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Eluned Morgan leads a lunchtime rebellion

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Eluned Morgan; Welsh language; William George; Michael Jones; Patagonia

<p>Sited next to the headmistress at the end of one of the long oak dining room tables, no meal at DWS was complete without this small and shiny gong being struck.This was done twice,usually in rapid succession with no time at all for (or any expectation of) a voiced prayer or even an 'Amen'. We would fall silent, bow our heads briefly until it was struck again and then we'd resume our chatter. Sometimes it would also be struck for an announcement, as may be seen in the linked story by Vanessa Gebbie. I asked an old friend what object would sum up our collective experience of DWS. The gong, she said!
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The Gong- an integral part of our school dining experience

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<p>Lizzie (Elizabeth) Emily Daniels was born in 1890. Her grandson sent us this wonderful group photograph which is new to us. Lizzie is in the front row, 7th from the right, kneeling. The photograph was taken by J.D.Gaffron, The County Studio, Dolgelley. It is not dated. However, thanks to the National Library of Wales digitising early school magazines up to 1910, we believe it is 1903 or 1904. This is when Emily Daniels appears on the form lists. In 1903 Emily gets another mention when she dresses up as Old Mother Hubbard for a DWS Fancy Dress Dance. We do not know the occasion which prompted this assembly of the whole school but it looks like the lady in the hat could be important! The headmistress (Diana Thomas) is seated centrally, close to said behatted lady. In between is Miss Anstey (white blouse, glasses) who became headmistress in 1906.
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Teaching & ancillary staff, pupils, headmistress 1903-4

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Diana Thomas Florence Anstey Emily Daniels

<p>I wonder what the boys were learning in 1912? Possibly not how to keep the oven clean.
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<p>At DWS, in the early twentieth century, the girls were being prepared for household management.This page, from Enid Evans exercise book is about soot and ashes and cleaning the chimney.Enid has drawn a diagram of a range. This doesn't get full marks from her teacher.
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<p>The next page from the exercise book, outlining more of this thankless task, can be seen in RELATED ARTICLE
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Enid Evans writes about how to clean a range in 1912

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exercise book 1912 kitchen range household duties

<p>Yet to finish managing her 'closed range' there are five more tasks for our pupil to undertake before she masters the art of this aspect of household management. There's the soot and all the ashes to clear away, emery paper (to clean the steel), sticks and little pieces of coal to place and the dampers to sort out of course.
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<p>Extract from a fascinating child's exercise book from 1912 held in the DWS Archive in Dolgellau.
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What to do with soot, ashes and dampers, 1912 exercise book

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exercise book 1912 kitchen range household duties

<p>75 minutes allowed for this paper. My favourite question is :
1(C)'Write a story in which the most important characters are a lame child, a rich old woman and a wise cat. Give your story a title.'
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Thirty minutes allowed to conjure this story.
<br>Have a go! Can you write a story featuring a lame child, a rich old woman and a wise cat in thirty minutes?
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Thanks to Sue Bramley for loaning this item.
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English Common Entrance exam at DWS -11 plus, 1961, Page 1

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Creative Writing Composition 11 plus English Exam

Spend about 25 minutes on this question.
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<p>Read the passage carefully, then answer the questions. (The writer has just climbed alone over a mountain range into an unknown country.)
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English Common Entrance Exam at DWS-11 Plus, Page 2 1961

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11 Plus Exam English

<p>Questions E to G relate to the passage adapted from 'Erewhon' by Samuel Butler on the previous page.
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20 minutes allowed for questions 3 and 4.
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English Common Entrance exam at DWS -11 Plus, 1961, page 3

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11 Plus English Exam

<p>One hour allowed to complete the paper, loaned to us by Sue Bramley who sat the exam in 1961.
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<p>Click on Related Items to see the whole paper. If anyone knows the answers please let is know; perhaps publish them in the Comments section below (registered website users)
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<p>Sue also loaned us a fiendish DWS Christmas General Knowledge paper.Related Items links to two original DWS Christmas General Knowledge papers; one from 1964 and the other 1968. Should keep you busy for a while!
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Arithmetic exam paper, the 11 plus, for entry to DWS 1961

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11 Plus Arithmetic Exam

<p>Section A, work ALL the sums - So it's pounds, shillings and pence; yards, feet and inches, and reducing 5cwt, 3 qr.1st.7 lb to lb.
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<p>I think this last one has to be my favourite here....
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Arithmetic exam set at DWS, the 11 Plus- page 2 1961

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11 Plus Arithmetic Exam

<p>'A girl can stick on 2 labels every second. How many could 3 girls stick on in 15 minutes if they all work at the same rate'?That's my favourite question I think! Poor girls with all those labels.
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<p>Interesting to note how much stamps cost on this paper, with 3d being the most expensive. Three old pennies equates to about one new penny in 2018. The cost of a first class stamp currently is 65p.
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Arithmetic exam set at DWS, the 11 plus - Page 3 1961

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Arithmetic Stamps 11 Plus Exam

$'The daily cost of Joan's school lunch is 1s 3d. If she stays to lunch 5 days a week and the term's bill is £3.15.0d.,how many weeks are there in the term? Pounds, shillings and pence, yards, feet and inches and the odd fraction and decimal point were the order of the day in 1961. If any registered DWS website user would like to tell us the answers, please login and share them using the Comment box below.They would be much appreciated! $

Arithmetic Exam set at DWS, the 11 plus - Page 4 1961

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Arithmetic Pounds shillings and pence Exam 11 Plus

Dr Williams’ School
Dolgellau
1878 - 1975

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Eluned Morgan leads a lunchtime rebellion

The Gong- an integral part of our school dining experience

Teaching & ancillary staff, pupils, headmistress 1903-4

Enid Evans writes about how to clean a range in 1912

What to do with soot, ashes and dampers, 1912 exercise book

English Common Entrance exam at DWS -11 plus, 1961, Page 1

English Common Entrance Exam at DWS-11 Plus, Page 2 1961

English Common Entrance exam at DWS -11 Plus, 1961, page 3

Arithmetic exam paper, the 11 plus, for entry to DWS 1961

Arithmetic exam set at DWS, the 11 Plus- page 2 1961

Arithmetic exam set at DWS, the 11 plus - Page 3 1961

Arithmetic Exam set at DWS, the 11 plus - Page 4 1961