Brynmelyn School published by on Wed, 11/05/2016 - 19:22
Can any member help me with more information on Brynmelyn School in Weston-super-Mare? I have a letter my grandfather wrote to his parents in 1924 from that school but, not living in the area, I can't find anything about it at all on the internet and I'd like to know more about it.
As Paul has suggested there are several sites which mention Brynmelyn School - many are concerned with former students and this one about Kassam Janmohamed does have some interesting information about the school and quotes from a book written about the school by the daughter of the Headmaster, Henry.E. LANDON, who would have been there when your father was a pupil.
Incidentally the online catalogue of the Somerset Heritage Centre lists a booklet about the history of the school written by another headmaster, Francis A KNIGHT who was living at the school at the time of the 1891 census and that is available in a file of information about the school in Weston-super-Library. Perhaps one of our volunteers on Saturday may have time to take a look at it for you?
You can also find references to the school in various newspapers online and street directories for Weston. It was in the straight bit of Landemann Circus and the building which Paul has found is still there; opposite the juction with Coombe Road - see Google Street view!
We looked at the folder of information about Brynmelyn School in Weston Library this afternoon and found it very interesting. The school was opened as "Brynmelyn" on the 9th September 1881 with Francis A KNIGHT and John LAWRENCE as Principals. It opened after the demise of a school called "Woodside" in Weston which had strong links with the Friends' School at Sidcot, but had recently closed. The partnership was dissolved in 1883 and Francis KNIGHT continued alone as Headmaster
When Brynmelyn opened it had 8 boarders and 5 day-scholars and at its largest had 43 pupils. They continued the connection with Sidcot.
An advertisement in a newspaper of 1885 describes it as:
EDUCATION AT THE SEASIDE.
BRYNMELYN, WESTON-SUPER-MARE.
FOR THE SONS OF GENTLEMEN.
The School occupies a fine healthy position on the south slope of Weston Hill. In addition to the usual subjects, instruction is given in Science and Natural History. Lessons are given in the Laboratory and Workshop. Good playground and cricket field ; sea bathing twice a week ; the bath used in winter is covered and warmed. Individual attention as regards the training and health of the Boys is a marked feature of this Establishment, Reference kindly permitted to Dr. Roxburgh, Weston- super-Mare; and Thomas Taynton, Esq., Wotton Hill House, Gloucester. For prospectus and terms apply the Principal, F, A. Knight.
Francis KNIGHT wrote a brief history of the school in 1900 when it had been going for 21 years - he includes detail about Woodside School - And finishes with this:
"Brynmelyn finds its children scattered in every corner of the world; Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the States, Rhodesia, Cape Colony, West Coast of Africa, the Straits Settlements, Siam, Burma, Turkey and China. A strong contingent of them have been fighting for Queen and Country in the Transvaal and the Orange River Colony"
Henry E LANDON became the Headmaster of Brynmelyn at sometime between 1891and 1901 and continued as Head until his death in Dec 1923. The file contains a photograph of the pupils dated 1909
No names on this one but there are others of past pupils especially several of Harry WELCHMAN (1886-1966) who was a successful musical star of theatre and film in the early 20th century and for a time lived in Congresbury
Does your father's letter say anything about the school?
Thank you Pat/Paul for all the useful information you have unearthed for me. It's actually my grandfather, Edward James (Jim) Tilley, and his brothers who went to Brynmelyn School. His letter (I've attached the first page) mentions a visit to Wembley and he describes the British Empire Exhibition of 1924. I also took a look at the website of Kassam Janmohamed and he has a great school photo from 1923, too fuzzy to make out the faces but I've asked for a better scanned image.
My grandfather, Henry Ernest Landon, was headmaster at Brynmelyn School until his death in 1923. I have a short biography of him and the school written by my late aunt, his daughter, and a collection of photos of the school. I would be keen to learn about the experiences of others who knew the school and would be happy to share information which I have.
It sounds as if the Weston-super-Mare Library may have a copy of the biography which you mention but I'm sure that they would be interested in copies of the photographs of the school which you have. Other people researching ancestors who were pupils there would then have access to them.
Please contact The North Somerset Studies Library
Telephone 01934 426 863
Email address local.history@n-somerset.gov.uk
Tell them that you have contacted the Weston-super-Mare & District FHS and that they suggested you contacted them with information for the File on Bynmelyn School.
login
print
