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<p>This room was later to become the Geography room. In 1903 it seems to have been multipurpose. Perhaps it was used for performances as well as for instruction. There is an upright piano and two sets of curtains could have been used to divide the space. The double desks are worn and scratched. Ink wells are visible on the desks in the foreground. The room is lined with pictures and busts. A satchel hangs over a seat.
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School Room, 1903 Prospectus photograph

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<p>The curriculum had included butter making and cookery since Miss Fewings' time (headmistress 1886-1896). This image shows a wooden churn,and what perhaps is a gaslit stove to the right of the table. A set of scales can be seen on the left and what looks like an oven is in the foreground, on the right. The room is lined with shelves for pans, jugs,jelly moulds, colanders and plates. There is no sink visible in this picture. The kitchen is gaslit.
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The girls' kitchen, 1903 prospectus photograph

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prospectus 1903 cooking butter making kitchen

<p>Inside this cover is a list of debates and lectures for 1905-6. This cover includes the names of the committee,the price of joining (four shillings a session)and the rules for participating in debates.
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DWS Literary and Debating Society programme cover 1905-6

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Literary and Debating Society rules programme

<p>This is the Literary and Debating Society programme for 1905-6.
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<p>In 1905 the society also debated 'Which has the greatest influence on character, books or people?'and 'Was the execution of Charles 1st justifiable?'
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<p>In 1906 there was another debate about whether an execution was justifiable, this time it was that of Mary Queen of Scots. The other subject for debate that year was 'Is the English race declining through over civilisation? The lecture on architecture was illustrated by Lime-light views.
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'Is the Modern school girl degenerating?' - Debate 1905

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literary and debating society debate lecture

<p>This photo was in the 1959 school magazine with an article by an Upper IIIrd pupil (equivalent of Year 7 today), here is an extract:
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<p>"We couldn't decide what we wanted to see first as the roaring of lions, chattering of monkeys and splashing of seals were very alluring and exciting. In the end, after a lot of indecision, the lions won and we set off for their enclosure, passing brightly coloured birds and white, fuzzy bears on the way........The elephants towered over us and we felt minute by the side of them, one of them ate a book that some boys were looking ar. We all hoped he got indigestion for being so greedy.
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<p>All the parents were sure of one letter that week, and the postbox was filled with postcards the next day.
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Upper IIIrds visit to Chester Zoo, July 1959

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Chester Zoo trips outings upper IIIrds 1959

<p>We had to bring to school each term a writing case supplied with a Basildon Bond notepad and envelopes and a store of stamps for the term ahead. A period every week was set aside for writing letters home. This was supervised in the classroom usually by a prefect and was held in silence. These weekly epistles often consisted of requests for money, tuck or stamps, news about events such as walks or the occasional film (see letter in pic - 'Please don't eat the Daisies' with Doris Day & David Niven, celebrities in the 1950s & 60s)
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Another vital piece of information for parents was the list of school test results (see related item at the side).
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<p>We were warned against writing anything about being unhappy or homesick and to prevent anyone breaking this rule, all letters had to be deposited in a box near the headmistress’s study unopened. If anyone had dared to admit to being unhappy they were summoned to the Head’s study and given a good talking to.
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<p>Parents received all letters from school with the addition of " ………… is well and happy”, handwritten by the Head, even if that was far from the case.
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Weekly Letters Home

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letters home Headmistress homesickness happiness

Random Bits and Pieces from Gladys Dutton

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Nightingale Alexis

<p>6th formers enjoying a break in the sun and chatting with the laundress by the tennis courts on the main school site. Does anyone know her name?
l-r: the laundress, Iona Hughes, ? Cynthia Jones, Nesta Roberts
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<p>The school laundry was situated just to the left of the tennis courts; a place where underwear and handkerchiefs were boiled! The Afon Wen Laundry washed blouses, sheets, pyjamas etc.
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Summer 1966 sharing a break with the launderess.

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tennis netball courts senior summer uniform dresses laundry

<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>A group of guides in front of the school bridge with colours
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Girl Guides in front of the School Bridge in the 1940s

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guides school bridge 1940s

<p>Last day at school and off to pasture new. Hats thrown out of the train into Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid)
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<p>L-R back row - Gwyneth Powell, Dilys James, Shirley Rushton, Joan Bankier
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<p>L-R front row - Gwenda Roberts, Nesta Lloyd, Jeanette James, Anne Lloyd Davies
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This image is from Anne Lloyd Davies's collection
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Packing Day - End of Summer term, 1949

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Packing day 1940s Bala Lake uniform

<p>The school opened on 8th February 1878 with 52 day pupils and 19 boarders. The first headmistress was Miss Emily Armstrong see the Headmistress page in the History section
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View of the school soon after opening in 1878

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1878 school opening school view

Dr Williams’ School
Dolgellau
1878 - 1975

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School Room, 1903 Prospectus photograph

The girls' kitchen, 1903 prospectus photograph

DWS Literary and Debating Society programme cover 1905-6

'Is the Modern school girl degenerating?' - Debate 1905

Upper IIIrds visit to Chester Zoo, July 1959

Weekly Letters Home

Random Bits and Pieces from Gladys Dutton

Summer 1966 sharing a break with the launderess.

Summer 1965 Fairbourne - outing

Girl Guides in front of the School Bridge in the 1940s

Packing Day - End of Summer term, 1949

View of the school soon after opening in 1878