Blaentillery Infants & Mixed Schools Cwmtillery

Blaentillery Infants & Mixed Schools Cwmtillery.
In 1896 the Aberystruth School Board proposed to have a new infants school erected at Blaentillery, on the eastern side of the Cwmtillery valley. Tenders were invited from builders in the area to erect such school.

In February 1897 at a meeting of the Aberystruth School Board held at Blaina, several tenders were received. The tender of Mr A. P. Williams of Abertillery was accepted at £1,670. 0s. 0d.

The Contractor and Architect.
The contractor was Mr A. P. Williams of Abertillery. The architect was Mr George Rosser.

The Official Opening.
On Monday 10th of January 1898, the Blaentillery Infants School was officially opened.  

Description of the Building.
The school was constructed to hold 200 children. The building was of a pretty design, constructed with local pennant stone, the front was of selected blue stone with Forest of Dean stone dressings relieved with the best Ebbw Vale bricks. The school consisted of a main room and one classroom, the main room being devisable by sliding partitioning into three other classrooms. It had good ventilation and was also provided with excellent lavatories and cloak rooms. The school floors were laid with wooden block flooring, the heating was by means of the Grundy’s patent hot-air grates. The school also had good play-ground facilities. 

The Staff.
The first staff at the Blaentillery Infants School were – Miss A. Davies the headmistress; Miss C. Grindle the assistant teacher and Miss M. Harris as assistant teacher.

In March 1899 the Aberystruth School Board advertised for staff at the Blaentillery Infants School. Wanted a headmistress with a salary of £65 per annum and one fifth of a government grant. Also, several assistants, – Male £75 per annum, untrained £65 per annum. Females £65 per annum, untrained £55 per annum. All applications to be sent to Mr I Aled Jones the clerk to the council.

On Tuesday 9th of May 1899, at a monthly meeting Aberystruth School Board held at the Blaina Offices consisting of the following members – Mr J. P. D. Williams (Chairman); Mr R. H. Williams; Dr D. C. Muir; Rev H. S. Rees; Rev H. Williams; Rev T. T. Evans; Mr W. B. Harrison; Mr John Price; Mr I. Aled Jones (Clerk) and Mr J. W. Price (Deputy Clerk): The boards architect produced plans by the Education Department of a new mixed school to be built, attached to the Blaentillery Infants School  

On Tuesday 13th of June 1899, at a monthly meeting Aberystruth School Board held at the Blaina Offices consisting of the following members – Mr R. H. Williams (Vice Chairman); Dr D. C. Muir; Mr W. Allen; Rev H. S. Rees; Rev H. Williams; Rev T. T. Evans; Mr W. B. Harrison; Mr John Price; Mr I. Aled Jones (Clerk) and Mr J. W. Price (Deputy Clerk): Mr Roberts the Architect stated with regards to the new Mixed School at Blaentillery the managers had approved of a site. The site was 1723 square yards and agents for the owners told how they required a roadway to be constructed for accommodation to the farm and the area fenced off. The clerk ordered to lay the matter before the agents for the owners, Messrs Bassett & Lee were the solicitors for the owners.

On Tuesday 22nd of August 1899, Messrs Bassett & Lee on behalf of the Blaentillery Estate wrote offering to contribute £10 towards the construction of the new accommodation road to the site of Blaentillery School which was about to be enlarged.

In January 1900, tenders were invited for the building of a new mixed school and the tender of Mr Noel Bagley of Oak Street, Abertillery was accepted at £2,467. 1s. 3d.

The Opening of the New Mixed School.
On Friday 21st of June 1901, the new Mixed School at Blaentillery was completed, the appointment of the new headmaster Mr B. T. Williams of Brynteg, Blaenau Gwent, Abertillery was announced and it was stated that the new school would be opened for the start of the new term. Miss S. Hughes of Machynlleth was transferred to Blaentillery Mixed School.

The Contractor and Architect of the New Mixed School.
The contractor for the new Mixed School at Blaentillery, Cwmtillery was Mr Noel Bagley of Oak Street, Abertillery.

The Fire.
On Friday evening 24th of July 1959, a fire broke out at the Blaentillery Mixed School, the fire ravaged the building and fire crews from Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale and Abercarn attended the scene. The fire broke out as the school was closing down for the summer holidays.

The Later Years.
In May 2016 the children of Blaentillery School were transferred to the new Gelli Crug School, which was rebuilt as the Abertillery Campus, Abertillery. 

 

Point of interest – Mr Alfred Prosser Williams – A. P. Williams the builder of the original Blaentillery School was one of Abertillery’s largest building contractors. He was born on 25th March 1849. He re-built St Michaels Church, The Market Hall, The Globe Hotel, The Abertillery Vicarage in Church Street, he built the Co-operative in Church Street, Blaentillery School, Queen Street School, Arael School, along with many other buildings and also re-built the Globe Picture House Blaina.

He was the first person in Abertillery to have a private telephone installed in his residence Gwentland House, Oak Street, Abertillery. Upon his retirement he went to live at Herbert Hall, Crickhowell, he later came back to Blaina to supervise building work and lived at “Lismore House” New Bennett St, he died in 1932.

His Mother was a direct descendant of the Vaughan’s of Tretower Court Crickhowell also Davy Gam who was killed at the battle of Agincourt 1415, and Knighted on the battlefield by King Henry V. Sir Davy Gam was a Llewellyn by name and was from the Herbert and Vaughan families.

Mr Noel Bagley.
Mr Noel Bagley the builder of the Blaentillery Mixed School in 1900 was a building contractor and architect. Born in Wing, Oakham in the County of Rutland. He came to Abertillery in the late 1880’s and lived at 70 Oak Street Abertillery. He constructed the Vivian Colliery Railway Sidings and was part of the engineering group involved in the extensive alterations to the Abertillery Railway re-routing scheme and new Station and the Bush Hill Bridge. He was responsible for the building of the new Six Bells Hotel, the new Station Hotel, the Six Bells Colliery Screens and Washery Building, the Bon Marche and many other buildings and he also constructed the Cwmtillery Reservoir.

He later constructed and lived at Rutland House, Oak Street, Abertillery. Mr Bagley named the house after the county in which he was born.