Site of ‘Doctor Dwylan’ school, Llanengan
The village’s British School, which was often known as Ysgol Doctor Dwylan, was opened here on the farmland of Dwylan in October 1845.
It was understood that a National School was soon to be built in the parish, and the many local Nonconformists did not want their children to be influenced by the Church of England. British Schools were non-denominational alternatives to the National Schools, which were closely connected to the Anglican Church. The local GP, Dr Thomas Williams, and others submitted a successful application for a grant from The British & Foreign School Society to build a school on his land.
Dr Williams (1805-1884) was the son of Pwllheli architect William Thomas. He moved to Plas Llwyndu, Abersoch, before settling in Dwylan with his wife Catherine c.1826. He served the area as a doctor for nearly 50 years and was highly respected.
He took on several initiatives during his time in Dwylan, offering his money, land and support to deserving causes. The first of these was the fundraising effort for the British School.
The report of the school’s official opening records that there was room for 200 children. The first school inspection, in December 1846, found that the school was satisfactory and that 23 girls and 58 boys were on the register.
The teacher lived opposite in Tŷ’r Ysgol (the school house). The school became redundant when a new school was built on the farmland of Tŷ Newydd, Sarn Bach, around the start of the 20th century.
The British School was known locally as Ysgol Doctor Dwylan or Ysgol Bellaf (furthest school). In rural Wales, where many people shared the same few names, it was common to refer to someone by their name and the name of their home or work. In this instance, Doctor Dwylan was known by his profession and home, without mention of his true name! See the footnotes for more about his work for the community.
With thanks to the Diogelu Enwau Llanengan group
Postcode: LL573 7LL View Location Map
Footnotes: Other initiatives by Dr Williams
For about 10 years, from c.1860, Dr Williams also owned the land of Penbryn y Bwlch and the Llanengan mill, and it was during this period that Tŷ'r Felin was built for the miller to live in. Later it was all sold to a local family, when the doctor took on the next cause that needed support – a new chapel.
The original Capel y Bwlch had become a problem for several reasons, mainly because of dust and frequent explosions at a nearby quarry. As an elder in the chapel, Dr Williams managed to persuade his friend David Williams to donate land, at the small Bwlch estate, to build a new chapel. As well as owning Y Bwlch, David Williams was owner of Deudraeth Castle (now part of Portmeirion village).
Completing his generosity, in 1877 Dr Williams helped to clear the chapel's debt for the construction of the new building. He was buried in the cemetery at Llanengan church in September 1884.