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His father. William Coverley was the young master of the first day school of
which we have any knowledge in the district. It was held in what later came to
be known as the Turn pike cottages that stood where the Treforris Lane branches
off the Upper Conway Road. A commissioner under the “Inquiry into the State of
.Education in Wales” visited the school in 1847 and gave a most creditable
report on the work being done there. It was in striking contrast to what was
reported for the great majority of schools throughout Wales. He died a young man
of only 21 years of age just when the scholars were moved to a new school at
what came tie be known as the gas works school opened in 1848. The fourth in
this top row is John Hughes, Grosvenor House, stonemason, a master of his craft.
These two young men, Coverley and John Hughes, came to be responsible for the
erection of Jerusalem C.M. Chapel—an ambitious structure built by direct labour,
Coverley was architect and clerk-of works and John Hughes was of foreman over
the builders. The next, fifth in this top row is David Parry. Roe, brother to
John Parry; “Hotel” He went to America where he lived to be 103 John, brother to
Benjamin Coleman, is next to him. The fair haired bands- man, third from the
end, is William Roberts. Isycoed, who lived to the ripe age of 93. having become
the Rev. W. Rheidiol Roberts, Welsh Congregational minister at Abersoch, Bryn-gwran,
and other places. Next again Is Edward Watson Jones. Tyddyn Du, a brother to the
William Francis Jones, Tudno House. These brothers would be uncles on her
mother’s side to Councilior Mrs. Glynn Williams. A grandson to Edward Watson
Jones is now at Tyddyn Du. Finally, at the right end of the to row is Robert
Thomas- of Tremynfa, now Norbrit, He succeeded John Jones at the butcher’s shop
–later Walford’s He came from an old Pant y afon family. The first on the left
in the bottom row is John McClement, a brother to Philip McClement and to Miss
Mc Clement, Bankfield
GYMANFA FOUNDERS
Next to him is Samuel Williams who also gave a life’s service unpaid of course as pre centor and teacher of singing at Horeb Chapel. Jointly with the Rev. Penllyn Jones, Old Colwyn, J.P.Griffiths of Conway and the writer’s father, the Rev D. P. Davies of Penmaenmawr, Samuel Williams was one of the founders of the Welsh Congregationalists Gymanfa Ganu for Conway Valley and district, established 70 years ago. Third at this bottom row from the left is David, son of David Williams of Treforris. Next to him is Thomas Roberts, father to Mr. R. H. Roberts, the organist at Jerusalem Chapel, and himself keenly Interested in singing. Working as settmaker at the local quarries he broke a limb and was laid up at his home for several months when he was twice honoured by visits from Mrs. W. E. Gladstone in the company of Mrs. C. H. Darbishire.
TRUANTS
The drummer is Naphtali. son
of Nansi Jones who lived at what Is today “Penstone.” Caring for her donkeys on
hire at a stand in the town provided happy employment for a few schoolboys whose
absence from their lessons so grieved the master, according to his logbook. The
drummer’s distinctive name identifies him as one of five boys guilty of playing
truant on September 6, 1863. according to an entry in that book.
Naphtali’s sister Margaret married Moses Thomas of Frondirion Bach, a
picturesque white-washed cottage where now is the house Clynnog. Their son
Robert, came to he the drummer of the local band over many years. Right of the
drum in the bottom row is Thomas Roberts, Crimea, and later of Upper Maenan. a
cousin to William Rheidiol Roberts above him John Sloan Is next to the last on
the right. He lost his life on the railway near Penmaenmawr station. The last on
the right is Rowland Roberts, Island View, who here looks much the same as he
did 60 years later.
SMALLPOX
At the date of this photograph, the band held their practices in a room over the
stables where today is the depot of the local council by the old National
School. This
room served as “isolation ward” in 1872 and was occupied by four patients
afflicted with smallpox. They were ministered ‘to” by Dr. Robert Hughes and by
Ellen Jones, wife of Edward Ishmael Jones, “Billposter and Town Crier” they were
the parents of Mrs. Wilson Roberts —and others. Fortunately the four patients
recovered.
The band at this date were being taught by a Mr. Watts who came over weekly from
Caernarvon. As mentioned earlier the Conway band were under instruction from
James Blisland Hughes, ‘Iago - Bencerdd.’ born at Ysgubor Gerrig, Trefriw. His
distinction as a musician merited his Inclusion in the recent Dictionary of
Welsh Biography. His gravestone lies not many yards away from that of Evans
Evans, leuan Glan Geirionydd, poet and composer of some of the best and most
popular of Welsh hymns, In the graveyard of the old parish church at Trefriw, of
which village both were natives.
By Ivor E. Davies
Weekly news 19 Aug 1965
Photo of The Band 1873 explained
The photograph reproduced above, taken in 1878, is of Penmaenmawr Brass Band. The band were in being at least five years earlier, for they had customarily held their practices at the National School, which building became the local gasworks in 1873. Conway could also boast of a band at this date; a newspaper noted in March, 1872, that the Conway band were renewing their life under Mr. J. Blisland Hughes and that “the ancient town of Conway will ere long be able to boast of having a band to en liven its general monotonous dullness.” The first member on the top left- in the photograph is William Griffiths, “Pickle”—Pickle was tacked on to his name be cause his father had kept the Pickle Herring Inn now the Goat Inn. Many will remember Williams Griffiths residing at .Benarth, St. Johns Park, he and his sons came to be keen bandsmen. Next on this’ top row is William Francis Jones, son of William and Ann Jones, Tudno House. who went to the United States soon after this date. Third in this line Is James S Coverley who lived to give a lifetime of service as conductor to the local bond and to music in his own chapel: he and his sons were most gifted instrumentalists.