‘Feed My Lambs’ church hall, Caernarfon

Link to Welsh translation

This building is known as Feed My Lambs because of the Biblical inscription over the entrance. It was designed by local architect John Lloyd and built in 1836 as a church and hall. It was also used as a school for children from poor families. Infants were taught here, while older children attended the National School on the other side of the road.

Photo of stained glass window in Feed My Lambs hallThe National School, also by John Lloyd, was demolished when the inner relief road was built in the 1970s. The stone archway which led into the school yard is now a playground entrance.

After the town’s schools were reorganised, Feed My Lambs was used as a church hall but later fell into dereliction. A renovation project began in 2007, aided by the Heritage Lottery Fund and managed by architects Russell Hughes. The work uncovered an original church window, which had long been hidden. Local schoolchildren helped artist Meri Jones to create new stained glass for the window (pictured right).

New decorative gates were made by Meurig Williams of the renowned Brunswick ironworks, Caernarfon.

Originally Feed My Lambs was in Pool Lane, which became Llanberis Road a little further east. Pool Lane was severed by the relief road, leaving only a stub at the top of Pool Street. The road in front of the building was diverted to curve downhill and was renamed Lôn Ysgol Rad, commemorating its school heritage.

John Lloyd later designed the Royal Welsh Fusiliers’ barracks, built in 1855 east of Feed My Lambs. Much of the original building survives. The county of Caernarfonshire set aside £4,000 for the new buildings, which included an armoury. It was part of a programme across North Wales to provide better facilities for militia – volunteer soldiers who trained in their spare time.

In September 1914, soon after the First World War began, Captain Ransome issued an invitation from the barracks for “good men” aged 17 to 35 to join the Territorial Battalion of the RWF, to double its size to 1,960 men. Applicants could obtain railway warrants (for free travel) to Caernarfon from nine towns in the region.

Postcode: LL55 1SR    View Location Map

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