plas Mawr in 1837, but the first mention of a school mistress is on February 18th 1854, when it is on record that Miss Margaret Jones was paid the sum of £4.10.0, being a quarter’s salary.
The school occupied the two rooms now known as the Reception and Lantern rooms, the little ones being housed in the latter. Both were upstairs rooms and under the pretext of needing a drink of water, the pupils used to like coming downstairs to explore. This practice was nipped in the bud when a tin can with cover and a small mug was provided, to give drinks to the children.
On 29th November 1876, an account was recorded that a servant of Mr Joseph Williams went up to the garret, the floor gave way and she came partly through the ceiling. There was a large hole over the gallery. Fortunately, it was a few minutes to one and the few children who were in school were standing by the fire so that no one was hurt. Had anyone been sitting under the spot they would have been seriously hurt as some of the rotten planks and plaster fell in large lumps. In 1875 the headmistress complained bitterly that the rain poured down in several places in both rooms. In June 1876, there was a violent thunderstorm which destroyed part of the tower and damaged one of the schoolroom windows. In November 1881 Mrs Allan wrote “one of the windows was blown in so had to keep the children at one end of the room.”
However, despite difficult conditions, excellent work was done at the school and teachers from far and wide came to see the work being done. In addition, visitors came to see the house frequently interrupting the lessons. These were profitable visits as far as the children were concerned for many of the visitors left money to buy cakes and sweets for them.
In 1877 scarlet fever raged in the town for the best part of a year and in 1886 typhoid fever broke out in different parts of the district but was most severe in Gyffin. Local events also served to keep children away and thin attendances were reported when there was a rifle contest on the Morfa, when cattle were turned onto the marsh, on the many fair days in the town and whenever a launch took place in the harbour.
On June 4th 1886 it is recorded that “the artists have taken possession of Plas Mawr, the time being up for the tenants to leave.” From then on things were not happy and both children and staff came under close scrutiny and had to watch their step. Complaints were made that the marching of children damaged the ceilings. Then, later, restrictions were placed on the movement of both staff and pupils. At 10am and 2pm the outer doors were locked so it was impossible to admit anyone or leave the school premises until 12noon and 3.30pm Even the Rev. Henry Rees, Chair of the School Managers had to signal up through a window if he wanted to visit the school in the closed times.
On 18th November, 1887 the infant school relocated to the boy’s school in Rosehill Street and so ended a successful and most interesting facet of the history of education in the town.
My thanks to Hugh Prichard and the other members that contributed articles in this interesting booklet.