Schools

The first record of a school in Llangollen comes around the year 1700 from the St Collen’s churchwardens’ accounts. At this time, the sum of 8 shillings was paid for mending a door between the church and the school, indicating that, at the start of the 18th century, the school was attached to the church.

In 1726, there is another mention when 1 shilling and sixpence was ‘payd for a warrant to remove ye schoolmaster’.

Another early reference to education in Llangollen was that of the Dame School run by Maria Edwards, wife of the infamous Barber of Llangollen who cut his wife’s throat in front of the children. In the 19th century, W.T. Simpson wrote of the existence of a school in the churchyard (which had been founded in 1773). In 1840, this developed into the National School.

The 19th century also saw the opening of schools in the outlying villages of Llantysilio, Pentredwr, Eglwyseg and Garth, some of which have closed and some that are still going strong.