|
Again, an uninspiring view that belies the importance of
the subject - these school buildings next to St Peter's church were the first
attempt to use private wealth to benefit the children of the workers who created
it. Conscience money or not, these schools were originally founded in 1816 by
Samuel Hopkins' sister Sarah in his memory and practised the most modern educational
methods of their day. Hopkins himself had shown an interest in education by funding
earlier attempts to teach children in makeshift schools. An interesting fact to
emerge is that prior to all this in 1748, well before the supposed 'founding'
of Blaenafon by Hill, Pratt and Hopkins in 1787, some 50 children were recorded
at school in Blaenavon, giving the lie to the belief that before the Ironworks
was built Blaenafon was a sparcely populated moor. |
