![Bangor Normal College, for training Teachers for British Schools](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Bangor_Normal_College%2C_for_training_Teachers_for_British_Schools.jpeg)
The Normal College,
Bangor ( cy, Y Coleg Normal) was an independent teacher training college, founded in 1858.
It was created through the efforts of the
British and Foreign School Society
The British and Foreign School Society (BFSS) offers charitable aid to educational projects in the UK and around the world by funding schools, other charities and educational bodies. It was significant in the history of education in England, suppor ...
and the educator Sir
Hugh Owen, and was funded by £11,000 raised through subscription and £2,000 of Government money. Teaching began on temporary premises in January 1858 and the College opened on its permanent site in 1862.
In 1979 it changed its name to ''Y Coleg Normal, Bangor'' or in English: The Normal College, Bangor and in 1996 it became part of
University of Wales Bangor
, former_names = University College of North Wales (1884–1996) University of Wales, Bangor (1996–2007)
, image = File:Arms_of_Bangor_University.svg
, image_size = 250px
, caption = Arms
...
.
The term "
normal school
A normal school or normal college is an institution created to Teacher education, train teachers by educating them in the norms of pedagogy and curriculum. In the 19th century in the United States, instruction in normal schools was at the high s ...
" originated in the early 16th century from the French ''école normale''.
The French concept of an "école normale" was to provide a model school with model classrooms to teach model teaching practices to its student teachers, thus acting as a teacher training institute.
The old Normal campus is situated on the shores of the Menai Strait next to the School of Education and School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences and the closest residences to the School of Ocean Sciences in
Menai Bridge
Menai Bridge ( cy, Porthaethwy; usually referred to colloquially as Y Borth) is a town and community on the Isle of Anglesey in north-west Wales. It overlooks the Menai Strait and lies by the Menai Suspension Bridge, built in 1826 by Thomas T ...
. The site has two self-catered halls or residence: Neuadd Seiriol and Neuadd Arfon.
In the 1960s one of the first pro-language campaigns in Wales was by 20 of the college lectures for Welsh salary cheques, led by
Owain Owain
Owain Owain (11 December 1929 – 19 December 1993) was a Welsh novelist, short-story writer and poet. He also founded ''Tafod y Ddraig'' (The Dragon's Tongue), which became the Welsh Language Society's main voice from its birth in the 1960s ...
, which was successful.
The college was originally set up through the efforts of the a local community and Sir Hugh Owen to the tune of £11,000 and £2,000 of government money.
Among renowned students and lecturers are:
*
Owen Prys
Owen Prys (25 September 1857 – 12 December 1934) was a Calvinistic Methodist minister and first Principal of the United Theological College in Aberystwyth in Wales (1906–27) and Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Wales in 1910.
*
Gerallt Lloyd Owen
Gerallt Lloyd Owen (6 November 1944 – 15 July 2014) was a Welsh-language poet who lived in Llandwrog. He is considered to be one of Wales's leading "strict-metre" poets.
Works
Owen began as a "political poet" in the 1960s, often using medieval ...
*
Ryan Davies
Ryan Davies (22 January 1937 – 22 April 1977) was a Welsh comedian, actor, musician, singer, and songwriter. Though his career lasted just 11 years, he became widely known in Wales through his work with Ronnie Williams as the comedic double a ...
*
John Lasarus Williams
John Lasarus Williams (29 October 1924 – 15 June 2004), known as John L, was a Welsh nationalist activist.
Williams was born in Llangoed on Anglesey, but lived most of his life in nearby Llanfairpwllgwyngyll. In his youth, he was a keen foot ...
*
Owain Owain
Owain Owain (11 December 1929 – 19 December 1993) was a Welsh novelist, short-story writer and poet. He also founded ''Tafod y Ddraig'' (The Dragon's Tongue), which became the Welsh Language Society's main voice from its birth in the 1960s ...
*
Selwyn Griffith
Selwyn Griffith (1928 – 10 August 2011) was a Welsh language poet and the Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales, known by the bardic name Selwyn Iolen.
Selwyn Iolen was born in Bethel, near Caernarfon in 1928 and lived in the area thr ...
(Selwyn Iolen), Archdruid and crowned poet
*
Hafina Clwyd
Hafina Clwyd (1 July 1936 – 14 March 2011) was a Welsh educator, writer and journalist. She had a weekly column in the '' Western Mail''. , journalist
*
Windsor Davies
Windsor Davies (28 August 1930 – 17 January 2019) was a British actor. He is best remembered for playing Battery Sergeant Major Williams in the sitcom ''It Ain't Half Hot Mum'' (1974–1981) over its entire run. The show's popularity resulted ...
, Teacher who became an actor
*
Ryan Davies
Ryan Davies (22 January 1937 – 22 April 1977) was a Welsh comedian, actor, musician, singer, and songwriter. Though his career lasted just 11 years, he became widely known in Wales through his work with Ronnie Williams as the comedic double a ...
, Welsh comedian, entertainer and musician.
The college was integrated into
Bangor University
, former_names = University College of North Wales (1884–1996) University of Wales, Bangor (1996–2007)
, image = File:Arms_of_Bangor_University.svg
, image_size = 250px
, caption = Arms
...
(then University College of North Wales) in 1996.
References
External links
{{Coord, 53.2298, -4.1313, display=title
University of Wales
Bangor University
Teacher training colleges in the United Kingdom
Grade II listed buildings in Gwynedd
1858 establishments in the United Kingdom