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<p>Starting with the headmistress Miss Florence Anstey, the Census goes on to list seven Assistant Mistresses and one Housemistress who were all resident on the 2 April 1911. The Census lists 12 boarders on this page.
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<p>Of particular interest is Dorothy May Davies, aged 16, born in Liverpool. This is the legendary 'Do' who went on to teach at the school from 1919 to 1961.On other pages the Census records pupils born in Bombay, Madras and Shanghai.While most pupils were born in Wales many, like the mistresses here, were English. The final page (of four), includes the names of the domestic staff resident at the school and is also published on our site - see link.
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<p>Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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First page of DWS Census Return 1911

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<p>This page shows there were 100 women and girls resident on the day the Census was taken. The youngest by far on this page (Sybil Thomas) was just 7 years old. 11 domestic staff - a cook, a laundrymaid, 6 housemaids (including one born in Colorado), 1 sewing maid and 2 kitchen maids boarded at the school on the 2nd April 1911. The page is signed by the headmistress Miss Florence Anstey.
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<p>This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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Last page of DWS Census return 1911

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1911 Census Boarders Domestic staff

<p>Members of the DWS Choir took part in the National Eisteddfod 1949. The group of twelve, were known as the Parti Deuddeg. Mrs Thomas (DWS Head of Music), is at the piano.
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The National Eisteddfod Choir 1949

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Eisteddfod Dolgellau 1949 music choir singing.

<p>One of the ways Ms. Nightingale spoiled me (Gladys) was by allowing me to have a dog. The dog gave me company when she had no place to go during breaks. My parents gave authority for me to spend holiday with any girl's family where I would be welcomed. The school always knew where I would be. Of course, I had to go somewhere given my parents were in the Yucatan in Mexico. Miss Nightingale was basically my guardian in that she assured my parents that I would be taken care of, having given them her personal assurance. She was one of the most wonderful ladies I had ever known. My dog lived a wonderful life in the kitchen eating extremely well! Miss Nightingale would often have me and my dog to her cabin on holidays. The cabin was located by Snowdon just before going up the mountain.
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Gladys Dutton and her much loved dog

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1930's Gladys Dutton Dog

<p>This picture of the 'new dormitory' shows iron bedsteads draped in light counterpanes. They clearly did not have to make their beds with 'hospital corners' as we had to in later years! The girls also had a degree of privacy not afforded to later students. Each bed had its own curtain rail. The floorboards are covered (just along the walkways) with carpet. Wash bowls can be seen on each chest of drawers. There are photographs on the mantelpiece. It isn't obvious how the dormitory was lit at night. Perhaps the girls had nightlights. The room at the end of the dormitory may have been occupied by a senior girl or a teacher.
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'New Dormitory', 1903 prospectus photograph

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dormitory prospectus 1903 lights out

<p>Nesta Roberts and friends enjoying the sun at Fairbourne - and not a boy in sight! How the boarders envied the local girls' freedom
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<p>l-r: Pat Wharton, Gwenda Edwards, Helen Parry, Jennifer Thomas
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Summer 1965 Fairbourne - outing

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beach daygirls and freedom

<p>This 'dormy' was at Penycoed and situated at the front of the house on the right hand side as you went up the stairs. The photograph was taken outside the Laundry and near the Main School's tennis and netball courts. Anne Lloyd Davies was head of 'Poppy', she describes them as a super group of girls.
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Poppy Dormitory girls, Penycoed 1949 -50

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Poppy dormitory Penycoed 1950 Laundry

<p>Ley, as she was known at school died in a tragic car accident on June 10th 1970 towards the end of the summer term. This photo was taken only a couple of weeks earlier. She was looking forward to her time at drama school and her future on the stage. The school choir sang at her funeral mass at the Dolgellau Roman Catholic Church "Our Lady of Sorrows".
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Eleanor Ann Felix Richards

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music drama eleanor richards car accident 1970 Dolgellau catholic church

Discipline - 1940s

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Discipline Do Macbeth

Atgofion Anne Roberts OBE 1943 - 1950

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Do Violet Pasha Ingram Dormy 10 Penycoed Music Eisteddfod 1949

<p>The 1911 Census records that Florence Anstey was born in Bath, Somerset and was 44 at the time the Census was taken and that she was not a Welsh speaker. There were seven Assistant Mistresses, aged between 27 and 33, resident at the school at the time. Five spoke only English the other two spoke English and Welsh.
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<p>79 pupils are recorded; most were born in Wales or England. Three pupils were born in Bombay, Madras and Shanghai respectively.
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<p>One of the pupils (Dorothy May Davies) aged 16 and from Liverpool, was to go on to become something of a legend at DWS. She retired in 1961 after 42 years teaching.
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<p>The DWS Homefront 1914 gallery pages on this site reveal how the school 'did its bit', affording glimpses of the impact of the war in rural Wales and on one school community. Miss Anstey must have been a source of inspiration for all their efforts.
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Miss Florence Anstey, Headmistress 1906-1924

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Headmistress World War 1 Census Dorothy Davies

Tea at Dol

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Peggy Vaughan tea at Dolrhyd toothpaste cake

Dr Williams’ School
Dolgellau
1878 - 1975

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First page of DWS Census Return 1911

Last page of DWS Census return 1911

The National Eisteddfod Choir 1949

Gladys Dutton and her much loved dog

'New Dormitory', 1903 prospectus photograph

Summer 1965 Fairbourne - outing

Poppy Dormitory girls, Penycoed 1949 -50

Eleanor Ann Felix Richards

Discipline - 1940s

Atgofion Anne Roberts OBE 1943 - 1950

Miss Florence Anstey, Headmistress 1906-1924

Tea at Dol